Head of the Fish

Last updated

Head of the Fish
Head of the Fish 2012 Logo.jpg
The Head of the Fish Regatta logo
DateLast Weekend of October
LocationFish Creek, Saratoga Springs, NY
Event type Head
Distance2.3 miles. [1]
Established1986
Official site https://regatta.saratogarowing.com/head-of-the-fish/
Participants2,124 entries; 171 clubs [2]

The Head Of The Fish Regatta is a rowing race held on the last weekend of October each year on Fish Creek, within Saratoga County, New York State. The race is named the "Head" of the Fish because it is a head race.

The event is hosted by the Saratoga Rowing Association. [3] The race is organized by volunteers. [4] Tom Frost, a member of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club, founded the regatta in 1986. [5] The original vision for the regatta was one "that wouldn't take itself too seriously." [5] Protests were forbidden and "timing errors were considered part of the regatta's charm." [5] Winners are awarded lacquered fish heads. [5] In 2001, the "Fish", out grew the resources of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club and that year the regatta was co-hosted by SSRC and SRA. In 2002, the regatta moved to a two day event. By 2003, SRA began exclusively hosting. The largest regatta to date was 2016, with 2057 entires and 185 clubs participating.

No.Year# of Entires# of TeamsDates
11986October 31st
21987October 24th
31988October 29th
41989October 28th
51990October 27th
61991October 26th
71992October 31st
81993October 30th
91994October 29th
101995October 28th
111996October 26th
121997October 25th
131998October 31st
141999October 30th
152000October 28th
162001656104October 27th
172002October 28th & 29th
182003809October 25th & 26th
192004944135October 30th & 31st
2020051038143October 29th & 30th
212006October 30th & 31st
222007October 28th & 27th
2320081451163October 25th & 26th
2420091511168October 24th & 25th
2520101533170October 30th & 31st
2620111612159October 29th & 30th
2720121677155October 27th & 28th
2820132028159October 28th & 29th
2920141861156October 25th & 26th
3020152057185October 31st & November 1st
3120162057167October 39th & 30th
3220172124171October 29th & 30th
3320181945153October 27th & 28th
3420191599140October 28th & 27th
2020Canceled
3520211562122October 30th & 31st
3620221690134October 29th & 30th
3720231810145October 28th & 29th
3820241663127October 28th & 27th

Notes

  1. "Head of the Fish a part of Saratoga's history". The Skidmore News. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  2. "Head of the Fish". Streamline Rowing. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  3. "SRA regattas". saratogarowing.com. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  4. "Volunteer Opportunities - Regattas". saratogarowing.com. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Winchester, Ed (November 8, 2002). "Fish Story". Rowing News. 9 (18): 24. Retrieved November 14, 2013.