Head of the River (New South Wales)

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The Head of the River rowing regatta refers to two New South Wales school rowing competitions, one for boys and one for girls.

Contents 1 NSW Schoolboy Head of the River Regatta 1.1 Regatta winners 2 NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River Regatta 2.1 Regatta winners 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] NSW Schoolboy Head of the River Regatta

The schoolboys NSW Head of the River regatta is run by the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales, and takes place in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia every March at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC).

From 1936-1995 the races were held on the Nepean River and before that on the Parramatta River. It is the culmination of the GPS (Greater Public Schools) rowing season for senior crews, and has been held since 1893. Eight of the nine GPS schools, Sydney Grammar School, The King's School, Newington College, Sydney Boys High School, The Scots College, St. Joseph's College, St. Ignatius' College and The Shore School, and recently Kinross Wolaroi School (though not a GPS school) send their crews to the Head of the River.

The race is held over 2000m. It is the last race of the official GPS rowing season, following on from the Riverview Gold Cup held on the Lane Cove River. The Head of The River is one week after other summer sports premierships (such as Cricket and Basketball) have finished. This enables over ten thousand school students and other supporters to attend. Despite this, in 2008, Head of the River will be held on Wednesday, with all GPS schools giving Thursday off as a holiday to students due to a booking by NSW Kayak Assocaition.

The current (SIRC) record time (and former Junior World Record / World Best time until 2001) for the First VIII is 5:42.6 set by the Shore School on 23 March 1996.^{[citation needed]}

During the 2007 Head of the River the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority attempted to test some rowers of the Shore and Kings first eight crews.^[1]

[edit] Regatta winners

The regatta consists of ten races.

In 2001, the following four races were added to the regatta. These are held before the IVs and the 2nd and 1st VIII race.

[edit] NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River Regatta

The NSW Schoolgirl's Head of the River was first raced in 1996, and is typically held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC), in Penrith^[12] on the Sunday following the Schoolboys Head of the River. It is organised by the NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council (NSWCISSC)^[12] and is the culmination of the Schoolgirl's rowing season.

Unlike the boys race, all affiliated schools of the NSWCISSC, NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association (NSWCHSSA), and the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Sports association (NSWCCCSA), are eligible to nominate their students to compete in the girls regatta.^[13] As at 2008, ten of the thirty AHIGS schools, those being Ascham School, Canberra Girls' Grammar School, Loreto Kirribilli, Loreto Normanhurst, MLC School, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, Pymble Ladies' College, Queenwood School for Girls, Roseville College, and Tara Anglican School for Girls, send their crews to the Head of the River, making up the bulk of entries. The regatta is becoming increasingly popular amongst girls crews from public and private non-AHIGS schools, most notably, Kinross Wolaroi School, Sydney Girls High School, SCECGS Redlands, North Sydney Girls High School, Riverside Girls High School and Radford College.^[14]

The New South Wales Rowing Association (NSWRA) holds seven perpetual trophies in trust for competition at the Schoolgirls regatta:

1. the NSW Union of Ex-Oarswomen Rose Evans trophy for competition between schoolgirl first eights.
2. the University of Sydney Women's Sports Association trophy for competition between schoolgirl first coxed fours.
3. the Union of Boat Race Officials shield for competition between schoolgirl Senior coxed quadruple sculls.
4. the University of NSW Trophy for competition between schoolgirl open fours (not awarded in 2007 due to a change in program format).
5. the NSW Union of Oarswomen Golden Scull Trophy for competition between single scullers.
6. the Margaret Varady Trophy for competition between schoolgirl year 10 coxed quads.
7. the Betty Deer Rosebowl for the highest aggregate point score between competing schools.^[13]

[edit] Regatta winners

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Head of the River (Australia)
• Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales
• Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools

[edit] External links

• Rowing Australia
• NSW Rowing
• Sydney International Rowing Centre
• AAGPS
• NSWCIS