Schools' Head of the River Race

Schools' Head of the River Race
Schools' Head of the River Race
Frequency	Annual
Location(s)	Championship Course, River Thames in London, England
Years active	1946 – present
Previous event	15 March 2019
Next event	14 March 2022
Participants	approx. 300 crews
Organised by	Westminster School
Website	www.shorr.org.uk

The Schools' Head of the River Race (SHORR) is the UK's largest school-age processional (head rowing) race and is organised by Westminster School for crews aged between 14 and 18 years old. It is held in Spring, the end of the head race season.

The race forms a leg of the national kudos of winning a rowing 'triple' in which occasionally an undefeated Junior Eight (J18 8+ or WJ18 8+) wins this race, the National Schools Regatta, and either the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta or the Peabody Cup at Henley Women's Regatta.

Course[]

The race is held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on a course from Chiswick Bridge in Mortlake to Westminster School Boat Club flagpole in Putney. It is rowed with the tide and is in the opposite direction to The Boat Race.^[1]

Race format[]

History[]

When the race was first held in 1946 the course was shorter than at present, from above Hammersmith Bridge to the current finishing post,^{[citation needed]} a distance of approximately 1.75 miles.

After the course was lengthened to almost the full Boat-Race course, the Schools' Head continued to offer a shorter course (from London Corinthian Sailing Club above Hammermsith Bridge) for smaller boats, such as J15 4s, J15 B 8's, and Maiden 4s; however, in 2009 this was changed by C.D. Riches, the event's manager.

Current format[]

The race is the largest head race of the winter season by junior crews. It attracts around 300 crews each year. Composite crews, drawn from more than one club or school, are not permitted.

All categories race the same course.

In 2012, the J4- and WJ4- events were introduced.^{[n 1]}

In 2013, the Mix 4x^{[n 2]} event was introduced to the race.

In 2017, the course was considerably shortened on the day, retaining the usual start line but finishing at the bandstand shortly after Barnes bridge.^[2]

In 2020, the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions on 'non-essential' contact.^[3]

In 2021, as a result of the ongoing pandemic, a 'virtual' Schools' Head event was run with crews submitting GPS recordings on their home stretches of water.^[4]

Records[]

The current record holders for the events are:

Men's events[]

Event	Winner	Time	Year
Ch8+	Shiplake College	16:36	2019
1st8+	Canford School	17:13	2014
2nd8+	Eton College	17:11	2018
3rd8+	Hampton School	17:46	2007
J16 Ch8+	Hampton School	17:25	2011
J16 1st8+	Sir William Borlase's Grammar School	17:53	2011
J16 2nd8+	King's College School	18:08	2018
J15 Ch8+	Aberdeen Schools RA	17:54	2018
J15 1st8+	St George's College	18:12	2011
J15 2nd8+	St Paul's School	18:37	2012
J15 3rd8+	Hampton School	20:13	2013
J4x^{[n 2]}	Maidenhead Rowing Club	17:19.5	2018
J17 4x^{[n 2]}	Westminster School	18:20	2014
J4-	Westminster School	18:41	2012
J4+	George Watson's College	18:42	2007
J16 4+	Evesham Rowing Club	19:17	2011
J15 4+	Westminster School	19:38	2012

Women's events[]

Event	Winner	Time	Year
WCh 8+	The Lady Eleanor Holles School	18:28	2011
WJ16 8+	Henley Rowing Club	19:02	2018
WJ15 8+	Latymer Upper School	19:33	2018
WJ 4x^{[n 2]}	Latymer Upper School	19:17	2018
WJ17 4x^{[n 2]}	Henley Rowing Club	20:56	2014
WJ4-	Sir William Borlase's Grammar School	20:37	2012
WJ 4+	Henley Rowing Club	20:12	2007
WJ16 4+	Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls	21:03	2002

Mixed events[]

Event	Winner	Time	Year
Mix 4x^{[n 2]}	Evesham RC	19:42	2013

Winners of all categories when last held[]

