The Head of the River rowing
regatta refers to two
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
school rowing competitions, one for boys and one for girls.
AAGPS Head of the River Regatta
![Aerial view of Head of the River, Sydney Harbour ca 1930s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Aerial_view_of_Head_of_the_River%2C_Sydney_Harbour_ca_1930s.jpg)
The AAGPS Head of the River regatta takes place in
Penrith,
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia every March at the
Sydney International Regatta Centre
The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC), located in Penrith, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is a rowing and canoe sprint venue built for the 2000 Summer Olympics. It is now a popular sporting venue, with the Head of the River Regatta ...
(SIRC). It is the culmination of the
GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite sy ...
(Great Public Schools) rowing season for senior crews.
From 1893 until 1935, the Regatta was held on the
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is an intermediate tide-dominated, drowned valley estuary located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. With an average depth of , the Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson. S ...
in
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, consisting of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the ria or natural harbour of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea ...
– in early years from Putney to Gladesville and in later years from the
Yaralla Estate at Concord to Cabarita. From 1936 until 1996 it was raced on the
Nepean River
Nepean River (Darug: Yandhai), is a major perennial river, located in the south-west and west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Nepean River and its associated mouth, the Hawkesbury River, almost encircles the metropolitan region of ...
and finishing near the Nepean Bridge. Since 1996 it's been held on the
Sydney Olympic course at Penrith. From 1893 until 1909 the blue-riband race was contested by four-oared boats, and since then by eight-oared boats with coxed fours contesting the minor events. By the 1930s when the eight Sydney GPS schools were competing the event on the
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is an intermediate tide-dominated, drowned valley estuary located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. With an average depth of , the Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson. S ...
, two heats of four lanes were raced and then a final was contested by the top four. Since 1996 the 1st and 2nd VIIIs race over 2000 metres. Previous events had the eights race over a mile and a half (excepting in 1946 and 1947 – a mile and a quarter) and fours racing over a mile. Up until the 1930s there was limited school participation in the regattas of the Sydney club rowing season and for many of the school squads the Head of the River was the sole and highlight race of their rowing season. In those days the race was of great public interest and the regatta drew a huge flotilla of chartered ferries and vessels which would moor off Putney, Tennyson Point and Cabarita.
As of 2021, all of the nine of the GPS schools,
Sydney Grammar School,
The King's School,
Newington College
, motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge
, location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = A ...
,
Sydney Boys High School
, motto_translation = With Truth and Courage
, established =
, location = Cleveland Street, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pu ...
,
The Scots College
, motto_translation = O that we may be worthy of our forefathers
, location = Bellevue Hill, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney
, country = Australia
, type = Independent single-sex primary ...
,
St. Joseph's College,
Saint Ignatius' College,
The Armidale School
, motto_translation = Without God, Nothing
, location = Armidale, New England Tablelands, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = Australia New ...
and
Shore School
, motto_translation =
, established =
, type = Independent single-sex and co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school
, grades = Early learning; ...
, send their eights to the Head of the River. Prior to 2021,
The Armidale School
, motto_translation = Without God, Nothing
, location = Armidale, New England Tablelands, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = Australia New ...
did not send their eight to the regatta. In 2012
The Armidale School
, motto_translation = Without God, Nothing
, location = Armidale, New England Tablelands, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = Australia New ...
started sending fours, and the first IV race of 2013 was historic as the first time crews from all nine GPS schools competed. One of the most successful coaches of rowing among the schools was Robert Buntine at King's and Newington from 1966 until 1996.
Bob Buntine: Beloved teacher coached rowers to historic victories
Retrieved 21 April 2016.
It is the last race of the official GPS rowing season, and usually follows the Riverview Gold Cup The Riverview Gold Cup Regatta is a rowing regatta with limited club events and mainly school crew events, held annually by Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is an official Rowing NSW event within the Ne ...
held on the Lane Cove River
The Lane Cove River, a northern tributary of the Parramatta River, is a tide-dominated, drowned valley estuary west of Sydney Harbour, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The river is a tributary of the Parramatta River, winding thro ...
. The Head of the River is one week after other summer sports premierships – cricket and basketball – have finished. This enables over ten thousand school students and other supporters to attend.
