First Eight - Rose Evans Memorial Trophy

Rose Evans was the initial force behind schoolgirls rowing in NSW. There is some evidence of schoolgirls rowing in the 1920’s, however it is not until the 1950’s that there are records indicating that schoolgirls were competing members of some clubs. Rose saw the future of rowing for our schoolgirls and canvassed the local schools for members.  She formed Mosman girls rowing in the 1950’s and organised it into a strong competitive force. Rose spent weekends on the water with schoolgirl crews and encouraged a large number of them to compete in Mosman colours. They did this with outstanding success. Rose Evans is the founder of the New South Wales Union of Ex-Oarswomen and set its goals as supporting women’s rowing and women rowers.

It is surprising that it was forty years on before there was a race for schoolgirls eights on the NSW Rowing Calendar. The first race was held at the Riverview Gold Cup in 1990 between Loreto Normanhurst, Sydney Girls’ High and Loreto Kirribilli. Father Greg O’Kelly, Principal of St Ignatius and Mrs Kathryn Greiner, wife of the then NSW Premier presented miniature silver oars to the winning crew.

The first NSWRA Schoolgirls Regatta was conducted by the Mosman Rowing Club at Davidson Park in October 1991. This was the first Schoolgirl Head of the River. There were 10 competing schools, 50 crews and 180 competitors.

The race for eight at the Gold Cup Regatta continued to act as the “Head” race for schoolgirls eights until 1992 when the university of NSW Rowing Club in conjunction with NSWRA provided a number of schoolgirls races including the NSW Schoolgirls Head of the River race for eights as part of the UNSW regatta, initially at Iron Cove and in December 1993 with eighteen school and 250 competitors, the main races continued as part of the UNSW regatta on the NSWRA calendar. In 1996, the third NSW Schoolgirl Regatta, the first at the Sydney International Regatta Centre was hosted by Loreto Normanhurst in conjunction with the NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council (NSWCISSC) and in 1997 by the NSWCISSC on behalf of the three education sectors in NSW and in liaison with the NSWRA.

In 1993 the NSW Union of Ex-Oarswoman donated a perpetual trophy for competition between schoolgirl first eight and it is fitting that it is named in the memory of Rose Evans. Since the first “Head” race in 1990 to the first competition for the trophy in 1992 and subsequent races the winners have been: