Head of the Schoolgirls (Victoria)

History

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' College 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 that non APS 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 Morongo Girls' College initiated a meeting that established the Head of School Girls' Regatta (HOSG).

1984

Last year of schoolgirl participation in APS Head of the River. Principal of Morongo initiates meeting that establishes the HOSG Regatta.

1985

MLC host first HOSG in Ballarat - The Regatta consisted of Heats and Finals for 7 events in which 16 schools and 240 girls competed during a single day. There is no record of the number of spectators who attended. A strong cross wind at Ballarat made conditions very interesting for crews and officials. First Four won by MLC.

1986

Ballarat Grammar and local schools host HOSG - 9 events. First Four won by Geelong Grammar.

1987

Wesley College host HOSG in Geelong - 9 events. First Four won by Wesley College.

1988

Lauriston host HOSG - 12 events. First Four won by Geelong Grammar.

1989

Loreto Mandeville Hall host HOSG - 13 events. First Four won by Morongo.

1990

MLC host HOSG - 14 events including Eights for first time. First Four won by Geelong Grammar, Senior Eight won by Wesley College.

1991

MGGS host HOSG - 14 events. HOSG Regatta Committee incorporates as an Association. First Four won by Geelong Grammar, Senior Eight won by MLC.

1992

Morongo host HOSG over 2 days - 18 events. First Four won by Geelong College, Senior Eight won by Genazzano.

1993

Genazzano host HOSG - 22 events including Quad Sculls for first time. Timing system introduced. First Four won by Lauriston, Senior Eight won by Lauriston, Quad Scull 1 won by Genazzano.

1994

St Catherine's host HOSG - 24 events. First Four won by Lauriston, Senior Eight won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull 1 won by Genazzano.

1995

Lauriston host HOSG - 26 events. First Four won by Lauriston, Senior Eight won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull 1 won by Genazzano.

1996

Carey Grammar host HOSG - 27 events, 38 schools and 1275 competitors. First Four won by Geelong Grammar, Senior Eight won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull 1 won by MLC.

1997

Loreto Mandeville Hall host HOSG - 28 events. Active For Life becomes Sponsor of HOSG Regatta. First Four won by Geelong Grammar Senior Eight won by Geelong Grammar Quad Scull 1 won by MLC.

1998

Sacred Heart College host HOSG - 31 events. First Four won Lauriston, Senior Eight won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull 1 won by MLC.

1999

Firbank host HOSG - 34 events. First Four won MLC, Senior Eight won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull 1 won by Genazzano.

2000

MLC host HOSG - 34 events, 41 schools and 1474 competitors. Sykes Racing becomes naming rights sponsor of HOSG Regatta. First Four won by Lauriston, Eight Div 1 won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull won by Sacred Heart.

2001

Melbourne Girls Grammar again host the regatta - 34 Events. Professional Event Managers, SSDF, appointed by the host school. City of Greater Geelong provides support for temporary infrastructure costs at this Major Event. First Four won by Ballarat Grammar, Eight Div 1 won by Geelong Grammar, Quad Scull Div 1 won by Sacred Heart College.

2002

The Committee hosts the regatta, replacing the Host School arrangement - 34 Events and 1640 competitors. SSDF is again the Event Manager, with the Geelong Rowing Association assuming a significant support role. Long term agreement entered into between Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta Committee, the City of Greater Geelong, and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority to maintain the regatta at Geelong. First Four won by Ballarat Grammar, Eight Div 1 won by Geelong College, Quad Scull Div 1 won by MLC.

2003

The Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta Committee Inc. continued in the role of Regatta hosts and have helped to grow the number of entries in the Regatta. The Event management was contracted to the School SnowSports Development Foundation, who have now managed the Regatta for three years. Thirty-five events with 322 races kept the 2151 competitors and skilled RV Officials busy over two days. Sykes Racing have continued to act as the Naming rights Sponsor with generous support from the City of Greater Geelong. First Four - Ballarat Grammar School. Quad Scull - Loreto Mandeville Hall. Open Eight - Geelong College. New Events to the program were the year 9 and 10 division 6 fours and year 9 division 7 four.

2004

The Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta Committee Inc. continued in the role of Regatta hosts. The Event management was contracted to the School SnowSports Development Foundation for the Third and Final time, and we thank them for their development work and ready co-operation. Sykes Racing have continued to act as the Naming rights Sponsor with generous support from the City of Greater Geelong. Open Four - Ballarat Grammar School. Open Quad Scull - Firbank Grammar School. Open Eight - The Geelong College. New Events to the program were the year 9 and 10 division four quad sculls.

2005

The 371 crews with their associated 2009 athletes came from 41 Victorian schools. Entries varied from a lone sculler and coach to 195 participants from a large girls' school. There were 28 fastest times recorded during the two days racing. For the first time Rowing Victoria carried out the dual role of providing the officials and being the Event Manager. The Open Coxed Quad Scull was won by Sacred Heart College, Geelong, and the Open Eight by Methodist Ladies College and the Open Four by Ballarat Grammar School.

