MEDIA - 2023 HEAD OF THE YARRA

<pdf of Post race release for download>

RESULTS OF 62 HEAD OF THE YARRA – SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25TH 2023.

SYDNEY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THE YARRA RIVER - AGAIN 

The Yarra River was a spectacle today with the return of the Annual Head of The Yarra, first run in 1957. The race has not run since 2019 due to Covid and the floods of 2022.

Two and a half thousand rowers from all over Australia and New Zealand raced in rowing eights  over the 8km course from the City to Hawthorn. The Yarra became the focal point for Melbourne with thousands of spectators lining its banks and joining in the finish carnival celebrations in the parklands of the Hawthorn Rowing Club.

Club crews representing every state, and New Zealand  made the pilgrimage to Melbourne. The annual classic saw crews of all ability test their skill against the country’s best for fastest time over the gruelling 8km Yarra course.

It was the Sydney Rowing Club’s Men’s Eight stroked by Alex Nichol who took ownership of the Yarra rowing the course in a time of 26:32.11 min, 20 seconds ahead of  locals, Melbourne University stroked by Nick Smith (26:52.51) and Mercantile  stroked by Oliver Scazlzo (27.19.56) in third place after 8.0 km of very close racing.

In the elite Women’s Eights, the Melbourne University Boat Club crew stroked by Zara Lavery took line honors in a time of (29:49.01) ahead of the Sydney Crew stroked by Katharine Mason (30:40.96) with the Mercantile crew stroked by  Sophie Reinehr  (31:37.62) in third place. 

In the schoolboys first Eights section, Xavier College  (28:16:46) stroked by Harry Glass ahead of Gregory Terrace  (28.32.43). In the Schoolgirl first eight it was  the University of Queensland’s schoolgirls crew stroked by Ava Mulholland that won the day  in a quick time of (33:24:69)

Two K class Masters  crews (Aged 83 yrs ) plus proved longevity comes from lifelong commitment to the sport. The Sydney based North Shore crew stroked by John James rowed the course  in  a masters adjusted time of 33.18.60 , 51 seconds ahead of their Melbourne rivals the crew stroked by 84-year-old Ray Denis with the oldest competitor 95-year-old Don Christie on board. Don rowed in his first Head of the Yarr way back in 1957.

The ANU Para 8 a mixed  adaptive 8’s format for those with disability. Stroked by Rebecca Jones and rowing the course in time of (38:18)  10 seconds ahead of the Community/Shell Harbour crew stroked by Fiona Jackson.

The race attracted thousands of spectators along the full length of the Yarra course. A large crowd congregated amongst the crews and boats for the trophy presentations and the post-race carnival at the finish in the Yarra Bank Reserve in Hawthorn.

Race vision for news media is available for download below.

Rights free images above taken by our club photographers above may be used by crediting Hawthorn Rowing Club

Ends…..

For media enquiries 

Pat Freeland-Small HawthornCaptain@gmail.com;  

Mobile 0418 63 1862

Full Race results are available at this link

Pre Race Media 2023

Download 2023 Pre race media release here

PRE RACE MEDIA ALERT - 62nd ANNUAL HEAD OF THE YARRA

On Saturday 25th November 2,500 rowers in over 270 rowing eights will complete over 8kms, on the Yarra River, for title of fastest crew in the 2023 Head of the Yarra.

The race is a Yarra River spectacle running the entire length of the river from the City to Hawthorn. Racing starts at 9.00 a.m. and finishes around 2.15 p.m. when the fastest category of  elite crews will cross the finish line at Hawthorn.

The race finish carnival in the Yarra Bank Reserve Creswick St Hawthorn is a rowing calendar favourite. It is held amidst 10,000 spectators, rowers, supporters and the entire fleet of 270 boats which are racked in the parklands around the Hawthorn Rowing Club. The river is closed for the entire race, so after rocking in a boat for 8 km, the crews rack their boats and rock in the parklands for the race finish carnival and to watch all the action on the Big Screen live-site in the park.

This year 31 classes of club crews from all over Australia and NZ will make up the race field.

