Results history
Pick a year as we slowly go through our old records for Head of the Yarra.
The event was 5.5 miles from 1957 (starting at Prices Bridge and finishing at Hawthorn Bridge (Bridge Road)). First mention of change is 1989 program detailing the 8.6km (5.3 mile) course from Henley Judges Box to Hawthorn Bridge.
You can find out more in relation to number of crews entered, fastest times, number of race categories and more! It is also provides an indication of the active clubs at the time (in Victoria at least), and provides some history for those clubs which have now disaffiliated or folded.
To see the list of clubs that have ever entered Head of the Yarra click here.
To view the different race categories and what these meant click here.
| Year | Event | Date | Number of entries | Number
of categories |
Fastest Winning Crew | Fastest Time | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49 |
Sat 24th Nov |
178 |
19 |
Mercantile |
25:32.51 |
New race caetgroy - Male Mastes H+ | |
48 |
Sat 25th November |
185 |
18 |
MUBC |
26:07.83 |
||
47 |
Sat 26th November |
182 |
18 |
MUBC |
27.01 |
Race category names changed from Open, Intermediate, Novice to A, B and C First time Men's and Women's A categories (formerly open) run at end of grid |
|
46 |
Sat 27th November |
143 |
18 |
Mercantile |
26:37.69 |
First presentation of Stan Jeffery Memorial Trophy for the fastest University crew. First time "running start" used. First international entries (from NZ) |
|
45 |
Sat 29th November |
132 |
18 |
MUBC |
26:41.00 |
Parks Victoria had omiited to advise commercial boat users that the river was closed for our event. | |
44 |
Sat 30 November |
129 |
18 |
Mercantile |
26:58.53 |
||
43 |
Sat 24th November |
110 |
18 |
MUBC |
27:50.25 |
First time Rowing Victoria officials used. Split Male Masters C&D categories into their own, and combined Womens Masters B&C race categories |
|
42 |
Sat 3rd February |
129 |
18 |
MUBC |
27:44.89 |
Death of a rower 350m from finish line | |
41 |
Sat 5th February |
123 |
18 |
MUBC |
26:03.05 |
||
40
|
Sat 6th February
|
110 |
18 |
MUBC |
26:02.03 |
||
39
|
Sat 7th February
|
105 |
18 |
MUBC |
26:14.08 |
||
38 |
Sat 8th February |
103 |
17 |
MUBC |
26:03.06 |
Mens and Womens Open, Intermediate and Novice sections; Course narrowed near start where Translink tunnel works being undertaken | |
37 |
Sat 10th February |
91 |
15 |
Mercantile |
31:04.92 |
No interstate crews | |
36 |
Sat 11th February |
92 |
15 |
Mercantile |
27:14.17 |
Would appear to be first year of seeding crews. 1st interstate crews entered (from South Australia). Mixed Eight added; Schoolboy E section reinstated; Men's Senior C section removed |
|
35 |
Sat 12th February |
14 |
Mercantile |
28:05.36 |
Men's Senior C section added | ||
34 |
Sat 13th February |
101 |
13
|
Scotch College |
28:35.78 |
Schoolgirl B and Veteran Ladies sections added; Schoolboy E section removed | |
33 |
Sat 8th February
|
92 |
12
|
Scotch College |
28:00.56 |
Veteran C section added | |
32 |
Sat 9th February |
77 |
11 |
Geelong College |
27:16.56 |
||
31 |
Sat 24th March |
65 |
11 |
Mercantile |
29:07.91 |
||
| 1989 | 30 |
Sat 11th February | 64 |
11 |
Mercantile / Essendon composite |
27:01.00 |
Brian Bourke first on board with draw / results |
29 |
Sat 20th February |
68 |
11 |
Mercantile |
25:43.00 |
||
28 |