2006

The open Eight was won by Methodist Ladies College. The Open Quad Scull by Firbank Grammar School. The Open Four by Ballarat Grammar School and the Open Single Scull by Melbourne Girls College. The Barwon River course was in superb condition and the large crowd enjoyed everything on offer, both on and off the water.

2007

On the realigned Barwon River course the increased use of repechages for 1500m crews was a great success and the new Judges' Box proved its worth . There was a noticeable increase in single scull entries. The Open single scull was won by Melbourne Girls College, the eight by Methodist Ladies College, the coxed quad scull by Firbank Grammar School and the four by Ballarat Grammar.

2008

The open single scull was won by Melbourne Girls College, Jess Lowe has won single scull divisions at the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta for 3 consecutive years. The eight was won by Methodist Ladies College, the Four by Ballarat and Clarendon College and the Quad by Genazzano FCJ college. New Events to the program were the senior third eight.

2009

The Open single scull was won by Caulfield Grammar School, Rosemary Popa. The eight was won by Geelong Grammar, the quad scull by Genazzano and the four by Lauriston. New Events to the program were the year 9 and 10 division five quad sculls.

2010

The Open single scull was won by Katrina Bateman of Mentone Girls School. The four was won by Lauriston Girls School, the quad for the first time by Gippsland Grammar school and the eight by MLC.

2011

The Open single scull was won by Ebony Tsomaropoulos. The eight was won by Melbourne Girls' Grammar School, the four was won by Lauriston Girls School and the quad was won by Sacred Heart College, Geelong.

2012

The Open Single Scull was won by Selma Richter of Melbourne Girls College, the quad scull was won by Loreto - Toorak. Melbourne Girls Grammar school won the eight and Ballarat Grammar School won the Four.

2013

The Open Single Scull was won by Sophie Wathen of St Columbas College, the four was won by Lauriston Girls School, the Quad Scull was won by Firbank Grammar School, the Eight was won by Genazzano FCJ College. New Events to the program were the year 9 and 10 division six quad sculls.

2014

The Open Single Scull was won by Sara Williams of Sacred Heart College, Yarrawonga, the Eight was won by MLC, the four was won by Ballarat and Clarendon College, the Quad Scull was won by Firbank Grammar School. New Events to the program were the year 9 and 10 division seven quad sculls.

2015

The Open Single Scull was won by Ria Thompson of Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School, the Quad Scull was won by Ruyton Girls' School, the Eight was won by Geelong Grammar School, the four was won by Melbourne Girls' College. Changes to the regatta format included moving the Open event heats to the Friday afternoon.

2016

The Open Single Scull was won by Annika Hoffmann of Kardinia International College, the four was won by Ballarat Grammar, the Quad Scull was won by Ruyton Girls' School, the Eight was won by Geelong Grammar School. Changes to the regatta format included the introduction of exhaustive finals for Open events.

Location

The first HOSG was held in 1985 at Ballarat with seven events, and 240 competitors from 16 schools. In 1987, the event moved to Geelong where it has been held each year since.

Management

Each year a different school would host the regatta, but as it grew in size and popularity (from 9 events in 1987 to 321 crews and 2009 competitors in 2005), the Head of the Schoolgirl Regatta Committee decided to contract the event management and official duties. 2005 was the inaugural year in which Rowing Victoria both hosted the regatta and provided the officials, and has done so each year since.

Events

Racing at the Head of the Schoolgirls is in Eights, Coxed Quad Sculls, Coxed Fours, Double Sculls and Single Sculls across multiple divisions and year levels. Additional divisions have been added over the years to accommodate the increased popularity of schoolgirl rowing. As of 2017 the regatta offers the following:

Year 9 (1000m)

Coxed Quad Scull (8 Divisions); Coxed Four (7 Divisions); Single Scull (1 Division)

Year 10 (1000m)

Coxed Quad Scull (7 Divisions); Coxed Four (6 Divisions); Single Scull (1 Division)

Open (1500m)

Eight (3 Divisions); Coxed Quad Scull (4 Divisions); Coxed Four (6 Divisions); Double Scull (1 Division) Single Scull (2 Divisions)

Morongo Medals

Those girls who have competed in the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta for three or more years, and are in Year 12, are eligible to receive a Morongo Medal. These medals have been struck to commemorate Morongo Girls' College's contribution to the HOSG as a competitor before closing and to recognize its supporters' club, the Chirnside Club, as a valued contributor to the Schoolgirls. The medal's inscription - "Sint lucernae ardentes" is translated as "Keep the lamp burning".

Overall

The school that has the highest medal tally for the regatta is deemed to be the Head of the Schoolgirls Champions. While no trophy is awarded for this feat, it is a source of great pride for the recipient school.