Head of the Schoolgirls raced in fine conditions

SCHOOLGIRL rowers from across the state descended on Geelong last week for the 2024 Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta, racing up and down the Barwon River for three consecutive days.

The Barwon River set the scene for picturesque rowing conditions, despite earlier concerns of a blue-green algae outbreak.

Rowing Geelong president Sam Elliott said every single competitor had fair, even and safe conditions for racing on the final day of competition on Sunday.

“The Barwon River here in Geelong has lived up to its reputation as having the safest and fairest rowing course in the state.

“The schoolgirls have been able to have a wonderful regatta.

“The volunteer boat race officials were able to keep the regatta on schedule, the course was presented beautifully by our Rowing Geelong volunteers, and every single competitor was able to have their full complement of races across the three days of the regatta.”

In the marquee events, the Female School Eight Open Division 1 was won by Loreto Toorak just ahead of Melbourne Girls Grammar School.

Haileybury College’s Clodagh McCarthy took home the Female School Single Scull Open Division 1 over Adelaide Robb from Victory Lutheran College.

The crew from Ballarat & Clarendon College again showed their dominance in the Female School Four Open Division 1, winning the event for the fourth year in a row.

The girls from Gippsland Grammar School won the Female School Quad Scull Open Division 1 for the first time in 14 years, outracing the crew from Ruyton Girls’ School.

In the Female School Double Scull Open Division 1, Melbourne’s Albert Park College went back-to-back, comfortably beating Geelong’s Kardinia International College.