In the Men’s Open category the club to watch will be Sydney, the current Head of the Yarra Champions who took the silverware north beating long-term local rivals Melbourne University and Mercantile in the last encounter. With a field of 15 elite men’s club crews, from across Australia and New Zealand, the Head of The Yarra record time is well and truly on the line.

The race includes categories for school, club, elite, para and masters’ eights with the oldest category of Masters K (average age 83 yrs. plus) including a Sydney & Melbourne crew rivalry, - the  Melbourne crew containing the oldest competitor-  the 95 years young Don Christie who rowed in the first Head of the Yarra way back in 1957.

Join in the activity from your favourite spot along the Yarra Banks from the City to Hawthorn and livestream the race broadcast anchored by Peter Landy  available on our website from 10.00am onwards  at headoftheyarra.com.

Further Enquiries:

Contact: Pat Freeland-Small HRC Vice Captain Mobile 0418 63 1862

Comprehensive race details available at headoftheyarra.com

<Event Promo Youtube video>

Newsroom Chiefs of Staff Note:

Race results will be posted on website along with packaged broadcast race highlights for media use by 3.30pm  Saturday November 25th at https://headoftheyarra.com/media

Ends.

POST RACE MEDIA

THESE RESOURCES WILL APPEAR HERE FROM 3.30PM SATURDAY NOVEMBER 25TH:

• POST RACE MEDIA RELEASE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

• FULL CREW RESULTS BY CATEGORY

• RIGHTS FREE PHOTOGRAPHY (Credit Hawthorn Rowing Club)

• RIGHTS FREE RACE VIDEO MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS (Credit : HEAD OF THE YARRA TV)

PRIOR YEAR RACES

2019 Head of the Yarra Media

1. POsT-RACE MEDIA

Results of 61ST HEAD OF THE YARRA – Saturday November 30th 2019.

Sydney takes Ownership of the Yarra River

Two and a half thousand rowers from all over Australia racing in rowing eights  created a marvelous spectacle today on the Yarra River as they raced from Birrarung Marr to Hawthorn Rowing Club in the annual Head of the Yarra. Thousands of spectators lined the Yarra banks and joined in the finish carnival celebrations in the parklands of the Hawthorn Rowing Club.

Club crews representing every state, New Zealand and Japan made the pilgrimage to Melbourne. The annual classic saw crews of all ability test their skill against the country’s best for fastest time over the grueling 8km Yarra course.

It was the Sydney Rowing Club’s Men’s Eight stroked by Alex Nichol and superbly coxed by Kendall Brodie who took ownership of the Yarra rowing the course in a time of 25:41.08 min, 12 seconds ahead of  locals, Melbourne University stroked by Rohan Lavery (25:53:18) and Sydney University stroke by Will O’Shannessy  (26:02.08) in third place after 8.0 km of very close racing.

In the elite Women’s Eights, the Melbourne University Boat Club crew stroked by Katherine Michelmore took line honors in a time of (29:28:09) ahead of the Queensland University  crew stroked by Ria Thompson (29:36:16) with the Mercantile Women’s Eight stroked by Sky Froebel (29:53.69) in third place. 

In the schoolboys first Eights section, Scotch College  (28:42:22) stroked by James Isles continued its dominance over recent years 20 seconds ahead of the Sydney’s Newington College stroked by Luka Stefanovic( (29.02.54).

The Schoolgirl first eights saw a very strong field of crews from all around Australia. It was the Sydney Rowing Club schoolgirls crew  stroked by Eliza Dunlop that won the day (33:40:52), eighteen seconds ahead of last year’s winners Melbourne Girls Grammar (33:58:18) stroked by Bea Chirnside

Two crews of Octogenarians proved longevity comes from lifelong commitment to the sport. The Sydney based crew stroked by 80-year-old Jon Mitchell (Drommoyne)  rowed the course  in 42:50:99 , 45 seconds ahead of their Melbourne rivals the crew stroked by 80-year-old Ray Denis with the oldest competitor 91-year-old Don Christie on board. 

The NSW Institute of Sport took out the Para8’s, a mixed  adaptive 8’s format for those with disability. Stroked by James Talbot and rowing the course in a very fast time of (32:15:55) they raise our spirits for good results in para rowing in 2020.

