Head of the River (Victoria)

History

A Brief History

(The author acknowledges the many sources from which these comments arise. See below. )

The "Head of the River" is a classic event and stands as one of the premier events in Victorian rowing.

The first Public School boat race in Victoria was rowed on the Upper Yarra down stream on 18 June 1868. The race was the outcome of negotiations between two Melbourne University Boat Club members, Mr. J. H. Thompson, on behalf of Melbourne Grammar School, and Mr. J. C. Johnstone, a member of the Scotch College staff. These gentlemen coached the respective crews. Crews had been rowing on the river for some time, but the challenge for the race issued by one of the Scotch College rowers was only made on 17 June. It was promptly accepted by Melbourne Grammar School, and even in those far-off days the contest aroused no little interest.

The challenge read as follows:

SCOTCH COLLEGE Eastern Hill, Melbourne. 17th June, 1868.

Dear Sir,

I am requested by the Scotch College Rowing Club to challenge you to a friendly four-oar gig race the race to be rowed on Thursday the 18th from the Botanical Bridge to Edwards' boat house, and subject to such conditions as the crews agree to.

I am, Yours truly, JOHN C. FIELD

The result was a victory for Scotch College by a length. The names of the crews were as follows :

Scotch College. Bow: A. C. Wilson, 2: A. Smith, 3: John C. Field, Str: J. Brady, Cox: F. G. White, Cch: J Johnstone.

Melbourne Grammar School. Bow: J. Sweeney, 2: G. T. Teague, 3: W. Barker, Str: H. Ryan, Cox: H. M. Strachan, Cch: J H Thompson.

(A correspondent in The Argus on 15 May 1918 maintained that there was an earlier race in 1859 but this claim was disputed same days later in the Argus 18 May 1918 by J Henning Thompson who was alleged to have been in that crew.)

The race for "Head-of-the-River" has been rowed every year since 1868. Wesley College wished to row the other two schools in 1871 in the annual race. However, it was decided, "as it was an old-established race, which it was a pity to disturb," that Scotch College and the Grammar School should row Wesley College in turn; the races were on 19 and 20 June 1871. Wesley College proved their mettle by beating the Scotch boys on the 20th, after being beaten in a hard race by Melbourne Grammar the previous afternoon. Wesley College boys soon took part regularly in the race with the other two, and were "Head-of-the-River" in 1874.

The races were rowed from 1868–1897 in string-test gigs with fixed seats. In the period 1898–1900 the race was competed for in best boat outrigger fours with sliding seats. In 1901 clinker outrigged eights with sliding seats were used. At various times later cedar boats, followed by plywood boats, then fibre glass and finally then composite construction boats have been used.

The race was first rowed on the Barwon in 1879 and then every fifth or sixth year until 1916. Between 1921-1943 the Barwon saw it every fourth year and since 1948 the only use of the Yarra was in 1957 when Geelong College won. During World War 2 the Geelong Schools rowed a heat on the Barwon and the four Melbourne Schools rowed heats on the Yarra. These races were held after school, the winners met on the Yarra to decide the title except in 1943 when restrictions on travel were in force.

Scotch College has been represented every year, gradually other schools have joined in, the most recent being Haileybury College who entered the Boys First Eight event for the first time in 1991.

The Sumner Challenge Cup was presented in 1875 by the Hon T J Sumner to become the property of the school who should first win it three times. Scotch won it in 1875, 1876 and 1879 and have retained it since that date.

At a meeting of Delegates held at Scotch College on 1 April 1911, it was unanimously decided to accept the Challenge Cup which was offered by Mr. C. Fairbairn, of " Banongil," Skipton, to be held from year to year by the School which is Head of the River.

The Sumner Challenge Cup and the Fairbairn Challenge Cup are the two trophies connected with this great contest.

The Head of the River races have weathered such difficulties as flooded rivers, disputes over ages, dead heats, disqualifications, and even the inability of a school to round up enough rowers to boat a crew.

Before World War 2, only the first crew of each school took part in the Head of the River Regatta, but there was a race for second crews and sometimes third crews raced on the Saturday prior to the Head of the River race.

In the early part of the century the race was held in October, but later it was moved to May and after World War 2 to April. When the race was in October it was possible for a boy to represent his school in Football, Cricket, Rowing and Athletics in the one year, as the latter was held in May after the Cricket season had ended.

Location

The first Head of the River was rowed on the Yarra in 1868. The race was first rowed on the Barwon in 1879 and then every fifth or sixth year until 1916. Between 1921–1943 the Barwon saw it every fourth year, and since 1948 the only use of the Yarra was in 1957 when Geelong College won.

During the Second World War, the Geelong Schools rowed a heat on the Barwon and the four Melbourne Schools rowed heats on the Yarra. These races were held after school, the winners met on the Yarra to decide the title except in 1943 when restrictions on travel were in force.

Participants

Scotch College has been represented every year, gradually other schools have joined in, the most recent being Haileybury College who entered the Boys First Eight event for the first time in 1991.

Boats

From 1868 to 1897 racing was in fixed seat, four oared gigs, from 1889 to 1900 in sliding seat single streak outrigger fours and from 1901 to 1918 in sliding seat clinker built eights. Shells have been used since.

Difficulties

The Head of the River races have weathered such difficulties as flooded rivers, disputes over ages, dead heats, disqualifications, and even the inability of a school to round up enough rowers to crew a boat.

Before World War 2, only the first crew of each school took part in the Head of the River Regatta, but there was a race for second crews and sometimes third crews raced on the Saturday prior to the Head of the River race.

In the early part of the century the race was held on 1 October, but later it was moved to 24 May and after World War 2 to 29 April. When the race was in October it was possible for a boy to represent his school in Football, Cricket, Rowing and Athletics in the one year, as the latter were held in May after the Cricket season had ended.

Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta

The first girl to row within the A.P.S. was a lone sculler from Geelong Grammar School in 1972. There were 32 girls rowing by 1975, and in 1981, girls began competing at the Senior Regatta with Geelong Grammar School, The Geelong College, Melbourne Girls Grammar School, Morongo Girls' School and Lauriston Girls School racing in 1st and 2nd Fours over 800m. Methodist Ladies' College and Carey Baptist Grammar School joined in 1982, with Carey boating a First Four in 1983.

1984 was the final year school girls participated in the APS Head of the River, with seven girls' crews rowing in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Four events. The following year saw the regatta revert to an all APS event, with only Geelong Grammar and Geelong College boating a First Four. Carey reappeared in the First Fours in 1986, the same year that Wesley College joined, and with Caulfield joining in 1987, all five co-educational schools were boating a first four over 1500m. Around this time, the Principal of the now defunct Morongo Girls' School initiated a meeting that established the Head of School Girls' Regatta (HOSG).

In 2007, the girls' field increased from five to six schools, with Hailebury embracing Parallel education and boating a girls' VIII.

Head of the River (Boys)

The 1st VIII is also known as the "Fairbairn Cup". This race is the actual "Head of the River" for the boys.

Head of the River 2016

The 2016 Head of the River, Fairbairn Cup, was won by Melbourne Grammar School 1st VIII.

Head of the River (Girls)

The 1st VIII is also known as the "Sumner Cup". This race is the actual "Head of the River" for the girls.