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WA IGSSA Head of River rowing regatta

IGSSA Head of the River


We are indebted to Louise Carson from the IGSSA (WA) for information on which this history is based.

Schoolgirl rowing competition started with a few schoolgirls’ crews rowing as part of the WA Amateur Rowing Association Regatta’s from 1982. Early schoolgirls rowing was driven by female rowers who were in most cases teachers at schools and had links to clubs. Schools who were involved in these early regattas include Perth College, Willeton, Swanleigh, Kent Street, Santa Maria and St Hilda’s.

Perth College was the first IGSSA school to offer a rowing programme which started in 1981. 

In 1989 ARAWA organised and conducted a series of 5 eight event regattas. The first Schoolgirl’s Head of the River was held in September 1989 and consisted of nine events with Perth College winning the Schoolgirl’s Eight and the Champion School Trophy.

The 1990 season was supported by Penrhos, St Hilda’s, PC and MLC – and Penrhos dominated this season.

Perth College started Rowing in 1981 under the guidance of Gwenda Bennetts (Boatshed acquired in 1993).

St Hilda’s introduced Rowing to seniors in 1983.

MLC first Rowing Squad in 1985.

Penrhos Rowing squad formed in 1988 (Boatshed acquired in 1992).

PLC Rowing Squad formed in 1991 (Thornton started rowing at PLC).

JTC started Rowing in Schoolgirls regattas in 1993 and became a financial contributor to IGSSA rowing in 1999 (also taking on rowing administration and hosting duties).

*NB JTC were historically a member of IGSSA as a girl’s school (Loreto College) and remained with IGSSA competing in all sports as JTC when the school amalgamated and went co-ed in 1977. Their only association with IGSSA is now in rowing (not any other sport).


In 1990 the events were expanded to include year nine and ten Eight’s.

In 1991, Schoolgirls Rowing took over the administration of the programme, which was later to be taken over by IGSSA (mid 90’s)

In 2021, rowing member schools are:

  • Methodist Ladies College
  • Penrhos College
  • Perth College
  • Presbyterian Ladies College
  • St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls
  • John XXIII College

A season change occurred in 2013 where IGSSA rowing was condensed to a Term 2 only season (prior to this it was Term 2 and 3 – carrying over school holidays). 

This shift resulted in an increase in rowing squad numbers (mainly senior retention)

Prior to 2013, non-Member schools were eligible to row in regattas (paying a fee per boat entered). In 2013, the Executive introduced the following guidelines:

Schools are eligible/may request to row if:

  • They offer a full school based developmental program involving students from Years 9-12 with a crew (Quad or Eight) in each of the year groups at regattas
  • Schools pay full fees like member schools
  • The school contributes to the administration of regattas 
  • The foundation of the school was that of Girls’ Education 

Regatta Venue

All IGSSA regattas were hosted at Canning Bridge on the Swan River with the exception of:

2009: IGSSA moved Regattas 4 and the HOR Regatta to Champion Lakes Regatta Centre (2 of 5 regattas)

2015: IGSSA moved Regattas 3, 4 and the HOR Regatta to Champion Lakes Regatta Centre (3 of 5 regattas)

2018: IGSSA moved all Regattas to Champion Lakes Regatta Centre (5 regattas)


 

1st VIII Winners, Champion School and Schoolgirl Premiers

As at 2020, since the first formal Head of the River First Eight Race in 1989 (won by Perth College), St Hilda’s have won the trophy twice, Perth College 3 times, Penrhos 6 times, PLC 7 times, and MLC 13 times.

Champion School Trophies

The Champion School Trophy is won by the school that wins the most points for the whole of the season. As at 2020, it has been won by St Hilda’s twice, Perth College 5, PLC 10 times and Penrhos 14 times. 

The Wendy Zuideveld Perpetual Trophy for the School Girls Head of the River Regatta Champion School was introduced in 1996. As at 2020, PLC won it in this inaugural year. St Hilda’s has won this 4 times, Penrhos 5 times, Perth College 6 times, & PLC 10 times.


