Head of the River (New South Wales)


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

AAGPS Head of the River Regatta

The AAGPS Head of the River regatta takes place in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia every March at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. It is the culmination of the GPS rowing season for senior crews.
From 1893 until 1935, the Regatta was held on the Parramatta River in Port Jackson – 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 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, 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 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.
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, Saint Ignatius' College and Shore School, send their eights to the Head of the River. In 2012 the ninth, The Armidale School, 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.
It is the last race of the official GPS rowing season, and follows the Riverview Gold Cup held on the Lane Cove River. 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 record time for the 1st VIII is 5:42.6 set by Shore on 23 March 1996. The most recent winner of the AAGPS Head of the River, and holder of the Major Rennie Trophy is The Scots College winning the regatta in 2020 with a time of 6:05.02 ahead of the Kings School and St Ignatius' College.

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.
The NSW Schoolgirls' Head of the River held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, in Penrith on the Sunday following the Schoolboys Head of the River. It is organised by the NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council and is the culmination of the Schoolgirls' rowing season.
The current record time for the 1st VIII in the Schoolgirl Head of the River is 6:40 set by Queenwood School for Girls on 25 March 2017. The most recent winner of the NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River is Pymble Ladies' College.
Unlike the boys race, all affiliated schools of the NSWCISSC, NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association, and the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Sports association, 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, 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 among girls crews from public and private non-AHIGS schools, most notably, St Paul's Grammar School, Kinross Wolaroi School, Sydney Girls High School, SCECGS Redlands, North Sydney Girls High School, Riverside Girls High School and Radford College.
The New South Wales Rowing Association holds ten 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 – now awarded to the schoolgirl second eight.
  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.
  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.
  8. the William McKeith Trophy for the Junior handicap point score.
  9. the Carol Bowern Shield for the Senior handicap point score.
  10. 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 2nd VIII – L C Robson Memorial Trophy

YearWinner2nd3rd
2000ShoreKing'sSt Joseph's
2001King'sShoreNewington
2002St Joseph'sSt Ignatius'Shore
2003ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2004ShoreSt Joseph'sKing's
2005ShoreSt Joseph'sKing's
2006King'sSt Joseph'sShore
2007ShoreSt Joseph'sKing's
2008ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2009ShoreKing'sNewington
2010ShoreSt Ignatius'Scots
2011NewingtonSt Ignatius'Scots
2012ShoreSt Joseph'sScots
2013St Joseph'sShoreScots
2014ShoreSt Joseph'sScots
St Ignatius'
2015ScotsShoreNewington
2016ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2017ShoreScotsSt Joseph's
2018ShoreScotsNewington
2019ShoreKing'sNewington
2020St Ignatius'ShoreNewington

The 1st IV – Yaralla Cup

YearWinner2nd3rd
2000ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2001King'sSt Ignatius'Grammar
2002King'sSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2003ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2004ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2005King'sSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2006King'sSt Joseph'sShore
2007ShoreNewingtonSt Ignatius'
2008ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2009ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2010GrammarKing'sScots
2011King'sShoreScots
2012ScotsKing'sShore
2013ShoreKing'sNewington
2014ShoreKing'sGrammar
2015St Joseph'sShoreScots
2016ShoreNewingtonSt Ignatius'
2017ShoreSt Joseph'sArmidale
2018ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2019St Ignatius'ShoreNewington
2020ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's

The 2nd IV – Allan Callaway Trophy

YearWinner2nd3rd
2000St Ignatius'ShoreKing's
2001St Ignatius'ShoreGrammar
2002St Ignatius'King'sGrammar
2003St Ignatius'King'sShore
2004ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2005ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2006King'sShoreSt Joseph's
2007ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2008ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2009ShoreScotsSt Ignatius'
2010ShoreScotsSt Ignatius'
2011King'sShoreGrammar
2012King'sSt Ignatius'Scots
2013ShoreSt Joseph'sKing's
2014Shore
2015St Joseph'sShoreNewington
2016ShoreKing'sSt Joseph's
2017ShoreKing'sScots
2018St Ignatius'St Joseph'sScots
2019St Ignatius'ShoreKings
2020St Ignatius'ShoreGrammar

The 3rd IV – Father Gartlan Trophy

YearWinner2nd3rd
2000ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2001ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2002St Ignatius'ShoreGrammar
2003ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2004ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2005St Joseph'sKing'sShore
2006St Ignatius'ShoreKing's
2007ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2008ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2009King'sSt Ignatius'Scots
2010King'sGrammarShore
2011ScotsSt Joseph'sShore
2012King'sSt Ignatius'Armidale
2013King'sScotsShore
2014Scots
2015ShoreSt Joseph'sKing's
2016ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2017ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2018St Joseph'sScotsShore
2019ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2020St Ignatius'ShoreScots