Event	Winner	Time
Ch 8+	Shiplake College	16:36
1st 8+	Monmouth School Winchester College	17:32
2nd 8+	St Paul's School	17:16
3rd 8+	St Paul's School	18:12
J16 Ch8+	Eton College	17:30
J16 1st8+	Bedford School	18:14
J16 2nd8+	Eton College	18:19
J15 Ch8+	King's College School	18:20
J15 1st8+	St George's College	18:42
J15 2nd8+	King's College School	19:07
W Ch8+	Henley Rowing Club	18:18
W 1st 8+		19:01
WJ16 8+	Henley Rowing Club	19:02
WJ15 8+	Latymer Upper School	19:34
Ch 4x-	Maidenhead Rowing Club	17:19
J16 4x-	Henley Rowing Club	18:14
J4+	Molesey Boat Club	18:26
J16 4+	Aberdeen Schools RA	19:18
J15 4+		19:41
Mix 4x-	York City Rowing Club	18:56
WJ 4x-	Latymer Upper School	19:17
WJ16 4x-	Marlow Rowing Club	20:09
WJ 4+	Henley Rowing Club	20:31
WJ16 4+	Kingston Rowing Club	20:32

Previous J18 eights' winners[]

Year	Time	Winner	Second	Third
2019	16:36^{[n 3]}	Shiplake College	Eton College	St Paul's School
2018	16:41	St Paul's School	Shiplake College	Eton College
2017	4:50^{[n 4]}	Shiplake College	Eton College	St Paul's School
2016	17:38	Westminster School	Shiplake College	St Paul's School
2015	17:58	Westminster School	St Paul's School	Eton College
2014	16:56	St Paul's School	St Edward's School	Radley College
2013	17:10	Hampton School	Abingdon School	St Paul's School
2012	16:53	Abingdon School	Hampton School	Shrewsbury School
2011	16:53	Abingdon School	Eton College	Shrewsbury School
2010	17:22	Eton College	Shrewsbury School	Hampton School
2009	16:47	Eton College	Shrewsbury School	St Paul's School
2008	9:39^{[n 5]}	Shrewsbury School	Abingdon School	Eton College
2007	17:06	Shrewsbury School	Radley College	Abingdon School
2006	17:13	Shrewsbury School	Abingdon School	St Paul's School
2005	17:24	Eton College	Shrewsbury School	Abingdon School

Notes and references[]

Notes

^ In line with increased rationalisation globally to coxless fours see for example the 2006 abolition of the Prince Philip Challenge Cup and expansion of the Britannia Challenge Cup with the Prince Albert Challenge Cup for university student coxed fours at Henley.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Quad. Ch, only used in the 8s category, denotes top boat (Championship entry for each school) for other symbols used (+ and -) see Rowing (sport)
^ New Record.
^ Shortened course.
^ Shortened course.

References

^ "About the Race" Schools Head of the River Race Westminster School. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
^ Rowing, British (23 March 2017). "Announcement! @schoolshead course has been shortened to finish at the bandstand due to current weather conditions #SHORR2017". @BritishRowing. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^ "Schools' Head CANCELLED".
^ "Schools' Head 2021 - Details". www.shorr.org.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2021.

External links[]

Official Website

[2] In line with increased rationalisation globally to coxless fours see for example the 2006 abolition of the Prince Philip Challenge Cup and expansion of the Britannia Challenge Cup with the Prince Albert Challenge Cup for university student coxed fours at Henley.

[q-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Quad. Ch, only used in the 8s category, denotes top boat (Championship entry for each school) for other symbols used (+ and -) see Rowing (sport)

[7] New Record.

[8] Shortened course.

[9] Shortened course.

[1] "About the Race" Schools Head of the River Race Westminster School. Retrieved 2014-11-18.

[4] Rowing, British (23 March 2017). "Announcement! @schoolshead course has been shortened to finish at the bandstand due to current weather conditions #SHORR2017". @BritishRowing. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

[5] "Schools' Head CANCELLED".

[6] "Schools' Head 2021 - Details". www.shorr.org.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2021.

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