First Eight Trophy

Wendy Zuideveld Perpetual Trophy for Schoolgirl Head of the River Regatta Champion School

The Perpetual Trophy for Schoolgirl Premiers 

1988

St Hilda's (informal)


Perth College(informal)

1989

Perth College 


Perth College 

1990

Penrhos College 


Penrhos College 

1991

Penrhos College 


Penrhos College 

1992

Penrhos College 


Penrhos College 

1993

Penrhos College 


Penrhos College 

1994

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)


Penrhos College 

1995

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)


Penrhos College 

1996

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

1997

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

St Hilda's 

Penrhos College 

1998

Penrhos College 

Penrhos College

St Hilda's

1999

St Hilda's 

St Hilda's 

Penrhos College 

2000

St Hilda's 

St Hilda's 

St Hilda's

2001

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Perth College 

Penrhos College 

2002

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Perth College 

Perth College

2003

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Perth College 

Perth College

2004

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

St Hilda's 

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2005

Penrhos College

Penrhos College 

Penrhos College

2006

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Perth College / Penrhos College

Penrhos College

2007

Perth College

Penrhos College

Penrhos College

2008

Perth College

Perth College

Perth College

2009

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Penrhos College

Penrhos College

2010

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Penrhos College

2011

Methodist Ladies  (MLC)

Perth College 

Perth College

2012

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2013

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2014

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2015

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2016

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2017

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2018

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2019

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

2020

No Rowing Events – COVID-19

2021Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)
Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)
Presbyterian Ladies (PLC)

Placings - First Eight Trophy at Head of the River

Year Winner 2nd 3rd 
1999 St Hilda's Presbyterian Ladies MLC
2000 St Hilda's Penrhos College Presbyterian Ladies
2001 MLC Perth College Presbyterian Ladies
2002 MLC Penrhos Presbyterian Ladies
2003 MLC    
2004 MLC St Hilda's MLC
2005 Penrhos MLC Perth College
2006 MLC Perth College Penrhos College
2007 Perth College Presbyterian Ladies
MLC
2008 Perth College St Hilda's MLC
2009 MLC Penrhos Perth College
2010 MLC Penrhos Perth College
2011 MLC Perth College  St Hilda's
2012 Presbyterian Ladies
MLC  
2013 Presbyterian Ladies
MLC  
2014 MLC Presbyterian Ladies
St Hilda's
2015 Presbyterian Ladies
MLC Perth College
2016 Presbyterian Ladies
MLC St Hilda's
2017  Presbyterian Ladies
MLC  St Hilda's
2018  Presbyterian Ladies
MLC  St Hilda's
2019 Presbyterian Ladies
Perth College St Hilda's
2020  No Rowing Events:  COVID-19
2021 Presbyterian Ladies  St Hilda's Penrhos College

Overall HoR Regatta Points Score

Year Winner 2nd 3rd
1999St Hilda'sPenrhos CollegePerth College
2000St Hilda'sPresbyterian Ladies
Perth College
2001Perth CollegePenrhos CollegeSt Hilda's
2002Perth CollegeSt Hilda'sPenrhos College
2003Perth CollegePresbyterian LadiesMethodist Ladies
2004Presbyterian LadiesPerth CollegePenrhos College
2005 Penrhos Perth College St Hilda's
2006 Perth College Penrhos College St Hilda's
2007 Penrhos College     
2008 Perth College     
2009 Penrhos College     
2010  Presbyterian Ladies    
2011 Perth College     
2012  Presbyterian Ladies    
2013  Presbyterian Ladies    
2014 Presbyterian Ladies
Perth College St Hilda's
2015 Presbyterian Ladies
MLC Perth College
2016 Presbyterian Ladies
Perth College MLC
2017 Presbyterian Ladies
Perth College MLC
2018 Presbyterian Ladies
MLC Perth College
2019 Presbyterian Ladies
Perth College St Hilda's
2020 No Rowing Events: COVID-19
2021 Presbyterian Ladies  Methodist Ladies Perth College

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