Head of the Schuylkill Regatta

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HOSR
Head of the Schuylkill Logo.png
The Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
DateLast weekend of October
Location Philadelphia
Event type Head Race
Distance2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Established1874 [1]
Organizer University Barge Club
Official site www.hosr.org
Participants8,000 entries; 272 clubs [2]
Eights at Head of the Schuylkill.jpg

The Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (also known as the HOSR or the HOS) is a rowing race held annually during the last weekend in October on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [3] The HOSR is the final race in the Fall Fury series, which includes the Head of the Ohio and the Head of the Connecticut. [4] Along with the Head of the Charles and the Head of the Connecticut, the HOSR is considered one of the three “fall classics.” [5] The HOSR is one of the marquee races in the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series, which also includes the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Championship, the Schuylkill Navy Regatta, and the Independence Day Regatta. [6]

Contents

Regattas such as the Head of the Charles in Boston and the Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia are to the rowing world what the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon are to running.

— Susan Saint Sing, The Eight: A Season in the Tradition of Harvard Crew [7]

History

Schuylkill River from race start to finish at Boathouse Row 1986-cropped2.jpg
Schuylkill River from race start to finish at Boathouse Row

The HOSR was first held in 1874. [1] The regatta, as it exists now, was founded in 1971 by members of the University Barge Club, Joseph N. “J” Pattison IV and Olympic Rower, Lyman S.A. Perry. [8] [9]

Until recently, the event was the largest one-day rowing competition in the world. The HOSR became a two-day event in 2008. [10] It is the largest regatta in Philadelphia. [11] As of 2003, the HOSR was America's second largest regatta. [12]

Format and course

The HOSR is a head race, which is a time-trial competition where boats race in close succession from a rolling start. The rower or crew completing the course in the shortest time in their age, ability and boat-class category is deemed the winner.

The course stretches 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from the start to the finish at Boathouse Row and contains four bridges in total, which appear in this order from the start:

The Columbia Railroad Bridge, is the most difficult part of the course because coxswains must make a sharp turn of nearly ninety degrees. [13]

Columbia Bridge turn Columbia Bridge Turn 2014.jpg
Columbia Bridge turn

Coming under the Columbia bridge is like the Weeks [Memorial Bridge] turn at the Charles. You want to be already turning before you get out of the bridge.

—  NYAC coxswain Leigh Heyman, Rowing News [4]

There is a dangerous waterfall less than 300 meters from the finish line across from Boathouse Row. [14] The 13-foot Fairmount Water Works Dam stretches 400 meters across the Schuylkill. [14]

The dam is difficult for coxswains to see because it is so wide. [14] A rowing shell caught broadside beyond the safety cable would easily be swept over the falls. [14]

Competitors

Festival Tent.jpg

The regatta draws competitors from across the United States and internationally. Competing teams regularly hail from countries including:

Australia [15] Canada [15] France [15] Germany [16]
Great Britain [15] Greece [15] Guatemala [15] Hong Kong [17]
Ireland [18] Mexico [16] Peru [16] Russia [16]

The HOSR is a fall championship regatta for many regional schools. [19] The regatta sets itself apart with an expanded schedule of small boats and a field of quads "deep enough to do justice to Philadelphia’s rich sculling heritage." [19] The Head of the Schuylkill is a self-described "inclusive regatta." [20] However, it also attracts top world-class athletes. Recent competitors include:

Points trophies

Since 2010, the HOSR has awarded points trophies in high school, college, open and masters categories for overall all team points and by gender. [23] Only twelve programs have won the overall points trophy: [24]

Overall

[25]

