Loreto College and Ballarat Clarendon College dominates to win Head of the Lake
The Ballarat Clarendon College run of dominance is over in women’s Division 1 open after Loretto College prevailed for the first time since 2020. But it was not all bad news for the rowing powerhouse, who won the men’s event. Check out the day’s action here.
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In its 150th year, Loretto College’s Division 1 Head of the Lake girls crew has delivered the ideal birthday present.
The school ended the dominance of Ballarat Clarendon College, claiming the title for the first time since 2020.
Loreto College powered to the lead at the start and over the 2000m course were able to hold off its rivals.
The school won by eight seconds over Ballarat Grammar with Ballarat Clarendon College finishing in third, a further 11 seconds back.
“We had our race plan, we executed and we couldn’t be more proud,” Isabella Rossato said.
“It’s just an unreal feeling to make the school proud in their 150th year.
“It’s something that’s gone down in history and we couldn’t be more stoked.”
Loreto College rowing captain Meg Lynch said the extra two day wait didn’t deter the team.
Instead, it provided more motivation.
“We adapted to it and we make whatever happens work (for us),” Lynch said.
“It being a Tuesday it doesn’t matter to us.”
The girls added the crowd in the last 500m also helped them to victory.
The win comes after Loreto came close in previous years finishing 2nd in 2023 and 2024 and 3rd in 2022.
Loretto coach Craig Smith said the rise up one spot came down to the five girls.
He knew there was something special about the team and the crew delivered when it counted.
“The standout difference between these girls and the previous crews we had is they were prepared to do the bit extra,” Smith said.
“Everything I’ve given to them they’ve done it to the best of their ability.
“The commitment over summer, to stay fit over the summer break, is the key I think.”
The boys event was taken out by Ballarat Clarendon College in dominant fashion, winning by 10 seconds over St Patrick’s.
The crew got some redemption after St Patrick’s College reversed the result last year.
It was a spectacular day for the school with Ballarat Clarendon College winning all five open boys events.
RACE RECAP
Racing is underway in the 2025 Head of the Lake event.
Keep up with the action below.
Race 31: The period of dominance for Ballarat Clarendon College in the girls Division 1 open is over after Loreto College won the Head of the Lake. The girls crew led from start to finish to overpower its rivals. It’s Loreto’s first win in Division 1 since 2020. Loreto won four of the five open races this year. Team: M. Lynch, I. Rossato, O. Lanyon, M. McTigue, Cox: E. Dodd, Coach: C. Smith
Race 30: Ballarat Clarendon College is back on top in Head of the Lake Division 1 open boys. The crew smashed its rivals to win the event for the second time in two years. The last win was 2023. The team led from start to finish and won by a few seconds. St Patrick’s College was second with Ballarat Grammar third. It completes a remarkable day for the school with Clarendon winning all open races in boys. Team S. Hall, T. Williams, M. Mason, J. Connolly, Cox: R. Belcher
Race 29: Ballarat Grammar has ended Loreto College’s chances of a clean sweep in open, winning race 29. The crew dominated the Division 2 girls open coxed four race, winning by a few lengths of its rivals. Team: B. Morrison, A. Booth, C. Tyndall, K. Watson, Cox: L. Ashmore
Race 28: Ballarat Clarendon College is one win away from a clean sweep after winning race 28. The crew won the Division 2 open boys coxed four ahead after a thrilling battle with St Patrick’s College. Ballarat Clarendon College were able to hold on in the final 100m as the opposition crew threw everything at them. Team: T. Freeman, S. McInnes, D. Pritchard, O. Fumi, Cox: Z. Doddamani
Race 27: Loreto College is also on track for a clean sweep in open girls after winning race 27. The school won the open coxed four Division 3 girls race, beating Ballarat Grammar by more than seven seconds. Ballarat Clarendon College finished third. Team: A. Phillips, N. Griffiths, J. Main, A. Clarke, Cox: K. Hutson.
