Summary
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.
| Schools' Head of the River Race | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Championship Course, River Thames in London, England |
| Years active | 1946 – present |
| Previous event | 17 March 2023 |
| Next event | 20 March 2024 |
| Participants | approx. 300 crews |
| Organised by | Westminster School |
| Website | www |
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 edit
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 edit
History edit
When the race was first held in 1946 the course was shorter than at present, from above Hammersmith Bridge to the current finishing post,[2] a distance of approximately 1.75 miles. The course was lengthened in 1988 with a start from Duke's Meadow,[3] a mile further upstream, and again in 2000 when the start was moved to Chiswick Bridge,[4] resulting in a course almost the length of the full Boat Race
After the course was lengthened, the Schools' Head continued to offer a shorter course (from London Corinthian Sailing Club above Hammersmith 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.
Eton College have won the race a total of 14 times, followed by Emanuel School with 11 wins (including a remarkable eight in nine years from 1962-1970), St Paul's with 10 and Hampton School with 9. In addition to these, the headship in 2000 was shared in an unprecedented three-way tie between Hampton, St Paul's and Canford School. In the Junior Women's category, Lady Eleanor Holles School has the most wins with 12.
Bad weather has occasionally disrupted the race. Indeed, in its very first year almost half the starting crews capsized due to the adverse conditions.[5][6] The race was cancelled in 2001 due to dangerous conditions,[7] reduced to its original length in 2008 as a result of strong winds disrupting the marshalling area[8] and even more severely shortened in 2017, retaining the usual start line but finishing at the bandstand shortly after Barnes bridge.[9]
In addition, in 2020 the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions on 'non-essential' contact[10] and 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.[11] In 2024, unsafe river conditions meant j15 events were moved to Dorney Lake.
Current format edit
The race was initially a smaller event for Championship men's crews, with only 14 competing in its first year.[12] However, numbers have grown significantly over time and additional categories of boats have been added. For example, in 2012, the J4- and WJ4- events were introduced[n 1] and in 2013 the Mix 4x[n 2] event was introduced to the race.
Women's events were first included in 1982.[13] Although participation was relatively limited at first, with only eight 4s in the first year and no 8s until 1983,[14] the number of entrants has grown substantially over time as a result of the increased popularity of schoolgirl rowing, with over 125 women's crews competing in 2023.
The race is now the largest head race of the winter season by junior crews attracting around 300 crews each year. Composite crews, drawn from more than one club or school, are not permitted. All categories race the same course.
Records edit
The current record holders for the events are:[15]
Men's events edit
| Event | Winner | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch8+ | St Paul's School  |
16:24 | 2024 |
| 1st8+ | Norwich School | 17:11 | 2024 |
| 2nd8+ | Eton College  |
16:58 | 2024 |
| 3rd8+ | St Paul's School |
17:30 | 2024 |
| J16 Ch8+ | St Paul's School |
17:13 | 2024 |
| J16 1st8+ | Sir William Borlase  |
17:53 | 2011 |
| J16 2nd8+ | Hampton School  |
17:51 | 2014 |
| 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 |
| Ch4x | Maidenhead Rowing Club  |
17:19 | 2018 |
| J4- | Westminster School  |
18:41 | 2012 |
| J4+ | Molesey Boat Club  |
18:26 | 2018 |
| J16 4x | Henley RC  |
18:14 | 2018 |
| J16 4+ | Evesham Rowing Club  |
19:17 | 2011 |
| J15 4+ | Westminster School |
19:38 | 2012 |
Women's events edit
| Event | Winner | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| WJ Ch8+ | Henley RC |
18:18 | 2018 |
| WJ 1st8+ | Enniskillen Royal Grammar School | 19:01 | 2018 |
| WJ 2nd8+ | Henley RC |
19:37 | 2022 |
| WJ16 Ch8+ | Henley RC |
18:56 | 2022 |
| WJ16 1st8+ | St Paul's Girls  |
19:54 | 2022 |
| WJ16 2nd8+ | St Paul's Girls |
21:09 | 2022 |
| WJ15 Ch8+ | Latymer Upper School  |
19:33 | 2018 |
| WJ15 1st8+ | Sir William Perkins's School  |
20:30 | 2022 |
| WJ15 2nd8+ | Surbiton High School  |
21:11 | 2022 |
| WJ 4x- | Wycliffe College | 18:15 | 2024 |
| WJ 4- | Sir William Borlase |
20:37 | 2012 |
| WJ 4+ | Henley Rowing Club  |
20:12 | 2007 |
| WJ16 4x | Shiplake College |
19:15 | 2022 |
| WJ16 4+ | Kingston RC  |
20:31 | 2018 |
Mixed events edit
| Event | Winner | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mix 4x[n 2] | York City RC  |
