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	12 March 2018
Next event	15 March 2019
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 indefeasible Junior Eight (J18 8+ or WJ18 8+) wins this race, the National Schools Regatta, 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

The event in its infancy offered a shortened course for smaller boats, such as J15 4s, J15 B 8's, and Maiden 4s. The shortened course ran from Hammersmith Bridge (from London Corinthian Sailing Club) to the regular finishing post at Putney. However, CD Riches, the event's manager, changed this in 2009.

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.

Records

The current record holders for the events are:

Men's events

Event	Winner	Time	Year
Ch8+	St Paul's School	16:40	2018
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 RC	19:17	2011
J15 4+	Radnor House School	19:41	2018

Women's events

Event	Winner	Time	Year
WCh 8+	The Lady Eleanor Holles School	18:28	2011
WJ16 8+	Kingston Rowing Club	19:41	2011
WJ15 8+	Headington School	19:51	2012
WJ 4x^{[n 2]}	Latymer Upper School	19:24	2011
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+	St Paul's School	16:40
1st 8+	Bedford School	17:15
2nd 8+	Eton College	17:11
3rd 8+	St Paul's School	18:12
J16 Ch8+	Westminster School	17:43
J16 1st8+	Norwich School	18:02
J16 2nd8+	King's College School	18:07
J15 Ch8+	Aberdeen Schools RA	17:54
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+	Portora Boat Club	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+	Radnor House School	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
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	09:39^{[n 3]}	Shrewsbury School	Abingdon School	Eton College

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.
^ ^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)
^ Shortened course.

References

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

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] ^ ^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)

[4] Shortened course.

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

[1]

[n 1]

[n 2]

[n 3]

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