The current (SIRC) record time (and former junior world record until 2001) for the 1st VIII is 5:42.6 set by Shore on 23 March 1996, in the first year that the race was held at SIRC. The most recent winner of the AAGPS Head of the River, and holder of the Major Rennie Trophy is The Kings School winning the regatta in 2021 with a time of 5:54:47 ahead of Shore (5:57:35) and Scots College (5:57:69).
NSW Schoolgirls Head of The River
The NSW Schoolgirls Head of the River was first raced in 1991. The inaugural Schoolgirls Head of the River Regatta took place on Middle Harbour Creek at Davidson Park, Roseville.[ In following years the event was held at ]Iron Cove
Iron Cove is a bay on the Parramatta River, in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately due west of Sydney's central business district. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Birchgrove, Balmai ...
.
The NSW Schoolgirls' Head of the River held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre
The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC), located in Penrith, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is a rowing and canoe sprint venue built for the 2000 Summer Olympics. It is now a popular sporting venue, with the Head of the River Regatta ...
(SIRC), in Penrith on the Sunday following the Schoolboys Head of the River. It is organised by the NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council (NSWCISSC)[ and is the culmination of the Schoolgirls' rowing season.
The current (SIRC) record time for the 1st VIII in the Schoolgirl Head of the River is 6:40 set by ]Queenwood School for Girls
Queenwood School for Girls, often abbreviated as Queenwood, is a multi-campus independent non-denominational Christian co-educational primary and secondary day school for girls, located in the suburb of Mosman, on the Lower North Shore of Sydne ...
on 25 March 2017. The most recent winner of the NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River is Pymble Ladies' College
Pymble Ladies' College is an independent, non-selective, day and boarding school for girls, located in Pymble, a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
History and description
Pymble Ladies' College was founded ...
.
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. As at 2008, ten of the thirty AHIGS schools, those being Ascham School, Canberra Girls' Grammar School
, motto_translation = To the young, anything is possible
, established = 1926
, type = Independent school, Independent, Day school, day and Boarding school, boarding
, gender = Co-educ ...
, Loreto Kirribilli
Loreto Kirribilli is an independent Roman Catholic comprehensive single-sex primary and secondary day school for girls, located in Kirribilli, a Lower North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Established at Milsons Poi ...
, Loreto Normanhurst
, motto_translation = While I Live, I Trust in the Cross
, established =
, type = Independent comprehensive single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school
, denomination = Roman Catholic
, religious_affiliation = Institute ...
, MLC School
, motto_translation = Walk as daughters of the light
, established =
, type = Independent single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day school
, gender = Girls
, denomination = Uniting Church
, oversight =
, educati ...
, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney (PLC Sydney) is an independent school, independent Presbyterian Church of Australia, Presbyterian Single-sex school, single-sex Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary and Secondary sc ...
, Pymble Ladies' College
Pymble Ladies' College is an independent, non-selective, day and boarding school for girls, located in Pymble, a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
History and description
Pymble Ladies' College was founded ...
, Queenwood School for Girls
Queenwood School for Girls, often abbreviated as Queenwood, is a multi-campus independent non-denominational Christian co-educational primary and secondary day school for girls, located in the suburb of Mosman, on the Lower North Shore of Sydne ...
, 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 among girls crews from public and private non-AHIGS schools, most notably, St Paul's Grammar School
, motto_translation = In Christ the future
, established =
, denomination = Nondenominational Christianity
, type = Independent co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day sc ...
, Kinross Wolaroi School
Kinross Wolaroi School is an Independent school, independent Uniting Church of Australia, Uniting Church Mixed-sex education, co-educational Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary, and Secondary school, secondary Day school, ...
, Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School (abbreviated as SGHS or Sydney Girls) is a Education in Australia#Government schools, government-funded Single-sex school, single-sex Selective school (New South Wales), academically selective secondary school, secondary da ...
, SCECGS Redlands
, motto_translation = Let Your Light Shine
, established =
, type = Independent co-educational secondary day school
, denomination = Anglican
, affiliations =
, educationa ...
, North Sydney Girls High School
, motto_translation = Towards Higher Things
, established =
, type = Government-funded single-sex academically selective secondary day school
, gender = Girls
, oversight = New South Wales Department of Education
, principal = Megan Co ...