18:56 | 2018 |
Winners of all categories when last held edit
| Event | Winner | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 8+ | Shiplake College |
16:47 |
| 1st 8+ | Bedford School  |
17:40 |
| 2nd 8+ | Shiplake College |
17:31 |
| 3rd 8+ | Radley College  |
18:14 |
| J16 Ch8+ | St Paul's School |
17:53 |
| J16 1st8+ | Bedford School |
18:21 |
| J16 2nd8+ | Eton College |
18:20 |
| J15 Ch8+ | St Paul's School |
18:31 |
| J15 1st8+ | Bedford School |
19:16 |
| J15 2nd8+ | St Paul's School |
19:00 |
| W Ch8+ | Wycliffe Junior Boat Club | 18:45 |
| W 1st8+ | St Paul's Girls' School |
19:46 |
| W 2nd8+ | Henley Rowing Club |
19:38 |
| W 3rd8+ | Henley Rowing Club |
20:06 |
| WJ16 Ch8+ | Surbiton High School |
19:54 |
| WJ16 1st8+ | Bedford Girls' School Rowing Club |
20:38 |
| WJ16 2nd8+ | Surbiton High School |
21:12 |
| WJ15 Ch8+ | Henley Rowing Club |
20:22 |
| WJ15 1st8+ | Putney High School | 20:59 |
| WJ15 2nd8+ | Headington School  |
21:17 |
| Ch 4x- | Leander Club  |
17:56 |
| W Ch 4x- | Wycliffe College | 18.15 |
| Mix 4x- | Hinksey Sculling School | 19:30 |
Previous J18 eights winners edit
Previous J18 Women eights winners edit
See also edit
Notes and references edit
- 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 Quad. Ch, only used in the 8s category, denotes top boat (Championship entry for each school) for other symbols used (+ and -) see Rowing (sport)
- ^ Replaced with a 'virtual' Schools' Head event with crews submitting GPS recordings on their home stretches of water
- ^ New Record.
- ^ Shortened course.
- ^ Shortened course.
- ^ Hampton were initially announced winners but were demoted four places upon review
- ^ Not reported
- ^ Not reported
- ^ Held in November of the 1947/48 school year
- ^ Held in November of the 1946/47 school year
- ^ Shortened course.
- ^ Shortened course.
- ^ Not reported
- References
- ^ "About the Race" Schools Head of the River Race Westminster School. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
- ^ "Schools Head of the River Race". The Times. London. 25 November 1946. p. 8.
- ^ "Hampton go for fourth headship in succession". The Daily Telegraph. London. 15 March 1988. p. 37.
- ^ "Baulked St Paul's forced to settle for three-way tie". The Daily Telegraph. London. 17 March 2000. p. 42.
- ^ "Six boats capsize". The Daily Telegraph. London. 25 November 1946. p. 3.
- ^ "Westminster School Elizabethan, December 1946". www.elizabethan.westminster.org.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Cambridge spring surprise switch". The Daily Telegraph. London. 21 March 2001. p. 45.
- ^ "Shrewsbury storm". The Daily Telegraph. London. 12 March 2008. p. 60.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Schools Head of River Race". The Times. London. 25 November 1946. p. 8.
- ^ "218 Crews in Schools Head". The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 March 1982. p. 31.
- ^ "Holders retain title". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 March 1984. p. 31.
- ^ "SHORR Records". Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2023". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2022". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Virtual SHORR 2021 results". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR 2020 Cancelled". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2019". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2018". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2017". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2016". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2015". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2014". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2013". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2012". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2010" (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Old SHORR Results". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Old SHORR Results". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "SHORR Results 2005" (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Schools Head results 2004". Archived from the original on 6 April 2004.
- ^ "Schools Head results 2003". Archived from the original on 30 April 2003.
- ^ "Schools Head results 2002". Archived from the original on 14 April 2002.
- ^ "Schools Head results 2001". Archived from the original on 3 August 2001.
- ^ "Baulked St Paul's forced to settle for three-way tie". The Daily Telegraph. London. 17 March 2000. p. 42.
- ^ "Schools Head results 1999". Archived from the original on 14 September 2000.
- ^ "Schools Head results 1998". Archived from the original on 23 April 2000.
- ^ "Schools Head results 1997". Archived from the original on 15 September 2000.
- ^ "Schools Head results 1996". Archived from the original on 26 February 2000.
