Schoolgirls race on Barwon River

IMPECCABLE weather was the backdrop for the biggest Schoolgirl rowing event of the calendar at the 2022 Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta.

The Barwon River was packed with spectators, marquees, boats, and female rowers for the first time in two years as a result of the pandemic and organisers were thrilled with the turnout.

“I think Geelong and the Barwon River have lived up to their reputation as having the best rowing course in the state,” Rowing Geelong president Sam Elliott said.

“We’ve seen perfect racing conditions all weekend. The course has been beautifully presented and it’s great to see all the mums and dads in their respective schools’ marquees cheer on their daughters’ as they race down the river.

“It is the most unique regatta in the world. Nowhere else will you find a female school regatta, over three days with races every three minutes and it’s still growing.”

The regatta has been held in Geelong on the Barwon River since 1987 and injects around $2.5 million into the local economy each year.

“We look forward to working closely with the Head of the Schoolgirls Committee and our partners the City of Greater Geelong, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Rowing Victoria to making sure the regatta stays in Geelong, on the Barwon River well beyond 2024,” Elliott added.

In the main races the Female School Eight Open Division 1 was hotly contested between Melbourne schools’ St Catherine’s School and Melbourne Girls Grammar School with St Catherine’s winning in the narrowest of margins.

Local Geelong College sculler Issy Batrouney took out the Female School Single Open Division 1 in a very dominant display over SEDA College Geelong rower Zara Kfouri.

Locals Geelong Grammar School took out the Female School Eight Open Division 2 in a commanding display over St Catherine’s School. They also won the Female School Eight Year 10 Division 1 just ahead of the crew from Ruyton Girls’.

The girls from Ballarat & Clarendon College had a very strong win in the Female School Four Open Division 1.

Finally, Strathcona for the first time took out the Female School Quad Scull Open Division 1.

All rowing action heads up to Nagambie Lakes from next weekend with the APS Head of the River on Saturday followed by the National Championships on Monday, March 28.