Ballarat Clarendon dominate to claim both boys’ and girls’ Head of the Lake titles
Ballarat Clarendon has ended a 42-year drought at the 2023 Head of the Lake. See all the winners across the day here.
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Ballarat Clarendon College’s division one crews have written themselves into the history books, winning the boys’ and girls’ Head of the Lake titles in the same year for the first time since 1981.
Ballarat Grammar was the last school to complete the feat, in 2019, Clarendon now joining it for the first time in 42 years following impressive wins on Lake Wendouree on Sunday.
Boys’ first crew coach Ian Peele said there was a special connection for him between this year’s crew and the 1981 boat.
“My older brother (Andrew) rowed in that ’81 crew, so there’s a bit of a connection there,” he said.
“It’s a great one to get for us. It came up about a week ago that it could be a possibility, which is really good.
“There was obviously a bit of pressure on the boys being favourites, so we just had to make sure we measured the row, make sure we got it right.
“We thought Grammar and St Pat’s would come out pretty hard in the first 1000 (metres), so we just needed to make sure that we were on top of that, make sure the boat was moving along.”
For Clarendon’s girls’ first crew, it capped off three dominant seasons of rowing, culminating in a third-straight Head of the Lake title.
It’s a feat that hadn’t been achieved since Grammar won 10-straight girls’ titles between 1991-2001
For Katie Jackson, who has been a part of the last two Head of the Lake wins, it capped off her schoolgirl rowing in Ballarat on a high.
“It’s great for Clarendon, we’ve had quite a strong group come through and hopefully the girls next year can make it four times,” she said.
“It’s amazing, going into it, I really wanted to win because Luce (Lucy Richardson) and I had won (Year) 9, 10, 11 and now 12, so it’s really exciting for us girls winning all our Head of the Lakes that we’ve ever been in.”
Both Clarendon crews led from start to finish, fighting off challenges from the likes of St Patrick’s, Ballarat Grammar and Loreto College throughout the first 1000 metres.
Division one girls’ coach Matt Olver was rapt to finish off the three-peat.
“Very happy, had a quick chat to the girls and I think they said it probably wasn’t their best race but got out there, got the job done,” he said.
“Really happy with that (three-peat) … that’s the first time in 42 years we’ve got the two races and to go top four races at the end of the day is just absolutely fantastic.”
In the boys’ premiership, St Patrick’s (45 points) held off Clarendon (44) in a tight finish, with Grammar coming in third with 24 points.
Loreto dominated the girls’ premiership, finishing on 46 points ahead of Clarendon (35) in second and Grammar (34) in third.
Ballarat Clarendon completes Head of the Lake double
Ballarat Clarendon is the toast of the Ballarat rowing community after claiming the men’s and women’s Head of the Lake on Sunday.
In perfect conditions for rowing the school claimed both crowns to continue their domination in the women and end the reign of Ballarat Grammar in the men.
The men took out the title after holding off a challenge from St Patrick’s (second) and Ballarat Grammar (third) in the final 1000m of the race.
It is the first time the school has won the main race for boys since 2016.
In the girls, Ballarat Clarendon claimed their third straight title after being a class above their competition in the final race of the program.
The girls finished more than 14 seconds ahead of Loreto College who finished second ahead of Ballarat Grammar.
There will be more to come.
Check out the full race results and how the day unfolded below.
LIVE BLOG
The Head of the Lake is underway in conditions perfect for rowing at Lake Wendouree.
Almost 600 students across a few schools in Ballarat will compete today in cool and overcast conditions in the city.
It is the 109th edition of the inter-school competition.
School support crews are out in force, lining the spit of Lake Wendouree, ready to cheer on their teams.
First up on the program was the Year 9 division six female coxed quad scull with every race result listed below.
CATCH A REPLAY OF THE ACTION BELOW
Race 1:
Loreto College wins the first event of the day, the year 9 girls division six coxed quad scull. The winners were E. Dodd, G. Mahony, K. McDonald, O. James and D. Donovan-Clancy (cox). The team won by six lengths.