The 4th IV – Penrith City Council Cup

YearWinner2nd3rd
2000ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2001St Joseph'sShoreSt Ignatius'
2002St Ignatius'ShoreGrammar
2003St Ignatius'ShoreKing's
2004ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2005St Ignatius'King'sShore
2006ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2007ShoreKing'sSt Ignatius'
2008ShoreSt Ignatius'King's 2
2009King'sSt Ignatius'Shore
2010King'sShoreSt Ignatius'
2011King'sShoreScots
2012King'sSt Ignatius'Grammar
2013King's
2014St Joseph'sScots
2015ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2016ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2017King'sNewingtonShore
2018St Ignatius'St Joseph'sScots
2019ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2020ShoreSt Ignatius'Scots

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 3rd VIII

YearWinner2nd3rd
2001ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2002St Joseph'sShoreSt Ignatius'
2003St Ignatius'ShoreSt Joseph's
2004ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2005St Joseph'sKing'sSt Ignatius'
2006King'sSt Joseph's 1St Joseph's 2
2007ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2008St Ignatius'Shore
2009King'sSt Joseph'sGrammar
2010King'sScotsGrammar
2011King'sScotsSt Ignatius'
2012King's 1St Ignatius'King's 2
2013King's
2014St Joseph'sShore
2015St Joseph'sShoreKing's
2016ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius' 1
2017GrammarNewingtonSt Joseph's
2018St Joseph's 1St Ignatius'St Joseph's 2
2019ShoreSt Ignatius' 1St Joseph's

The current record time for the 1st Year 10 VIII is 6:08.90 set by the Shore School on 12 March 2016.

The 1st Year 10 VIII

YearWinner2nd3rd
2001NewingtonGrammarSt Ignatius'
2002ShoreSt Joseph'sScots
2003ShoreKing'sSt Joseph's
2004King'sGrammarShore
2005King'sShoreSt Ignatius'
2006ShoreKing'sNewington
2007St Joseph'sKing'sShore
2008ShoreGrammarSt Ignatius'
2009GrammarShoreKing's
2010NewingtonSt Joseph'sScots
2011King'sNewingtonSt Ignatius'
2012ShoreNewingtonSt Joseph's
2013ShoreGrammarKing's
2014King'sShoreSt Ignatius'
2015ShoreSt Joseph'sKing's
2016ShoreKing'sScots
2017King'sSt Ignatius'Scots
2018King'sShoreScots
2019ShoreGrammarScots

The 2nd Year 10 VIII

YearWinner2nd3rd
2001ShoreGrammarSt Ignatius'
2002ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2003ShoreHighKing's
2004GrammarShoreKing's
2005ShoreKing'sSt Joseph's
2006ShoreKing'sSt Joseph's
2007King'sShoreSt Ignatius'
2008GrammarShoreKing's
2009King'sScotsSt Ignatius'
2010ShoreGrammarKing's
2011King'sSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2012ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2014St Joseph'sKing'sSt Ignatius'
2015St Joseph'sShoreKing's
2016ShoreSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2017ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2018ShoreSt Joseph'sGrammar
2019ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'

The 3rd Year 10 VIII

YearWinner2nd3rd
2002Shore 1Shore 2St Ignatius'
2003ShoreSt Joseph'sHigh
2004Shore 1Shore 2St Ignatius'
2005Shore 1King'sShore 2
2006ShoreKing'sSt Joseph's
2007ShoreSt Ignatius'King's
2008St Ignatius' 1King's 1St Joseph's
2009King'sSt Ignatius'Newington
2010St Joseph'sSt Ignatius'Scots
2011King'sSt Ignatius'St Joseph's
2012ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius'
2013Shore
2014Newington-
2015King'sScotsSt Joseph's
2016St Joseph'sShoreScots
2017St Ignatius'St Joseph'sNewington
2018ShoreSt Joseph'sGrammar
2019St Joseph'sShoreSt Ignatius'

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

YearWinner2nd3rd
2009St Ignatius' 1King's 1Shore
2010St Joseph'sSt Ignatius'King's
2011St Ignatius' 1King's 1St Ignatius' 2
2012St Joseph's 1ShoreSt Joseph's 2
2013ShoreSt Joseph'sSt Ignatius' 1
2014St Joseph'sSt Ignatius' 1King's
2015St Joseph'sScotsKing's
2016Scots 1St Joseph's 2St Joseph's 1
2017ShoreNewingtonScots
2018ShoreSt Joseph's
2019St Joseph'sShore

NSW Schoolgirls Head of the River Regatta Results

Regatta winners

YearWinner2nd3rd
1990Loreto Normanhurst
1991Loreto Normanhurst
1992Sydney Girls
1993North Sydney
1994Sydney Girls
1995Wenona
1996SCEGGS
1997Loreto Normanhurst
1998Pymble
1999PymbleWenonaAscham
2000PymbleQueenwoodPLC Sydney
2001PymbleLoreto NormanhurstLoreto Kirribilli
2002PymblePLC SydneyLoreto Kirribilli
2003PymbleLoreto KirribilliCanberra Girls' Grammar
2004PymbleLoreto KirribilliPLC Sydney
2005PymbleLoreto KirribilliCanberra Girls' Grammar
2006PymbleQueenwoodRoseville
2007PymblePLC SydneyLoreto Kirribilli
2008PymblePLC SydneyCanberra Girls' Grammar
2009PymbleQueenwoodLoreto Kirribilli
2010QueenwoodLoreto KirribilliLoreto Normanhurst
2011QueenwoodPymbleLoreto Kirribilli
2012PymbleQueenwoodLoreto Normanhurst
2013QueenwoodPymbleCanberra Girls' Grammar
2014QueenwoodPymbleLoreto Normanhurst
2015Loreto NormanhurstPymbleQueenwood
2016QueenwoodKinross WolaroiLoreto Normanhurst
2017QueenwoodPymbleKinross Wolaroi
2018PymbleQueenwoodLoreto Normanhurst

