Taking place this weekend (Saturday November 18) is the Melbourne Head Regatta – also known as The Head Race Championship of Australia. Previously the little sibling of the Head of the Yarra, this year sees Melbourne Head record a higher number of athletes entered with 2272 rowers set to battle it out over the exciting 3.5km course from Herring Island to Melbourne University Boat Club. Whilst the Head of the Yarra sees a significant number of interstate crews competing, Melbourne Head sees a fantastic array of Victorian crews from schools and clubs with the odd interstate crew thrown in. A spectators dream due to the cycling track running the whole length of the course, the 2023 Melbourne Head promises to be a fantastic day of racing.
The event comprises four brackets of racing, with a variety of boat classes on offer (including parent child doubles, school octuples, alumni eights and a coach event) in each bracket and optimised to allow athletes to race multiple times. Racing on the day is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 AM and conclude around 3:30 PM.
The course is challenging for coxes and steerspeople with a transit lane and a number of bridges and bends to contend with, not to mention marshalling around Herring Island. Beginning with a rolling start where the river cuts past Herring Island, the first obstacle rowers are presented with is a litter trap at the far end of the Island. Rowers then settle into their rhythm on the initial straight before the first bridge at Chapel Street/Church Street, with a deceptive right-hander from the coxes perspective. Coming out from under the bridge, coxes are faced with a narrower section of river and the choice between the centre or right arch of the Cremorne railway bridge. The ideal racing line with tide and stream is probably exactly where the bridge pylon is, so the choice of left or right will come down to conditions on the day.
Crews are met with a gentle right-hander out of the railway bridge and have their first large straight on the run up to the Punt Road bridge. With the bike path here at river level, coaches and spectators can enjoy being as close to in the boat as possible. With two arches to choose from on the Punt Road bridge, crews will want to aim for the centre arch as the most significant corner of the time trail awaits after exiting the Punt Road bridge and heading towards and under Morell Street Pedestrian Bridge (as an aside this bridge is the best for photographers, but gets crowded early).
After Morell Street, crews are met with a long gentle almost double bend to the right, before the final run in under Swan Street Bridge. Picking the right line under Swan Street is critical, as at this stage of the race the river can be congested with crews jostling for the centre line. The absolutely critical final corner is a deceptively tight left-hander round towards the finish line at Melbourne University Boat Club. Every year coxes and crews fail to maintain a tight line to the bouys, getting swept by the stream towards the far bank, losing precious lengths to the opposition.
If the preview of the course has got you excited, read on for previews of the blue riband events at Melbourne Head.
Events
Open Small Boats
Current Holders:
MO2-: Archibald/Miscamble (Melbourne University)
MO1x: Marcus Cain (Banks (raced for Banks in 2022))
FO2-: Gleeson/Mitchell (Melbourne University)
FO1x: Marston (Melbourne University)
Kicking off the regatta are the male and female Open Pair, the male and female Open Single and the male and female Lightweight Open Single. Any budding rowing fanatics should make the time to watch the following boats in these events: Wynn-Pope/Batrouney (Melbourne Uni), Achermann/Reinehr (Melbourne Uni/Mercantile); Hall Sullivan (Corio Bay), Miscamble, Fox, Smith (Melbourne University), Frederico (Mercantile), Wolf (Sydney); Foley/Gaffnery (Melbourne University); Foley (Corio Bay), Reinehr (Mercantile), Bongrain (Mercantile).
The winners are likely to come from the names listed above, and all should provide some great examples of rowing and race craft.
Male School Eight Open Division 1
Current Holders: Melbourne Grammar School
Favourites: Melbourne Grammar, Scotch, St Kevins, Wesley
For the first time in a number of years, all eleven APS school first eights are hitting the water for the 3.5km time trial. The pinnacle of boys eights racing in Victoria, the APS head of the river is a coveted title for all rowers at APS schools. Frequently, coaches are seen employing cloak and dagger tactics, not selecting full strength crews and rate capping boats, so unless we see a clear-cut winner the result can only be a general indication of current speeds. This race also marks the return of Noel Donaldson to the first eight coaching ranks, with the highly decorated coach taking the reigns at Melbourne Grammar School. Whatever the result, this race promises to be heated, charged and could be an early season blockbuster.
Male School Eight Year 9
Current Holders: Melbourne Grammar School
Favourites: Anyone’s game.
Our first look at the Year 10 eights that will be racing throughout the season. Current holders Melbourne Grammar School have the most eights racing with six crews entered and will be looking to record consecutive victories. Having said that, winners could come from any crew in this event and usual suspects Scotch, St Kevins, Wesley and Xavier will certainly not be letting Melbourne Grammar walk away with the win and coveted T-Shirt.
Excitingly we also see eights entered from Trinity Grammar School Kew and Melbourne High School which should add to the depth of the field who, along with Caulfield, will be looking to push the race winners on.
Female School Eight Open Division 1
Current Holders: St Catherine’s
Favourites: Melbourne Girls Grammar School
Despite a narrow loss to MLC school at the Foot of the Gouburn race at the end of October, current national champions MGGS enter the Melbourne Head as narrow favourites. Sure to push them all the way are MLC, Loreto Toorak and possibly Ruyton. This event also sees an interstate entry in the form of Walford Anglican School to add a joker into the pack. Last seasons winner St Catherine’s will also be certain to throw the kitchen sink to try and achieve the win as well. With a fantastic 15 boats entered into this category overall, there promises to be some fantastic racing between some strong crews and the difference between first and second could well come down to who has the best cox.
