Scotch College

History Made at Lake Nagambie

Twenty Scotch crews competed in the first APS Head of the River regatta to be held at Lake Nagambie on 1 April. In perfect conditions for rowing, it was great to see six crews fighting out the 2001 Head of the River.

Scotch's representation was made up of four senior VIII's, five Year 10 VIIIs, ten Year 9 quad sculls and one Year 9 VIII - total of one hundred and forty rowers and coxswains.

Many firsts at Nagambie

There were a number of firsts for the 2001 Head of the River:

• The lengths of the events were different - 2000 metre events for open crews.
• A one day event - heats in the morning and finals in the afternoon.
• All the spectators on the one bank.
• Rowing Victoria conducted the regatta

2000 metres is the international standard for racing for senior crews. For a number of years the Australian Schoolboy Championships have been rowed over 2000 metres.

Nagambie provides a straight 2000 metre course with eight possible lanes, although six only were used for most of the races. Nagambie is the only course in Victoria that meets standards required to conduct the Australian Rowing Championships, where they will be held again next year in early March.

Entries for the two heats of the first and second eight events were seeded based on results at Victorian Championship Regatta held in March.

A pleasing feature of the regatta was the intermingling of parents and rowers on the one bank with plenty of room for all. It was a far cry from parents on one side and students on the other.

Rowing Victoria conducted the regatta on behalf of the APS and this represented a step up in their official involvement. The Regatta Secretary was William Webster and the Referee was Old Scotch Collegian Andrew Guerin ('73), a member of the Scotch's 1973 winning Head of the River crew.

Cardinal Club support

The Cardinal Club provided terrific support for the Scotch College Boat Club. At the end of the regatta rowers were treated to refreshments and food at the Cardinal Club Marquee which had been set up at the Caravan Park adjacent to the course.

Special 150th Anniversary badges were designed for rowers for their rowing uniforms and worn for the regatta. Also at the conclusion of the regatta rowers and coaches were presented with a commemorative medallion which was engraved with the crew division and seat of each rower. This fine medallion will be a treasured memento of each rower's participation in years to come.

First VIII fourth in final

The first VIII showed continuing improvement in the three weeks leading up to the regatta and matched some of the form shown when they won School Division A at the Head of the Yarra in early February.

The first VIII surprised many of the pundits by coming second in their heat to Geelong Grammar with Carey third and thus qualifying for the final. Scotch rowed well in the final to finish fourth behind the winners Geelong College, Carey and Haileybury with Geelong Grammar fifth and Xavier sixth.

Senior crews second

The second VIII, third VIII and fourth VIII were second in their finals for their respective divisions. These three crews had considerable success at Rowing Victoria regattas over the season, the second VIII in particular winning the School VIII Division Two and Lord Mayor's Challenge Cup for Intermediate VIIIs at the Henley Regatta.

10As and 10Bs - Head of the River Champions

The Year 10A crew coached by Simon Morrison ('86) battled with Carey for supremacy over the season.

In an exciting race in the Year 10A VIII Final at the Head of the River, Scotch came from behind with 200 metres to go to win by almost a length.

The Year 10B crew was the standout crew in this division over the season and Luke Stanistreet ('95) again coached a crew that was not troubled in its final.

1st Quad second in A final

The First Year 9 quad rowed superbly to be second by one and a quarter lengths to the St Kevin's first quad who had been in front of the field for the whole season.

Scotch at the Nationals - Lake Wivenhoe Queensland

For the second year in a row Scotch College Boat Club traveled to the Australian Rowing Championships. This year the First VIII, Year 10A VIII and a four (with three second VIII rowers and a Year 10B VIII rower) competed.

The competition at this level is fierce and shows continuing improvement in times and the standard of racing. The first VIII qualified for the semi final where they finished fifth and thus missed out on a place in the final of the Australian Champion Schoolboy VIII.

The Year 10A crew rowed in the Under 16 Schoolboys VIII final and were third, receiving a bronze medal. The winning crew was Brisbane Boys College, in following conditions in the very fast time of 6.01 for the 2000 metres.

The four rowed extremely well qualify for the all Victorian final, finishing an extremely creditable sixth against schools who row only in four oared competition.

Most successful school at the Head of the River

Scotch's results with two first placings, three second placing and a fourth placing in the senior events made Scotch the most successful of the eleven APS schools at the Head of the River.

Credit for these results must go to our outstanding team of coaches together with our Coaching Co-ordinator, Steve Whitington, and Teacher in Charge of Rowing, Tom Bowen.

The 2002 Head of the River will be rowed on 23 March and our planning is well advanced as we seek to return the Fairbairn Cup to Scotch College once again.

Mr Greg Baker