02 March 2015
Eight hundred students from 15 secondary schools are busy training for the most prestigious event on the South Australian schools rowing calendar, the Schools Head of the River Regatta sponsored by UniSA.
Unley High School is hosting this year’s event on Saturday March 21 at the Alex Ramsay Regatta Course at West Lakes.
Having started back in 1922 on the Torrens Lake, the historic event is traditionally hard-fought and is set to be watched by up to 10,000 people.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd will attend to present trophies to the Girls First Eight and Boys First Eight winners, who are crowned Head of the River champions.
Unley High School Rowing Manager Josh Whitwell says Unley High was first involved in the event in 1972 and has competed consistently since 1976.
“As one of three public schools taking part in the event, we’re aiming to prove our competitive nature in a sport traditionally dominated by independent schools,” Whitwell says.
“Crews from all 15 competing schools, ranging from Year 8s to Year 12s, have been training for months leading up to this regatta, including 5:30am starts, and many sessions a week, as well as managing a full school workload.”
Head of the River champions in 2014 were Walford Anglican School for Girls and Prince Alfred College. Other competing schools are Adelaide High School, Christian Brothers College, Loreto College, Norwood Morialta High School, Pembroke School, Pulteney Grammar School, Scotch College, Seymour College, Saint Ignatius’ College, St Peter’s College, St Peter’s Girls College and Wilderness School.
Prof Lloyd says the University is pleased to be part of the Head of the River Regatta, recognising the importance of the event to school communities and the opportunity it provides to students.
“The event encompasses many of the core values we support here at UniSA such as teamwork, healthy lifestyles and striving for excellence,” he says.
The Schools Head of the River Regatta is held at 100 Military Road, West Lakes, starting at 8am. For updates and more information, like the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/headoftheriver2015
Media Contact
Unley High School Rowing Club Amy Park mobile 0407 859 290 email amz.park@gmail.com
or Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email Kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