Race 26: Ballarat Clarendon College is two wins away from completing a sweep in boys open after winning race 26. The school dominated the open coxed four Division 3 race, beating Ballarat Grammar and St Patrick’s College. The school won by more than seven seconds. Team: J. Belcher, F. Russell, D. Chandler, D. Demidov, Cox: A. Grima
Race 25: Loreto College won a thriller to claim race 25 at the Head of the Lake. The school won the open coxed four Division 4 race after battling neck and neck with Ballarat Grammar for most of the race. Loreto College pulled away with 150m metres to go to win over Grammar and Ballarat Clarendon College. Team: A. Cartledge, E. Watson, E. Templar, M. Constable, Cox: D. Graafmans.
Race 24: Ballarat Clarendon College made it two from two in open, claiming race 24. In a two-crew race the College were able to gap St Patrick’s College to win by more than four lengths in the open coxed four Division 4 race. Team: J. Hunter, A. Dawes, J. Nunn, A. Cheesman, Cox: J. Croft
Race 23: Loreto College led from start to finish to win race 23. The girls team takes out the coxed four open Division 5 and 6 race. Ballarat Grammar, with the other two crews in the race, finished second and third. Team: C. Templar, I. Mann, C. Halsall, E. Cartwright, Cox: S. Sosinski
Race 22: Ballarat Clarendon College wins its first open boys race in two years, claiming race 22. The school held strong in the final 100m, pushing clear of St Patrick’s College to win the open Division 5 coxed four event. Ballarat High School was third. Team: A. Natt, J. Spencer, D. Hill, N. Roberts, Cox: W. Bray, Coaches: J. Forsyth
Race 21: Damascus College won its first race of the meet, getting two wins in race 21. The College won the men’s double scull and single scull events, finishing first and third overall in the race. Ballarat Clarendon College took out the female single scull. Team: K.Govan, H.McNaughton.
Race 20: Ballarat Grammar has ended Loreto College’s dominance of year 10, winning race 20. The school won the Division 1 coxed quad scull event, beating Loreto who could only finish in second. Team: M. Howard, C. Kennedy, A. Miller, M. Moll, Cox: M. Cust
Race 19: St Patrick’s College ends year 10 races on a high, winning race 19. The school, buoyed on by the school crew arriving, won the coxed quad scull Division 1 race by more than eight seconds over Ballarat Clarendon College who finished second. Team: J. Elliott, O. Elliott, P. Stute, L. Cameron, Cox: B. Roberts
Race 18: Loreto College is one win away from sweeping the year 10 races after winning race 18. The school went four from four in year 10, winning the coxed quad scull in Division 2. Team: M. Grant, E. Ffrench, J. Charleson, L. Barlow, Cox: G. O’Connor.
Race 17: St Patrick’s bounced back to win its third year 10 race, claiming race 17. The school won the coxed quad scull Division 2 title by a boat length and a half over its rivals. Team: M. Aylward, L. Shaw, H. Quigley, L. Cowell, Cox: A. Lester
Race 16: Loreto College makes it three from three in year 10 girls, winning race 16. The school wins the coxed quad scull in Division 3 by just over five seconds with Ballarat Grammar second. Team: S. Huf, I. Wise, E. McConchie, S. McAteer, Cox: O. Valenzuela
Race 15: Ballarat Grammar won its first race in year 10 to end the unbeaten run of St Patrick’s College. In a close battle between both school, Grammar got on top late to win the male coxed quad scull race in Division 3. Team: C. Conroy, J. Craig, A.Siemensma, J. Stewart, Cox: R. Pougnault
Race 14: Loreto College controlled the race from start to finish to win Race 14. The school won the year 10 coxed quad scull in Division 4 over Ballarat Grammar and Ballarat Clarendon. Team: S. Templar, A. Donald, P. Drew, A. Taylor, Cox: S. Jayasooriya
Race 13: St Patrick’s College makes it two from two in year 10, winning race 13. The school wins the male coxed quad scull in year 10 on division 4 by eight seconds. Team: H. Bennett, O. Florence, R. Ward, L. Pickles, Cox: C. Sealing
Race 12: Loreto College has won its third race in the Head of the Lake, beating two Ballarat Grammar crews to win race 12. The school won the year 10 girls coxed quad scull race in Division 5 and 6. Team: S. Sims, J. Clarke, Z. Schiltz, M. Simpson, Cox: E. Gunn.
