History of Ballarat Head of the Lake rowing regatta

Ballarat Head of the Lake Regatta

The Ballarat schools have conducted their Head of the Lake since 1912. Except for war years and years without water, the race is conducted on Lake Wendouree.

School rowing has always been strong in Ballarat and this strength has has produced many Victorian and Australian representatives. It also has produced some of our finest coaches and administrators.

However the race had a rocky and controversial start. The first race in 1912 was declared a no race and further, Ballarat High School was barred from entering an entry. See the 1912 page for more details.

The Ballarat Schools' Association was formed in 1912 and comprised Ballarat College (Clarendon), St Partick's College and Ballarat Grammar.

Ballarat Grammar and St Patrick's raced in the first race and Ballarat College first raced in 1915.

2007 Ballarat Head of the Lake captains of winning schools

2007 Captains of the Premiership Schools

Best Times

The best times for races. These times exclude:

2003 2000m events due to the raced being shortened
2005-2011 when races were not raced at Lake Wendouree

Race	Time	School	Year
Girls Year 9 Div 1	3:35.76	BHS	2017
Girls Year 9 Div 2	3:52.85	BG	2020
Girls Year 9 Div 3	4:01.87	LC	2020
Girls Year 9 Div 4	3:31.00	LC	2013
Girls Year 9 Div 5	4:13.94	LC	2020

Girls Year 10 Div 1	3:38.67	BCC	2020
Girls Year 10 Div 2	3:49.60	LC	2020
Girls Year 10 Div 3	4:05.62	BGS	2003
Girls Year 10 Div 4	4:08.14	BGS	2003
Girls Year 10 Div 5	4:11.41	LC	2017

Girls 10ths	4:09.10	BGS	2002
Girls 9ths	4:02.87	BHS	2002
Girls 8ths	4:21.63	BGS	2002
Girls 7ths	4:10.59	BGS	2002
Girls 6th	4:03.26	MC	2004
Girls 5ths	3:56.75	LC	2019
Girls 4ths	3:53.28	LC	2020
Girls 3rds 1000m	3:47.80	BG	2003
Girls 3rds 2000m	8:27.70	BG	2013
Girls 2nds	7:10.00	BCC	2014
Girls Head of the River	7:25.55	BCC	2002

Boys Year 9 Div 6	3:56.34	SPC	2020
Boys Year 9 Div 5	3:55.36	SPC	2020
Boys Year 9 Div 4	3:52.08	BHS	2020
Boys Year 9 Div 3	3:35.00	BG	2013
Boys Year 9 Div 2	3:01.17	BG	2017
Boys Year 9 Div 1	3:29.54	BGS	2003

Boys Year 10 Div 4	3:42.36	SPC	2019
Boys Year 10 Div 3	3:35.04	SPC	2003
Boys Year 10 Div 2	3:26.08	SPC	2020
Boys Year 10 Div 1	3:14.79	BG	2020

Boys 10ths	3:49.52	BGS	1995
Boys 9ths	3:39.00	BGS	2002
Boys 8ths	3:39.80	SPC	1985
Boys 7ths	3:38.28	SPC	2002
Boys 6ths	3:39.00	MC	2004
Boys 5th	3:27.62	SPC	2002
Boys 4ths	3:22.31	BGS	2003
Boys 3rds 1000m	3:17.50	BGS	2003
Boys 3rds 2000m	7:07.23	BG	2013
Boys 2nds	6:41.43	SPC	1994
Boys Head of the River	6:39.98	BHS	2014

Summaries By Event

Girls Head of the Lake

Boys Head of the Lake

Girls Rowing Premiership

Boys Rowing Premiership

Detailed Results By Year

Boys Ballarat Head of the Lake

Start of the Boy's Head in 2008

Girls Ballarat Head of the Lake

Start of the Girl's Head in 2008

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.