Regatta rush descends on the Barwon

Loreto Toorak took home the prestigious Senior Division 1 Eight final. Photos: MARCEL BERENS/SPORTS MEDIA IMAGES

GEELONG’S Barwon River hosted schools from across the state for the largest female rowing regatta on the Victorian calendar.

Rowing Geelong president Sam Elliott said despite the hot and windy conditions on Saturday, the 2023 Head of the Schoolgirls kept on schedule over the three days of action last weekend.

Geelong College’s Division 1 Eight crew.

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

“The wonderful volunteer boat race officials were able to keep the regatta on schedule without losing a race despite the conditions on Saturday.

Haileybury College’s Quad at the Head of the Schoolgirls.

“Every single crew was able to have their full complement of races across the three days of the regatta.”

The main races included the Senior Division 1 Eight won by Loreto Toorak by over a length ahead of Melbourne Girls Grammar School.

Local athlete Zara Kfouri from SEDA College Geelong took out the Senior Division 1 Scull in dominant fashion over Toorak College’s Sophie Miller.

In the Senior Division 1 Double Scull, local crew from Kardinia International College were narrowly defeated by Albert Park College.

The Head of the Schoolgirls has been a familiar sight on the Barwon River since 1987.

The regatta has been a familiar sight in Geelong on the Barwon River, held as a concluding event to the Rowing Victoria season since 1987 and injecting approximately $2.5 million into the local economy each year.

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