STRATHBOGIE Shire is known as the horse capital of the state, but on March 20, Lake Nagambie became the 'Rowing Capital of Victoria' when it hosted the 153rd boys' 'Head of the River' and the 40th girls' 'Head of the River' events in perfect conditions for the regatta.

Strathbogie Shire and Rowing Victoria are proud to sponsor the largest event held on Lake Nagambie.

Its 2000 metres Olympic size rowing course from the town end of Nagambie to the Regatta Centre west of the town was the perfect venue for the annual sports event.

There was no regatta held in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

The Associated Public Schools (APS) of Victoria was formed in 1908.

The Victorian APS Head of the River is regarded as the oldest continuous school boy rowing event in the world because it has been held each year since it began in 1868 (and had not missed a year until 2020.)

In its colorful history, the 'Head of the River' has been held on the Yarra River in Melbourne and Albert Park Lake, the Barwon River at Geelong and for its 20th year in 2021 on Lake Nagambie.

The day began as a spectacle of color with the colourful banners, school flags, and eager school rowing teams in their school colored rowing outfits being seen everywhere amongst the 1000 COVID-19 allowed spectators and sports officials under strict COVID guidelines.

From the first heat in the morning to the final race after 3.20pm, five boys’ schools and six co-education schools contested vigorously.

After two fiercely competed finals the predicted favorites were beaten by two teams that made new APS rowing history.

The 153rd Head of the River boy's final was won for the first time by Brighton Grammar School.

They did come second in 2018 and 2019, so 2021 was their year.

Brighton Grammar School’s first eight won by 0.45 of a second ahead of St Kevin’s, with Scotch College (at 4:55) third.

Beth Walter of Nagambie Rowing Club said, “My husband Mike Walter (also a Nagambie rower and club board member) coached Brighton Grammar’s school team when his son Marc rowed for Brighton.

"So it was very exciting for Mike when he saw that Brighton Grammar had taken out the Head of the River prestigious Fairbairn Challenge Cup prize.”

Wesley College took out the 40th girls' 'Head of the River' race to win the Summer Cup with Geelong Grammar second and Geelong College coming in third.

After the exciting final races the presentations were made on the stage at the Regatta Centre whilst the winning schools' supporters sang their school songs and cheered their teams onto the podium.

Both the girls' Head of the River team from Wesley College and the Brighton Grammar Head of the River team were ecstatic with their wins as were their school mates and families.

The organisers of the boat race thanked Rowing Victoria (RV) and their officials provided by courtesy of RV and the Strathbogie Shire and all those who supported the 2021 'Head of the River' event for their contribution to a successful Regatta on Lake Nagambie.