Rowing season reaches pinnacle at Head of the Schoolgirls

THE largest schoolgirl regatta in the Southern Hemisphere will soon be on again along the Barwon River, with thousands of rowers to call Geelong home for three days.

The Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta from March 15-17 will bring about 2,200 competitors to the region from more than 40 schools across the state.

Rowing Geelong president Sam Elliott said the regatta, now in its 38th year, provided a major boon to the region, creating an awesome opportunity for school rowers to refine their skills before national championships.

“If you ask anyone around rowing, they’ll tell you they love coming down to Geelong to compete on the Barwon River.

“We have a safe and fair course, and spectators love being able to view the racing the length of the course from both banks.

“We look forward to hosting the Head of the Schoolgirls again this year and look forward to doing so for many years to come.”

Max Partington, who has been the Sacred Heart rowing coach since 2018, said the Head of the Schoolgirls was the biggest time of the year for his athletes.

“There is always a lot of excitement built up around the Head of the Schoolgirls’ in the rowing community and there is always that sense of jitters for coaches and athletes as the end of the season approaches.

“It’s almost kind of insane that there are three days of 1,000-plus kids that just pack out the Barwon River, which is a very unique course in itself; there’s nothing in rowing that compares to this event anywhere here in Australia.”

Races to look out for include the main event, the Female School Eight Open Division 1 final, which will be hotly contested between Melbourne schools’ Loreto Toorak, St Catherine’s School, and Melbourne Girls Grammar School.

Locally, Kardinia International College will be a good chance in the Female School Quad Scull Open Division 1, while Christian College sculler Alice Joyce is one of the favourites to take out the Female School Single Open in Division 1.

Financially, the regatta, which has been a staple on the Geelong calendar since 1987, will also inject millions into the City of Greater Geelong – according to Elliott, about $2.5 million.

“We couldn’t host the regatta without our partners the City of Greater Geelong, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Rowing Victoria,” he said.

“We thank the Head of the Schoolgirls’ Committee for making the commitment to hold their regatta in Geelong.”

Racing will begin from 8am on Friday, March 15 and will conclude with the final of the Female School Eight Open Division 1 at about 5pm on March 17.