Race 2:
St Patrick’s takes out the year 9 boys division five coxed quad scull. The team had P. McGreevy, B. Wattelet, T. Cosgriff, L. Gardiner and A. Dalton (cox).
Race 3:
Loreto College wins their second event of the day with the girls winning the year 9 division five coxed quad scull. The rowers were M. Constable, S. Martin, B. Burt, M. Schwarz and K. Hutson (cox). The team finished ahead of Ballarat Grammar and Ballarat High School.
Race 4:
St Patrick’s held off a stern challenge from Ballarat Clarendon College to claim the year 9 boys division four coxed quad scull. The rowers in the team were B. Darbin, L. Huebner, F. Dalziel, A. Todd and L. Cowell (cox). Ballarat High School, who finished fourth, completed the race with just three rowers after one of the crew missed the start.
Race 5:
Ballarat Grammar claims their first race of the day, taking out the year 9 girls division four coxed quad scull. The rowers involved were S. Read, M. Ussher, M. Matthews, A. Booth and K. Deacon (cox). The crew won by almost two lengths over Loreto College and Ballarat Clarendon College who finished second and third.
Race 6:
St Patrick’s remains unbeaten in the boys events so far, claiming the year 9 boys division three coxed quad scull. The rowers were I. Kopke-Veldhuis, J. Nunn, F. Russell, K. Kupisz, H. Bennett (cox). The school won ahead of Ballarat Clarendon (second) and Damascus College (third)
Race 7:
In the closest race of the day so far, Loreto College took out the year 9 girls division three coxed quad scull. Loreto won in a photo finish over Ballarat Grammar with both schools fighting it out to the end. The rowing team was J. Knobel, L. Molloy, A. Kinnersly, M. Geljon and M. Cheeseman (cox). Ballarat High finished third to fill out the minor placings.
Race 8:
Ballarat Clarendon College has kicked off their quest for the boys’ premiership strongly, taking out the year 9 division two coxed quad scull. The crew was led by St Patrick’s College coming into the final 500 metres, however some messy strokes from St Patrick’s and Clarendon’s increased stroke rate saw them row over the top of St Patrick’s to claim an impressive victory. Winning crew – W. Bray, D. Demidov, D. Chandler, J. Belcher, Cox: A. Grima.
Race 9:
Loreto College has kicked off their quest for the girls’ premiership in winning fashion, taking out the year 9 division two coxed quad scull. The crew stormed home in the final 500 metres to overtake Ballarat Clarendon College, the Loreto spit crew making their voices heard as they crossed the line. Winning crew – A. Jones, L. Bennett, E. Watson, M. Kavanagh, Cox: L. Stringer
Race 10:
Ballarat Clarendon has made it two from two in the boys’ premiership, taking out the year 9 division one coxed quad scull. The crew impressed from start to finish, never letting up as they stormed home to win ahead of St Patrick’s (second) and Damascus (third). Winning crew – C. King, T. Williams, O. Fumi, J. Connolly, Cox: R. Belcher
Race 11:
Loreto College has dominated the opening two races for the girls’ premiership, taking out the Year 9 division one coxed quad scull by one-and-a-half boat lengths. The crew led entering the final 500 metres and never let up, powering through the finish line in first place. Winning crew – A. Clarke, N. Griffiths, O. Lanyon, M. Woodburn, Cox: T. Slater. Damascus and Ballarat Grammar stormed past Ballarat Clarendon in the last 50m of the race to take second and third as Clarendon were forced to settle for fourth after fading late.
Race 12:
St Patrick’s College have held off a late challenge from Ballarat Clarendon College to claim the year 10 boys division five coxed quad scull. The team won by less than a length. The rowers were S. Valenzuela, K. Jones, J. Dean, J. Florence, H. Jones (cox). Ballarat Clarendon’s second team, the only other rowing crew in the race, did not finish.