, Riverside Girls High School
, motto_translation = no word or deeds
, established = 1934
, type = Public, secondary, single-sex, day school
, principal = Louise McNeil
, captains =
, city = Huntleys Point, New South Wales
, state = New South ...
and Radford College
Radford College is an independent school, Anglican, coeducational day school, located in Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Founded in 1984, the college is named after Bishop Lewis Bostock Radford. It has a non-selective enrolm ...
.
The New South Wales Rowing Association (NSWRA) holds ten perpetual trophies in trust for competition at the Schoolgirls regatta:
# the NSW Union of Ex-Oarswomen Rose Evans trophy for competition between schoolgirl first eights.
# the University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's ...
Women's Sports Association trophy for competition between schoolgirl first coxed fours – now awarded to the schoolgirl second eight.
# the Union of Boat Race Officials shield for competition between schoolgirl Senior coxed quadruple sculls.
# the University of NSW
The University of New South Wales (UNSW), also known as UNSW Sydney, is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the founding members of Group of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensiv ...
Trophy for competition between schoolgirl open fours (not awarded in 2007 due to a change in program format).
# the NSW Union of Oarswomen Golden Scull Trophy for competition between single scullers.
# the Margaret Varady Trophy for competition between schoolgirl year 10 coxed quads.
# the Betty Deer Rosebowl for the highest aggregate point score between competing schools.[
# the William McKeith Trophy for the Junior handicap point score.
# the Carol Bowern Shield for the Senior handicap point score.
# the Janet Freeman Trophy for the Year 8 Coxed Quad Scull.
]
AAGPS Head of the River Regatta winners
Since 2009 the regatta consists of eleven races.
1893 to 1999
Year 2000 and onwards
The 1st VIII – Major Rennie Trophy
The current (SIRC) record time for the 1st VIII is 5:42.06 set by the Shore School on 23 March 1996.
Below Lists the most successful schools in the 1st VIII event (wins):
# Shore School (51)
# King's School (17)
# Sydney Grammar School (16)
# Newington College (14)
# (Equal 5th) Saint Ignatius' College (9)
# (Equal 5th) Saint Joseph's College (9)
# Sydney Boys High School (8)
# The Scots College (5)
# The Armidale School (0)
The 2nd VIII – L C Robson Memorial Trophy
Below Lists the most successful schools in the 2nd VIII event (wins) (From 2000 onward):
# Shore School (14)
# (Equal 2nd) King’s School (2)
# (Equal 2nd) Saint Joseph's College (2)
# (Equal 2nd) Saint Ignatius' College (2)
# (Equal 5th) Newington College (1)
# (equal 5th) Scots (1)
# Sydney Grammar School (0)
# Sydney Boys High School (0)
# The Armidale School (0)
The 1st IV – Yaralla Cup
The 2nd IV – Allan Callaway Trophy
The 3rd IV – Father Gartlan Trophy
The 4th IV – Penrith City Council Cup
The 3rd VIII
In 2001, the following four races were added to the regatta. These are held before the IVs and the 2nd and 1st VIII race.
The 1st Year 10 VIII
The current (SIRC) record time for the 1st Year 10 VIII is 6:08.67 set by St Ignatius College on 13 March 2021.
The 2nd Year 10 VIII
The 3rd Year 10 VIII
Due to an unprecedented depth in the number of junior rowers, the 4th Year 10 VIII race was added to the regatta in 2009.
The 4th Year 10 VIII
NSW Schoolgirls Head of the River Regatta Results
Regatta winners
See also
*Head of the River (Australia)
The Head of the River is a name given to annual Australian rowing regattas held in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia. The regattas feature competing independent schools, and the winner of the 1 ...
*
*Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS), is an association for independent girls' schools, based in North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.
Established in 1916 as The Association of Head Mistresses of New South Wales, t ...
References
External links
Rowing Australia
NSW Rowing
Sydney International Rowing Centre
AAGPS
NSWCIS
{{coord missing, New South Wales
Rowing competitions in Australia
Sport in New South Wales
Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
Private schools in New South Wales
Recurring sporting events established in 1893
Sports competitions in Sydney
Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales
Penrith, New South Wales