- ^ "Sport in Brief". The Daily Telegraph. London. 14 March 1995. p. 36.
- ^ "Kingston eight remain at head". The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 March 1994. p. 32.
- ^ "Pre-race collision scuppers Eton hope of repeat success". The Daily Telegraph. London. 19 March 1993. p. 31.
- ^ "Hampton fail to hold back Eton". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 March 1992. p. 37.
- ^ "Heads title retained by impressive Eton". The Daily Telegraph. London. 13 March 1991. p. 35.
- ^ "Hampton's reign brought to end by full-strength Eton". The Daily Telegraph. London. 8 March 1990. p. 32.
- ^ "Hampton successful for fifth year". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 March 1989. p. 33.
- ^ "Squall delays Hampton's head success". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 March 1988. p. 37.
- ^ "Hampton's off to Hong Kong". The Daily Telegraph. London. 13 March 1987. p. 30.
- ^ "For the record". The Times. London. 13 March 1986. p. 28.
- ^ "Hampton go to head with ease". The Daily Telegraph. London. 20 March 1985. p. 31.
- ^ "Holders retain title". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 March 1984. p. 31.
- ^ "Hampton surprise favourites". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 March 1983. p. 29.
- ^ "Cambridge arrive on Tideway". The Daily Telegraph. London. 15 March 1983. p. 21.
- ^ "For the record". The Times. London. 10 March 1982. p. 26.
- ^ "Emanuel come from behind". The Times. London. 18 March 1981. p. 12.
- ^ "Shrewbury win head of the river race". The Times. London. 14 March 1980. p. 14.
- ^ "No tradesmen's entrance". The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 March 1979. p. 32.
- ^ "Eton head of the river despite penalty". The Times. London. 8 March 1978. p. 11.
- ^ "Oxford win the first official competition". The Times. London. 18 March 1977. p. 22.
- ^ "Emanuel retain title". The Times. London. 12 March 1976. p. 10.
- ^ "Full course on the tideway but no trimmings". The Times. London. 21 March 1975. p. 11.
- ^ "Third win no guarantee of success for Eton". The Times. London. 20 March 1974. p. 8.
- ^ "Eton crew still powerful". The Times. London. 16 March 1973. p. 12.
- ^ "Eton win by four seconds from Emanuel". The Times. London. 10 March 1972. p. 10.
- ^ "Westminster's example". The Times. London. 24 March 1971. p. 9.
- ^ "Emanuel yet again". The Times. London. 18 March 1970. p. 15.
- ^ "Emanuel's seventh win". The Times. London. 13 March 1969. p. 13.
- ^ "Headship for Emanuel". The Times. London. 21 March 1968. p. 16.
- ^ "Emanuel stay head". The Times. London. 23 March 1967. p. 21.
- ^ "Emanuel still head of river". The Times. London. 17 March 1966. p. 5.
- ^ "Emanuel back at head of river". The Times. London. 17 March 1965. p. 4.
- ^ "King's regain head of river". The Times. London. 12 March 1964. p. 4.
- ^ "Emanuel keep Head of River Trophy". The Times. London. 21 March 1963. p. 3.
- ^ "Emanuel come up to finish head". The Times. London. 16 March 1962. p. 5.
- ^ "King's Canterbury stay Head". The Times. London. 15 March 1961. p. 21.
- ^ "King's Canterbury gain first success". The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 March 1960. p. 9.
- ^ "Eton defy handicap". The Times. London. 25 March 1959. p. 4.
- ^ "Oxford take it easy". The Times. London. 20 March 1958. p. 16.
- ^ "St Paul's narrow winners". The Times. London. 28 March 1957. p. 14.
- ^ "Sports in Brief". The Times. London. 23 March 1956. p. 14.
- ^ "Schools head of the river race". The Times. London. 24 March 1955. p. 3.
- ^ "Winchester retain Schools Head of River title". The Times. London. 17 March 1954. p. 3.
- ^ "Sports in Brief". The Times. London. 16 March 1953. p. 1.
- ^ "Oxford row over full course". The Daily Telegraph. London. 10 March 1952. p. 3.
- ^ "London win the Bousted Cup". The Times. London. 5 March 1951. p. 4.
- ^ "Schools Head of the River Race". The Times. London. 20 March 1950. p. 6.
- ^ "Schools Head of River Race". The Times. London. 14 March 1949. p. 2.
- ^ "Schools Head of the River Race". The Times. London. 24 November 1947. p. 2.
- ^ "Schools Head of River Race". The Times. London. 25 November 1946. p. 8.
External links edit
- Official Website