YearWinner2nd3rd
1992Sydney Girls
1993Sydney Girls
1994Sydney Girls
1995Wenona
1996SCEGGS
1997Loreto Normanhurst
1998Loreto Normanhurst
1999Pymble
2000Pymble
2001Pymble
2002Pymble
2003Pymble
2004Pymble
2005Pymble
2006Pymble
2007Pymble
2008PymbleCanberra Girls' Grammar
2009Pymble
2010Canberra Girls' Grammar
2011Loreto NormanhurstCanberra Girls' GrammarPymble
2012PymbleLoreto NormanhurstCanberra Girls' Grammar

YearWinner2nd3rd
1996Loreto Normanhurst
1997SCEGGS
1998Loreto Normanhurst
1999Loreto NormanhurstPymbleLoreto Kirribilli
2000PymbleLoreto KirribilliQueenwood
2001Loreto KirribilliPymbleLoreto Normanhurst
2002Canberra Girls' GrammarSydney GirlsLoreto Kirribilli
2003PymbleSCEGGSPLC Sydney
2004Loreto KirribilliPymbleSCEGGS
2005PymbleLoreto KirribilliQueenwood
2006PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarQueenwood
2007Sydney GirlsMLCAscham
2008PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarRoseville
2009PymbleQueenwoodCanberra Girls' Grammar
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014QueenwoodCanberra Girls' GrammarLoreto Normanhurst

YearWinner2nd3rd
1996SCEGGS
1997Loreto Normanhurst
1998Canberra Girls' Grammar
1999PymbleLoreto NormanhurstSCEGGS
2000PymbleQueenwoodMLC
2001Loreto NormanhurstNorth SydneyPymble
2002PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarRoseville
2003PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarLoreto Kirribilli
2004PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarLoreto Kirribilli
2005Canberra Girls' GrammarPymbleLoreto Kirribilli
2006PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarLoreto Normanhurst
2007QueenwoodRiverside GirlsAscham
2008QueenwoodKinross WolaroiTara
2009TaraRadfordAscham

YearWinner2nd3rd
1994Wenona
1995Redlands
1996MLC
1997MLC
1998Ascham
1999QueenwoodRedlandsRoseville
2000North Sydney
2001Not awarded--
2002SCEGGSSouth Grafton HS
2003North SydneyRedlandsAscham
2004RosevilleLoreto NormanhurstRedlands
2005Not awarded--
2006Sydney GirlsAschamRadford
2007Sydney GirlsMLCAscham
2008AschamNewcastleMLC
2009"'Not awarded'"--

YearWinner2nd3rd
1993Westfields
1994Loreto Kirribilli
1995Loreto Kirribilli
1996Roseville
1997PLC Sydney
1998Albion Park
1999Fort StreetLoreto NormanhurstPLC Sydney
2000Loreto NormanhurstMLCBarrenjoey HS
2001Kotara HSConservatoriumQueenwood
2002MLCWarners BayLoreto Kirribilli
2003Loreto KirribilliRavenswoodSt Paul's
2004Maclean HSAschamNorth Sydney
2005Shoalhaven HSCanberra Girls' GrammarHunter School
2006South Grafton HSMaclean HSSt Paul's
2007Kingswood HSSouth Grafton HSSt Paul's
2008Kingswood HSPymbleSouth Grafton HS
2009Canberra Girls' GrammarRiverside GirlsCrestwood
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014TaraSydney GirlsCanberra Girls' Grammar

YearWinner2nd3rd
1998Loreto Kirribilli
1999Loreto Kirribilli
2000AschamLoreto KirribilliSouth Grafton HS
2001RosevilleLoreto KirribilliPymble
2002South Grafton HSLoreto NormanhurstNorth Sydney
2003RosevilleCanberra Girls' GrammarPymble
2004PymbleCanberra Girls' GrammarRoseville
2005Canberra Girls' GrammarPymbleRoseville
2006PLC SydneyQueenwoodCanberra Girls' Grammar
2007PymbleRosevillePLC Sydney
2008RosevillePLC SydneyLoreto Kirribilli

YearWinner2nd3rd
2004RosevillePymbleCanberra Girls' Grammar
2005Queenwood
2006RosevilleLoreto NormanhurstKinross Wolaroi
2007Kinross WolaroiPLC SydneyRoseville
2008AschamQueenwoodKinross Wolaroi
2009Loreto NormanhurstPLC SydneyTara
2010QueenwoodLoreto NormanhurstRadford
2011Loreto NormanhurstQueenwoodPLC Sydney