Sat 14th March |
79 |
11 |
Mercantile |
27:04.75 |
Bob Stewart first sponsored the event | |
27 |
Sat 15th February |
58 |
11 |
Mercantile |
27:02.36 |
Fosters Cup first awarded. Schoolboy section divided into A - E divisions |
|
26 |
Sat 16th March |
64 |
8 |
Xavier College |
28:07.61 |
||
25 |
Sat 17th March |
61 |
8 |
MUBC |
27:32.9 |
||
24 |
Sat 26th February |
55 |
8 |
MUBC |
28:00.04 |
Some division of race categories: Schoolboy A & B, Veteran A & B, and "ladies open" and "ladies Senior B" | |
23 |
Sat 13th March |
53 |
5 |
Mercantile |
27:36.4 |
Female section added - possibly first female eight-oared race in Victoria: 3 entered, 2 started | |
1981 |
22 |
4 |
no records available | ||||
1980 |
21 |
MUBC |
26:40.5 |
||||
1979 |
20 |
MUBC |
26:29.0 |
||||
1978 |
19 |
no records available | |||||
1977
|
18 |
Mercantile / MUBC composite |
28:18.8 |
||||
1976 |
Head of the Yarra not held due to clash of dates with Kings Cup, and road resurfacing through gardens at Hawthorn Rowing Club | ||||||
1975
|
17 |
Monash University / MUBC / Banks composite |
27:02.7 |
||||
1974
|
16 |
Mercantile |
28:20.6 |
||||
1973
|
15 |
Mercantile |
31:01.80 |
||||
1972
|
14 |
March 1972 |
Mercantile |
||||
1971
|
13 |
March 1971 |
no records available | ||||
1970 |
River closed due to construction of the South Eastern (Monash) Freeway | ||||||
1969 |
|||||||
12 |
Sat 16th March |
49 |
4 |
Banks |
29:40.1 |
||
11 |
Sat 18th March |
50 |
4 |
Yarra Yarra |
29:33.6 |
Only record of fastest time in 1968 program - discrepency between fastest time and open time (same crew) | |
10 |
Sat 19th March |
43 |
4 |
Banks |
31:51.8 |
||
9 |
Sat 20th March |
47 |
4 |
Scotch College |
29:23.8 |
||
8 |
Sat 14th March |
39 |
4 |
Yarra Yarra |
32:33.7 |
||
7 |
Sat 16th March |
Mercantile |
29:37.4 |
||||
6 |
Sat 17th March |
37 |
4 |
Mercantile |
32:35.6 |
First entries from Melbourne University colleges | |
5 |
Sat 18th March |
33 |
4 |
Hawthorn |
32:55.3 |
The Veterans race category was added. There were two classes of High School Fours races held after the "Head of the Yarra" - Junior Fours and Senior Fours |
|
4 |
Sat 19th March |
23 |
3 |
Hawthorn |
31.21.9 |
There were two classes of High School Fours races held after the "Head of the Yarra" - Junior Fours and Senior Fours | |
3 |
Sat 14th March |
29 |
3 |
Scotch College |
31:24.7 |
An Intermediate and School Eight race category were added. There were two classes of High School Fours races held after the "Head of the Yarra" - Junior Fours and Senior Fours |
|
2 |
Sat 15th March |
18 |
1 |
Mercantile |
32:49 |
There were two classes of High School Fours races held prior to the "Head of the Yarra" - Junior Fours and Senior Fours | |
1 |
Sat 16th March |
14 |
1 |
Mercantile |
34:19 |
11 crews started - the Walkers Stores Trophy was presented to the fastest crew (Open Section). | |
Hawthorn Rowing Club and Head of the Yarra are indebted to Mr Geoff Code of the club for his record keeping of the event. As one of the stalwarts of the club (and a member since the late 1930's) his tireless efforts in many areas, including Head of the Yarra, are greatfully appreciated.
Assistance from the following people has also been helpful in putting together these result and club histories associated with Head of the Yarra:
- Kath Bennett
- Glenn Bottrell
- Michael Butcher
- Mal Coe