Race 13:
In the largest win so far in the Head of the Lake, St Patrick’s College dominated the year 10 boys division four coxed quad scull to win by more than 27 seconds. The race was over in the first 400m as St Patrick’s charge to victory. The rowers were L. Warland, J. Roberts, S. Horgan, B. Briody and B. Roberts (cox). Ballarat Grammar and Ballarat Clarendon finished second and third respectively.
Race 14:
Loreto College 2 has beaten their schoolmates Loreto College 1 in a photo finish to claim the year 10 girls division four coxed quad scull title. Loreto College 2 stormed home over the last 100m to claim the win. The rowers were C. Templar, A. Cartledge, E. Templar, M. Keen, A. Korosec (cox).
Race 15:
St Patrick’s has claimed its first win for the boys’ premiership, taking out the year 10 division three coxed quad scull with an impressive win over Ballarat Clarendon and Ballarat Grammar. Winning crew – N. Svanosio, L. Severino, B. Monaghan, O. Farrington, Cox: J. Hamill
Race 16:
Loreto College has extended its lead in the girls’ premiership, taking out the year 10 division three coxed quad scull in dominant fashion. Ballarat Grammar came in second, one-and-a-half boat lengths ahead of Ballarat Clarendon in third. Winning crew – A. Phillips, R. Cameron, J. Main, L. Boyanton, Cox: G. Bridges
Race 17:
St Patrick’s has claimed back-to-back wins for the boys’ premiership, taking out the year 10 division two coxed quad scull. Ballarat Clarendon competed strongly until the finish line, however St Patrick’s had opened up a strong lead and powered home. Winning crew – J. Clark, B. Hackwill, C. Neil, C. Elliott, Cox: N. Kargaran
Race 18:
Loreto College’s stellar start to Head of the Lake 2023 has continued, taking out the year 10 division two coxed quad scull. Leaders through the first 500 metres, Loreto never let up, powering the line to beat Ballarat Grammar in second and Ballarat Clarendon in third. Winning crew – A. Pituch, B. Molloy, C. Peucker, M. McTigue, Cox: B. Atherton.
Race 19:
St Patrick’s has finished a dominant run in the year 10 races, taking out the division one coxed quad scull. Ballarat Clarendon was challenging in the final 500 metres, however couldn’t make up the gap, St Pat’s storming home for its fifth-straight win. Winning crew – L. Belleville, H. Grant, H. Jackson, H. Reinehr, Cox: H. Lester.
Race 20:
Loreto College holds a strong lead in the girls’ premiership after it claimed the year 10 division one coxed quad scull. Loreto has so far won every race that goes towards the girls’ premiership, the senior divisions next to come on the schedule. Winning crew – C. Connell, T. Stringer, L. Cushing, M. Lynch, Cox: G. Bales.
Race 21:
Loreto Ballarat 2 has won the girls senior coxed four division five by more than four lengths to their schoolmates Loreto Ballarat 1. The two teams continued the dominance of the school in the girls competition so far. The rowers for the winning team was O. Jones, T. Clark, A. Britt, J. McKinnis, H. Boyd (cox).
Race 22:
Ballarat High School claimed the boys double scull division one as the race saw both male and female crews compete. The boys winning team involved L. Wallace and M. Sorensen. The girls winner was Loreto with R. Callender and R. Sheehan part of the winning team.
Race 23:
Loreto College’s Chloe Cook won the girls single scull division one race by a few lengths, beating Ballarat Grammar’s Kate Mitchell in the two person race.
Race 24:
Loreto College seems destined to win the girls’ premiership after taking out the senior coxed four division four. The crew led through the 1000-metre mark of the 2000-metre race and never let up, beating out Ballarat Grammar in second and Ballarat Clarendon in third. Winning crew – E. Cosgriff, P. McIlwaine, H. McCrum, M. Howard, Cox: L. Connell
Race 25:
It was a St Patrick’s dominated field in the senior coxed boys four division three and they made the most of it with an impressive win over 2000 metres. Ballarat Clarendon crossed the line in second, with St Patrick’s second crew coming in third. Winning crew – O. Watkins, K. Todd, P. Bennett, T. Stute, Cox: L. Shaw.