Race 11: St Patrick’s College completes a one-two in race 11 with its 5 crew beating the 6 crew by more than 17 seconds. The school won the year 10 coxed quad scull race in Division 5 and 6. Team: F. Edwards, C. Beechey, J. Delaney, K. McInerney, Cox: H. Valenzuela
Race 10: Ballarat Clarendon College has ended the year 9 part of the regatta, winning the division 1 girls quad scull event over Damascus College and Ballarat Grammar. College won the race by just under a second. Team: M. Heagney, M. Peele, D. Kopke-Veldhuis, N. Sutherland, Cox: D. Harris
Race 9: Ballarat Grammar won its first Division 1 race of the day, beating Ballarat Clarendon College and St Patrick’s College in the year 9 race. Team: H. Jenkins, H. Kent, H. Miller, H. Geddes, Cox: S. Pinder
Race 8: Loreto College won its second race of the morning, taking out the female coxed quad scull in year 9, division 2. The College wins by more than six seconds. Team: C. Delahunty, A. Byvoet, P. Halsall, M. Martin, Cox: E. Cummins
Race 7: St Patrick’s College won its second race for the day, taking out the coxed quad scull year 9, division 2 event. Team: K.McKay, J. Woodbury, O. Romeril, N.Connell, Cox: C. Farrugia,
Race 6: Loreto College won its first race of the Head of the Lake in 2025. The College held off a challenge from Ballarat Grammar to win the female coxed scull quad in year 9, division 3. Team: R.Kavanagh, C.Klein, E.Carter, M.Malone, Cox: S.Middleton, Coach: L.Delaney
Race 5: Ballarat Clarendon College took out race five ahead of Ballarat Grammar and Damascus College. College won by more than 17 seconds, winning the male coxed quad scull in year 9, division 3. Team: L.Patterson, M.McBratney-Owen, E.Bassett-Zwar, L.Smith, Cox: A.Rosewarne,
Race 4: Ballarat Grammar dominated race four to win by more than 15 seconds. Grammar wins the female coxed quad scull in year 9, division 4. Team: H. Marriott, G. Taylor, A. Pincott, I. Bickell, cox: C. Dunstan
Race 3: Ballarat Clarendon College held off fast finishes from St Patrick’s College and Ballarat Grammar to win Race 3. The school wins the male coxed scull year 9 division 4. Team: L. Shackell, L.McRoberts, A. Davies, J. Brouwer, cox: Y. Mann
Race 2: Ballarat Grammar won its first race of the morning, taking out the female coxed quad scull in year 9, division 5 and 6. Team: E. Jackson, A. Justin, C. Gull, B. Bingham, cox: M. Mason.
Race 1: St Patrick’s College claimed the first race of the day to kick-start the Head of the Lake. The school won the male coxed scull in year 9, division 5. Team: J.Tobin, M.Slater, W.Richardson, J.Debrincat, Cox: O.Chadwick, Coaches: W.Charles, T.Stute
PREVIEW
Ballarat Clarendon College will be looking to become just the second school in history to win five straight Head of the Lake regattas for girls at Lake Wendouree on Tuesday.
After the first originally scheduled day was cancelled due to strong winds, rowers will get their chance to compete in the inter-school regatta, which is celebrating its 114th year.
WATCH the stream below.
Ballarat Clarendon College is looking to join Ballarat Grammar as the only school to win five straight, or more, girls Division 1 regattas.
In the boys, St Patrick’s College are looking for back-to-back titles after stunning the previously unbeaten Ballarat Clarendon College in 2024.
In the girls, Clarendon will need to stop Damascus College, Ballarat Grammar, Loreto College and Ballarat High School who are all entering crews.
St Patrick’s College takes on Ballarat High, Ballarat Grammar, Ballarat Clarendon College and Damascus College, who returns after a year hiatus.
There will be 580 athletes competing across 34 events throughout the day.
Teams will compete for the Harold Deveson Cup and J.H Netherway Cup as the best boys and girls teams on the day.
Check out the entry lists here and a full preview to the event here.
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