Scotch College

A triumphant day at Head of the River

At 3.20 pm on 8 April, Scotch’s 1st VIII moved into the starting blocks at Nagambie Lakes knowing that every other event entered by Scotch had been a win to Scotch. The crew went into the final as hot favourites, having won at every regatta throughout the season and having collected a gold medal and two silver medals at the Australian Championships. However, a four-week break during the Commonwealth Games and Geelong College’s improved form made the race far from a certainty. Rowed in strong cross-head breeze conditions, lanes were changed for the first time as the APS fairness policy was put into effect for the first time.

The start saw Scotch jump out to an early lead together with Xavier. After 500 metres, Scotch led by about a quarter of a length from Xavier and just on a length from Geelong College. In the middle stages of the race, Scotch and Geelong College pulled away from the rest of the field. Geelong College threw out a challenge with around 800 metres to go, but the Scotch crew lifted and pulled away in the concluding stages of the race to win by over a length. Geelong College finished in second place, with Geelong Grammar third. This was Scotch’s 35th win at the Head of the River and we clearly top the table, with Geelong Grammar having 33 wins and Melbourne Grammar 26. All credit must go to the boys in the crew for the manner in which they went about their tasks over the season. Congratulations to our First VIII coach, Jeff Watt, who has now coached three Scotch crews for three wins.

Great win for Second VIII

The Scotch College Second VIII, coached for the first time by Tom Woodruff, took all before them throughout the season. They also went into the Head of the River as hot favourites having not been beaten by another Second VIII. They had a comfortable win in their heat, and went into the final with confidence. Stroked by Sandy Buchanan, they were never seriously challenged. They took an early lead and raced away from the rest of the field to win by over three lengths from Carey and Geelong Grammar.

Scotch crews won all the other eights races in which we entered crews. The Third VIII, coached once again by Craig Salisbury, dominated the race and went on to win by more than four lengths from Geelong College and Melbourne Grammar. This was the first time since 1973 that Scotch had won the First, Second and Third VIII events at the Head of the River. The Fourth VIII scored a convincing win by about three lengths from Melbourne Grammar and Geelong College. The 10A VIII – silver medallists at the national titles – dominated their event, winning by four lengths from Melbourne Grammar and St Kevin’s College. The 10B VIII scored a comfortable win over Melbourne Grammar. In the 10C VIII division, Scotch crews finished first, third and sixth.

Year 9 quad sculls

Scotch crews won all five divisions of the Year 9 quad sculls events. Unfortunately the competition in this event has diminished in recent years because of other schools’ reluctance to commit to rowing in quad sculls. However, in our opinion it is preferential developmentally for the boys to progress from single sculls to quad sculls and then into the sweep-oared program, and we will continue to follow this path. Our thanks go to the many coaches who worked hard to improve the skill levels of all the boys and to give them the opportunity to participate in the Head of the River.

2007 and beyond

To win every event at the Head of the River was a remarkable achievement: 12 victories out of 12 events entered. Credit must go to all the boys and their coaches for these outstanding performances. We do expect other schools to work hard to challenge us in 2007 and beyond. The Scotch community can rest assured that all the coaches will leave no stone unturned to see if we can continue to improve our performances again in 2007, and to leave ‘all pursuit behind’!

Greg Baker
Chairman of Rowing