Race 26:
Sitting third through the 1000-metre mark, Ballarat Grammar had some work to do, but the girls powered home in the final 150m to win the senior division three coxed four. It was a neck-and-neck finish as Grammar edged in front ahead of Ballarat Clarendon in second and Loreto College in third. Winning crew – D. Walsh, E. Whitwell, E. Cassidy, A. Hawker, Cox: M. Barclay-Smith.
Race 27:
Ballarat Clarendon has powered home to a dominant win in the boys’ senior coxed four winning by more than eight lengths. Ballarat Grammar crossed in second and St Patrick’s in third as both schools were no match for Clarendon over the final 1000 metres. Winning crew – J. Forsyth, C. McClure, Z. Lang, A. Moffat, Cox: C. Nolle
Race 28:
Ballarat Clarendon has powered home in the final 500 metres to take out the senior girls division two coxed four. Ballarat Grammar put up a strong fight for second place but wasn’t able to match it with Clarendon, while Loreto finished in third. Winning crew – G. Kemp, M. Kopke-Veldhuis, A. Goodson, D. Troon, Cox: S. Crellin.
Race 29 – Male Head of the Lake
Ballarat Clarendon has ended Ballarat Grammar’s dominant run at Head of the Lake, taking out the senior boys division one event. The race was tight across the first 1000 metres, Clarendon, Grammar and St Patrick’s sitting close to one another in the first half of the race. An impressive third 500 metres got the job done for Clarendon, however, handing them their first boys’ title since 2016. Winning crew – Jock Quartermain, Lachlan Clark, Tristan Nijhof, Alexander Grove, James Tippett (Cox)
Race 30 – Female Head of the Lake
Ballarat Clarendon has completed the boys’ and girls’ Head of the Lake double, the senior girls division one powering home for their third-straight title. Ballarat Grammar and Loreto College challenged through the first 1000 metres, however Clarendon put the foot down to continue its dominance at Head of the Lake. Winning crew – Lucy Richardson, Katie Jackson, Teja Kirsanovs, Lily Dwyer, Chloe Tippett (Cox)
EARLIER
Ballarat Grammar and Ballarat Clarendon College will face stern competition as both schools look to continue their dynasties in the Head of the Lake this weekend.
The inter-school event returns for the 109th time on Sunday at Lake Wendouree in what is the biggest event of the calendar for students in the city.
Both schools will be looking for their third straight title, in the boys and girls open division one respectively, when the racing begins.
Last year, Ballarat Grammar held off a fast finishing St Patrick’s College and Ballarat Clarendon College in the boys to claim their second straight title.
Last year’s team featured Hugh Bond, a former Ballarat Grammar student who won twice with the school.
He is now playing for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL after being drafted to the team at the end of 2022.
This year’s team features four new rowers alongside Charlie Savage who returns looking to win again.
The team will face competition from St Patrick’s and Ballarat Clarendon College who have retained more rowers from last year.
Ballarat Clarendon College have been the in-form team in the regattas leading into the event.
In the girls, Ballarat Clarendon College is aiming to win three in a row, which hasn’t been done since 2001.
The team has retained Kate Richardson (three seat) and Lucy Armstrong (stroke) and are expected to face competition from other schools.
But the school is confident, with the experienced girls’ level heads, that it can win again.
All up, there will be 593 athletes competing in 32 events during the day.
Ballarat Clarendon College and Loreto College will be looking to retain the Harold Deveson Cup and J H Netherway Cup as the best boys and girls team respectively on the day after claiming both trophies last year.
Racing starts at 9am.
A full program of the day’s action is here and you can read about all the schools heading into the event here.
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