The Victorian Head of the River regatta is contested between the eleven Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).
The Head of the River is the oldest continuous schoolboy rowing event in the world, dating back to 1868, and throughout its history has changed format on a number of occasions: from a duel-style race between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College on the Yarra River in Melbourne, to the current regatta, with the race usually being the last of the official APS rowing season. The race has been rowed on Lake Nagambie since 2001, which is a full-buoyed international standard course allowing six-boat finals.
History
A Brief History
(The author acknowledges the many sources from which these comments arise. See below.)
The "Head of the River" is a classic event and is one of the premier events in Victorian rowing.
The first Public School boat race in Victoria was rowed downstream on the Upper Yarra on 18 June 1868. The race was the outcome of negotiations between two Melbourne University Boat Club members: J. H. Thompson, on behalf of Melbourne Grammar School, and J. C. Johnstone, a member of the Scotch College staff. Those gentlemen coached their respective crews. Crews had been rowing on the river for some time, but the challenge for the race issued by one of the Scotch College rowers was only made on 17 June. It was promptly accepted by Melbourne Grammar School and, even in those early days, the contest aroused substantial interest.
The challenge read as follows:
The result was a victory for Scotch College by a length. The names of the crews were as follows :
Scotch College. Bow: A. C. Wilson, 2: A. Smith, 3: John C. Field, Str: J. Brady, Cox: F. G. White, Cch: J Johnstone.
Melbourne Grammar School. Bow: J. Sweeney, 2: G. T. Teague, 3: W. Barker, Str: H. Ryan, Cox: H. M. Strachan, Cch: J H Thompson.
(J.C. Robinson, in a letter to The Argus on 15 May 1918, maintained that there had been an earlier race in 1859, but that claim was denied in The Argus of 18 May 1918, by J Henning Thompson, whom Robinson had named as being a member of the 1859 Melbourne Grammar crew.)
The race for "Head-of-the-River" has been rowed every year since 1868. Wesley College wanted to row against the other two schools in 1871 in the annual race. However, it was decided that, "as it was an old-established race, which it was a pity to disturb", Scotch College and the Grammar School should row against Wesley College in turn. The races were on 19 and 20 June 1871. Wesley College proved their mettle by beating the Scotch boys on the 20th, after being beaten in a hard race by Melbourne Grammar the previous afternoon. Wesley College boys soon took part regularly in the race with the other two, and were "Head-of-the-River" in 1874.
The races were rowed from 1868–1897 in string-test gigs with fixed seats. During the period 1898–1900, the race was competed for in best boat outrigger fours with sliding seats. From 1901, clinker outrigged eights with sliding seats were used. At various times later, cedar boats, followed by plywood boats, fiberglass and, finally, composite construction boats have been used.
In 1879, the race was first rowed on the Barwon River, and then in every fifth or sixth year until 1916. Between 1921–1943, the Barwon saw the contest every fourth year and, since 1948, the only use of the Yarra was in 1957 when Geelong College won. During World War II, the Geelong schools rowed a heat on the Barwon, while the four Melbourne Schools rowed heats on the Yarra. Those races were held after school, and the winners met on the Yarra to decide the title, except in 1943, when restrictions on travel were in force.
Scotch College has been represented every year. Gradually, other schools have joined the contest, with the most recent being Haileybury College, who entered the Boys First Eight event for the first time in 1991.
The Sumner Challenge Cup and the Fairbairn Challenge Cup are the two trophies connected with this great contest. The Sumner Challenge Cup was presented in 1875 by the Hon. T. J. Sumner, to become the property of the school which first won it three times. Scotch won it in 1875, 1876 and 1879, and have retained the cup since that date. At a meeting of delegates, held at Scotch College on 1 April 1911, it was unanimously decided to accept the Challenge Cup which was offered by Charles Fairbairn, of "Banongil", Skipton, to be held from year to year by the School which was Head of the River.
The Head of the River races have weathered such difficulties as flooded rivers, disputes over ages, dead heats, disqualifications, and even the inability of a school to round up enough rowers to boat a crew.