The race attracted thousands of spectators along the full length of the Yarra course. A crowd of 10,000 congregated amongst the crews and boats for the trophy presentations and the post-race carnival at the finish in the Yarra Bank Reserve in Hawthorn.

Race vision for news media is available for download at <HERE>

Rights free images taken by our club photographers are <HERE> for download.

Ends…..

For media enquiries 

Pat Freeland-Small HawthornCaptain@gmail.com;  

Mobile 0418 63 1862

• POST RACE MEDIA RELEASE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD <HERE>

• FULL CREW RESULTS BY TIME <HERE>

• FULL CREW RESULTS BY CATEGORY <HERE>

• RIGHTS FREE PHOTOGRAPHY (Credit Hawthorn Rowing Club) <HERE>

• RIGHTS FREE RACE VIDEO MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS (Credit : Slingard Studios) <HERE>

  • 01:15 Sec Pre Race preparations

  • 20:33 Sec Oldest Competitor Don Christie - 91 Years

  • 50: 1.04Min Sec First Crews Away

  • 1.06 - 1:10 Min Sec Oldest Crew Away

  • 1.25 -> Drone Vision of Crews and Melbourne Skyline

  • 2:06- 2:42 Min Sec Winning Crew Sydney in action.

2. PRE RACE MEDIA ALERT  - 26 NOVEMBER 2019

<Download Pre-Race Media Alert - November 2019>

61ST ANNUAL HEAD OF THE YARRA – Saturday November 30th 2019.

Race Record Entry for Australia’s Rowing Favorite.

On Saturday 30th November, the largest ever contingent of rowers in an Australian rowing race – 2,500 competitors in over 270 rowing eights will complete over 8kms, on the Yarra River, for title as fastest crew in the 2019 Head of the Yarra.

Depite a new race record entry cap of 270 crews this year, it appears the first race was to the start line. Entry has been forced to close very early (75 days prior to race) due to the enormous growth in interest amongst Australian’s rowers in this great race.

The race is a Yarra River spectacle running over the entire length of the river. Racing starts at 9.00 a.m. and finishes around 3.00 p.m. when the fastest category of crews will cross the finish line at Hawthorn.

Commencing in the heart of Melbourne, the race culminates at the Bridge Road bridge in Hawthorn. The race finish carnival is a rowing calendar favorite held amidst 10,000 spectators, rowers, supporters and the entire fleet of 270 boats which are racked in the Yarra-Bank reserve. The river is closed to downstream traffic, so after rocking in a boat for 8 km, crews rock in the park with a tipple or two of the local brewer’s produce.

This year 31 classes of club crews from all over Australia, NZ and from as far away as Japan, will make up the race field.

In the Men’s Open category clubs to watch include Sydney, last year’s winners, who took the silverware north beating long-term local rivals Melbourne University and Mercantile.

 In the Open Women’s’ section, three crews that finished within a slim five-second margin of each other last year; Mercantile, Melbourne University and the University of Queensland, will all have a score to settle.

In the Schoolboys’ section, Scotch College will aim to defend its title again up against last year’s challengers both Sydney and Hutchins (Hobart).  

In the Schoolgirls’ section interest will be on the speed of many newcomers including Friends School (Hobart), Canberra Girl’s Grammar and UTS up against previous race winner MLC who come with a strong contingent of crews.

The Club Section includes over  200 male, female and mixed crews, across many categories that include Para-athletes plus master’s male & female crews ranging across broad age categories from the minimum masters age of 27 years.

There are two male master’s crews, the senior citizens of the race, both with an average age over 80 years. One crew  from Sydney (Drummoyne) and the other from Melbourne (Richmond/Banks), who may help to settle which of the two cities is Australia’s most “ livable" for sports fitness. 

Further Enquiries:

For media enquiries or to arrange interviews and photos contact:

Pat Freeland-Small HawthornCaptain@gmail.com;  

Mobile 0418 63 1862

Comprehensive race details available at <Website>

Crew and race section details are available <Here>