College

Open

Masters

High School

By gender

YearCollege womenCollege menMasters womenMasters menOpen womenOpen menHigh school womenHigh school menRef.
2010 Holy Cross/Trinity Drexel Vesper Malta Penn AC Penn AC Connecticut St. Joe's Prep [26]
2011 Drexel/Villanova Drexel/Princeton Vesper Potomac/Malta Vesper Penn AC Connecticut St. Joe's Prep/Crescent [26]
2012 Michigan State Princeton Vesper Fairmount/Malta Vesper Malta/Potomac/Vesper Saugatuck Crescent [26]
2013 Old Dominion/Drexel Drexel Vesper University Vesper Penn AC/Undine SagamoreNorwalk River [27]
2014 Bucknell Drexel Vesper Undine Vesper Potomac Notre Dame/ SaugatuckNorwalk River
2015 UPenn UPenn Vesper Fairmount Vesper Vesper SaugatuckSaugatuck
2016 UPenn UPenn Vesper Undine Vesper Penn AC SaugatuckEast End/ Malvern/ Whitemarsh
2017 UPenn UPenn Vesper Fairmount Potomac Penn AC RowAmerica RyeRowAmerica Rye
2018 UPenn Navy/ UPenn Vesper Fairmount Vesper Penn AC RowAmerica RyeRowAmerica Rye
2019 UPenn Drexel Vesper Fairmount Vesper Vesper Princeton NRAOak Neck
2020*––––––––
2021* Georgetown Dartmouth Whitemarsh Fairmount Vesper Dartmouth RowAmerica RyeRowAmerica Rye
2022 Drexel Drexel Vesper Penn AC Drexel Undine RowAmerica RyeNotre Dame

Philadelphia Gold Cup Challenge

2014 Winners Kjetil Borch and Kim Brennan being presented with the Gold Cup by Sir Steve Redgrave Gold Cup Winners.jpg
2014 Winners Kjetil Borch and Kim Brennan being presented with the Gold Cup by Sir Steve Redgrave
Kjetil Borch out in front of Mahe Drysdale, Ondrej Synek and Yohann Rigogne Mens Gold Cup.jpg
Kjetil Borch out in front of Mahé Drysdale, Ondřej Synek and Yohann Rigogne

The Philadelphia Challenge Cup, known as "The Gold Cup", began during the heyday of Philadelphia rowing and pitted the best amateur male single scullers in the world against each other in a sprint race on the famed Schuylkill River. [28] In 1920, J. Elliot Newlin, the Commodore of the Schuylkill Navy and head of the Philadelphia Challenge Cup Committee, presented the Gold Cup to its first winner, John B. Kelly Sr. from Vesper Boat Club. [29]

The Gold Cup was originally created by a popular subscription of more than $2,500, and was to be to rowing what the Davis Cup is to tennis. [29] Its founding followed Mr. Kelly's winning the 1920 Olympics single sculls and the Henley Royal Regatta barring him from competing in the Diamond Challenge Sculls on the grounds he had been a brick layer, which meant he "wasn't a gentleman" and was therefore ineligible to compete as an amateur. [29]

YearWinnerCountryRef.
1920 John B. Kelly Sr. United States (Vesper) [30]
1922 Walter M. HooverUnited States (Duluth Boat Club) [30]
1923 W.E. Garrett GilmoreUnited States (Bachelors) [30]
1924 Paul V. Costello United States (Vesper) [30]
1924 Jack Beresford England [30]
1925 Jack Beresford England [30]
1928 H. R. Pearce Australia [30]
1935 Charles A. CampbellCanada (Argonaut Rowing Club) [30]
1936 Gustav Schaefer Germany [30]
1940 Joe Burk United States (Penn AC) [30]
1948 Mervyn Wood Australia [30]
1950 Mervyn Wood Australia [30]
1952 Yuriy Tyukalov Soviet Union [30]
1956 Vyacheslav Ivanov Soviet Union [30]
1958 Vyacheslav Ivanov Soviet Union [30]
1960 Vyacheslav Ivanov Soviet Union [30]
1962 Vyacheslav Ivanov Soviet Union [30]
1964 Vyacheslav Ivanov Soviet Union [30]
1966 Donald Spero United States (NYAC) [30]

The Gold Cup mysteriously disappeared, ending the competition in the 1960s, only to reemerge in 2011 after a 50-year hiatus, with the expansion of the competition to women. [28] [30] The race is held on a 750-meter course at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. In 2019, the Gold Cup became its own event, racing every year on the Cooper River. [30]

YearMen's winnerCountryWomen's winnerCountryRef.
2011 Iztok Čop Slovenia Miroslava Knapková Czech Republic [30]
2014 Kjetil Borch Norway Kim Brennan Australia [30]
2015 Kjetil Borch Norway Kim Brennan Australia
2016 Damir Martin Croatia Kim Brennan Australia
2018 Robbie Manson New Zealand Hannah Osborne New Zealand

