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 | ||
| 2021 | Presbyterian 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | St Hilda's | Penrhos College | Perth College |
| 2000 | St Hilda's | Presbyterian Ladies | Perth College |
| 2001 | Perth College | Penrhos College | St Hilda's |
| 2002 | Perth College | St Hilda's | Penrhos College |
| 2003 | Perth College | Presbyterian Ladies | Methodist Ladies |
| 2004 | Presbyterian Ladies | Perth College | Penrhos 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 |