The 2024 APS Regatta marks the first 2000m hit-out of the season in the long run-up to the oldest schoolboy rowing event in the world, the APS Head of the River. Last year, it was unfortunate that a scheduling conflict meant we didn’t see any of the APS crews compete at nationals. However, this year, we are bound to see the top performers journey across the Tasman straight in late March so this regatta will be a crucial indicator of their early-season performance.
Melbourne Grammar
Melbourne Grammar School will make the trip out to Nagambie with an unchanged crew from last week’s time trial, where they placed third, ten seconds adrift of the leading pair from Scotch and Brighton. Melbourne Grammar has been a consistent performer in the past decade, securing a bronze medal at last year’s HOTR. This year’s crew returns only one athlete from that combination in the form of Otto Mayo, who will no doubt be looking to build with this boat. Although they were off the pace last season, the watchful eye of Victorian rowing stalwart David Pincus in the coaches’ launch will no doubt know where they need to improve, so expect them to be hot on the heels of those fighting for the win.
Scotch
The formidable program from Hawthorn, Scotch College are back again in their bid to set things right after a sixth place at last year’s Head of the River, their worst result and first time off the podium since 2009. At last week’s Melbourne Head, they laid down a solid early-season marker over 3.5km, taking the win by under four seconds. This weekend, 7/8 of those athletes are back in the boat, joined by Angus Glassenbury from the winning second eight at that same event. With HOTR wins in his 15-year tenure as coach, it would be unwise to write off a challenge from a Tom Woodruff-coached crew.
Brighton Grammar
Fresh off the back of a surprising 2024 Head of the River win, Brighton Grammar will have a target on their backs this season. Although Brighton Grammar are the reigning Head of the River champions from 2024, only three athletes are back for a second tilt at the title this season in the form of Oscar Goodger-Mcgrath, Michael Farrand, and Isaac Pels, who also won the SB1X at last week’s 3500m Melbourne Head regatta. In the eights race last weekend, Tonners managed second to the imperious Scotch College, although only by 3.67 seconds. After winning their first title in 38 years in 2021, Brighton is a true force in Victorian schools rowing, but if they want to kick off the 2km racing season with a win, they’ll need to find another gear against the established prowess of Scotch.
Prediction
With the exception of last year, the Melbourne Head regatta has been an extremely predictor of 2km speed for Victorian schools. As much as Brighton Grammar would like to continue on from their win last season, I can’t see anyone upsetting Scotch College for the win.
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