Male Under 21 Eight
Current Holders: Melbourne University
Favourites: Melbourne University
With seven crews entered the under 21 eight is a straight shootout between a number of APS first eights and Melbourne University Boat Club. Whilst the schoolboys will be keen to cause an upset, Melbourne University are likely to be fitter, stronger and more experienced and should see out a solid win, especially with a number of junior world championship AUS representatives on board.
Female Under 21 Eight
Current Holders: Caulfield Grammar School
Favourites: Melbourne University
A similar story to the men’s under 21 eight, the women’s event sees a number of schoolgirl first boats taking on Melbourne University’s finest. In what is likely to be a closer margin than the men’s race, Melbourne University remain solid favourites for the win. Loreto Toorak and MGGS will fancy their chances of an upset but are likely to fall short.
Male Club Eight
Current Holders: Mercantile Rowing Club
Favourites: Melbourne University/Mercantile (Ivers)
An exciting prospect, the club eight this year features six legitimate club men’s eights and a selection of three school crews. Last years competitors Mercantile, Richmond, Carey and Banks are joined by second crews from Mercantile and Richmond as well as a Melbourne University Crew. Showcasing that club rowing in Victoria is potentially on the rise again, the men’s eight should be an enjoyable battle between clubs that have a fierce rivalry on the water but will have a beer and snag together afterwards. It is tight to call between Banks, Mercantile, Richmond and MUBC (seconds separated them last year), but initial favourites are Mercantile Ivers and MUBC.
Female Club Eight
Current Holders: Mercantile
Favourites: Mercantile Cox
Mercantile are in pole position to retain their club eight title in 2023. With only five entries this year, the competition is lower in number than the eight entered in 2022, however promises to be just as hotly-contested. With only one schoolgirl crew in the mix in the form of Wesley College, four club women’s eights is again a positive sign for club rowing in Victoria.
Male School Quad
Current Holders: Ballarat Grammar
Favourites: Melbourne High School
For two years in a row, the entries in the Male School Quad are higher than the Female School Quad. Not surprisingly given the existence of the second division in the female event, perhaps next year will see the addition of a second Male School Quad division?
This years favourites are Melbourne High School. The first placed crew at the Saltwater Challenge Regatta in September have split back up into various Ballarat School crews, potentially paving the way for a first Melbourne Head win for the High since 2018. They certainly won’t have it their own way, with strong challenges expected from Ballarat Grammar (winners in 2020), Gippsland Grammar (winners in 2019, 2021), St Patrick’s College and Trinity. Whatever happens, the level of boy’s sculling in Victoria is gradually increasing, though still has some way to match NSW.
Female School Quad
Current Holders: Melbourne Girls College
Favourites: Melbourne Girls College
In the absence of usual favourites and winners of the Saltwater Classic Ruyton, the favourites for this event are potentially Melbourne Girls College. However, the schoolgirl quad is consistently competitive and this year includes an interstate entry in the form of Loreto Maryatville. Ballarat Grammar, Korowa AHS and Strathcona are likely to push MGC all the way, with the potential surprise package of Toorak College one to watch.
Also of note, the Female School Quad division 2 is the most entered crew boat event of the regatta with a huge 27 entries.
Male and Female Open Eight
Current Holders
MO8+: Melbourne University
FO8+: Melbourne University/Sydney University Composite
The men’s eight is a contested race between MUBC and Mercantile, with MUBC likely to come out on top due to their greater level of experience and a significant number of AUS U23 representatives.
In the women’s eight we see another contest between Mercantile and MUBC which although potentially closer than the men’s eight, again sees MUBC as favourites to take the win.
Male School Single Scull
Current Holder: Currie (Hawthorn)
Favourite: Ragg (St Kevin’s)/Davey (Essendon)/Russell (MGS)/Trinity
2022 saw 41 scullers take to the water to contest the Schoolboy single title. This year a reduced number of 30 will fight it out over the course. With Currie not returning, it’s anyone’s opportunity to take the win. What is certain is that the sculler with solid technique, good fitness and, most importantly, ability to steer and maintain composure is the most likely to come out on top. Davey returns from nationals, having competed well in the U17 events in Perth whilst Ragg and Russell are both significant members of their school first eights, and Trinity are likely to contribute a good sculler from their top quad, having narrowly missed out on an A final in the schoolboy quad in Perth. Always a race full of drama, this event should round the day out nicely for schoolboy rowing fans.
Female School Single Scull
Current Holder: Walker (Ballarat Grammar)
Favourite: Antonie (MGGS)/ McNeil (Mercantile)/ McCarthy (Nagambie)
Another fairly open contest, 2023 sees the number of scullers competing increasing from 19 in 2022 to 30 in 2023. There are some exciting names hidden away here including Antonie (daughter of Peter Antonie; Olympic and World Champion), McNeil (recently returned from Head of the Charles Regatta) and McCarthy (currently rowing out of Nagambie under the tutelage of Sue Andrews). Whilst Antonie is the likely favourite, McNiel will surely run her close and surprising competition could well emerge from anywhere within the field. Again, knowledge of the river and the ability to steer will be critical and may well be where Antonie and McNeil can edge out the field.
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