Thousands of girls will row the Barwon River this weekend for the return of the Head of Schoolgirls’ (HoSG) Regatta.
Bob Morrell Reserve will host the three-day regatta from March 14 to 16, featuring students from different year levels competing in 1500-metre or 1000-metre races.
HoSG Regatta president Alison Henricus said she loved the “real sense of excitement” from the students during the regatta, which was celebrating 41 years of schoolgirl rowing.
“When we look at where the regatta came from when it first commenced in 1985, it was a very small event with just a handful of schools that got together,” she said.
“To see how it’s grown from there to the numbers we have today, which is around 2031 athletes competing this weekend from over 40 different schools, is really significant.”
Ms Henricus said the regatta was “very inclusive” and helped inspire young girls to participate in rowing and many other sports.
“Statistics show us that participation rates for girls in sport as they move through their teen years can decline, but this regatta showcases what girls can do and be a part of,” she said.
“It is a sport that supports them being active across a range of activities. You’ll find that most girls that row do a lot of other sports as well, and any sort of activity is great for their overall wellbeing.”
During the regatta, a section of Barrabool Road from Quarry Close to High Street, Belmont will be closed to Eastbound traffic from 7am to 6pm on Saturday and from 6.30am to 5.30pm on Sunday.
Barwon Terrace, west of Moorabool Street, will also be closed from Latrobe Boulevard to Moorabool Street from 6am to 6pm over the event’s three days.
Jena Carr