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowing (sport)</span> Sport where individuals or teams row boats by oar

Rowing, sometimes called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars are attached to the boat using oarlocks, while paddles are not connected to the boat. Rowing is divided into two disciplines: sculling and sweep rowing. In sculling, each rower holds two oars—one in each hand, while in sweep rowing each rower holds one oar with both hands. There are several boat classes in which athletes may compete, ranging from single sculls, occupied by one person, to shells with eight rowers and a coxswain, called eights. There are a wide variety of course types and formats of racing, but most elite and championship level racing is conducted on calm water courses 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long with several lanes marked using buoys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head of the Charles Regatta</span> Rowing race on the Charles River, Boston/Cambridge

The Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR, is a rowing head race held on the penultimate complete weekend of October each year on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts United States. It is the largest 3-day regatta in the world, with 11,000 athletes rowing in over 1,900 boats in 61 events. According to the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the three-day event brings 225,000 people to the Greater Boston area and $72 million to the local economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head race</span> Time-trial competition in the sport of rowing

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Kelly Jr. (rower)</span> American rower (1927–1985)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Kelly Sr. (rower)</span> American Olympic rower (1889–1960)

Sports career

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stotesbury Cup</span>

The Stotesbury Cup Regatta, sponsored by the Schuylkill Navy, is the world's oldest and largest high school rowing competition. It is held annually in mid-May over a two-day period on the Schuylkill River near Boathouse Row in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Competing crews come from schools all over North America, though most hail from the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coxswain (rowing)</span> Member who steers the boat in a rowing crew

In a rowing crew, the coxswain is the member who does not row but steers the boat and faces forward, towards the bow. The coxswain is responsible for steering the boat and coordinating the power and rhythm of the rowers. In some capacities, the coxswain is responsible for implementing the training regimen or race plan. Most coaches cannot communicate to boat/coxswain, so the coxswain is the "coach" in the boat. A coxswain is necessary in the first place because the rowers sit with their backs to the direction of travel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schuylkill Navy</span> Association of amateur rowing clubs of Philadelphia

The Schuylkill Navy is an association of amateur rowing clubs of Philadelphia. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the United States. The member clubs are all on the Schuylkill River where it flows through Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, mostly on the historic Boathouse Row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham University Boat Club</span>

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<i>Max Schmitt in a Single Scull</i> 1871 painting by Thomas Eakins

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairmount Rowing Association</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Barge Club</span>

Pennsylvania Barge Club is an amateur rowing club, situated along the historic Boathouse Row of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1861 and joined the Schuylkill Navy in 1865. The club's boathouse, at #4 Boathouse Row, is also known as the Hollenback House, named for William M. Hollenback, Jr., who served as President of USRowing from 1979 until 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Boat Club</span>

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Gillin Boat Club is the rowing program for St. Joseph's University Rowing and St. Joseph's Prep Rowing. It is situated at the 1,000-meter mark of the Schuylkill River race course in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gillin Boat Club was admitted to the Schuylkill Navy in 2004, by a unanimous vote of the Navy's members.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eve MacFarlane</span> New Zealand rower

Eve Macfarlane is a New Zealand rower. Described as a "natural rower", she went to the 2009 World Rowing Junior Championships within a few months of having taken up rowing and won a silver medal. She represented New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as the country's youngest Olympian at those games. She was the 2015 world champion in the women's double sculls with Zoe Stevenson. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, they came fourth in the semi-finals and thus missed the A final.

References

  1. 1 2 Ferris, William R. (2004). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures: The Mid-Atlantic Region. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 391. ISBN   9780313332661 . Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. October 28, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta History and Growth". Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Van Allen, Peter (January 2006). "36th Annual Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill". Rowing News. 12 (11): 51. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Schulten and Müller Complete Fall Domination". Independent Rowing News. 1 (2): 8. November 6, 1994. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ O'Brien, Rick (July 8, 2010). "Philadelphia regatta series is established". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, PA: Philly.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  7. ↑ Saint Sing, Susan (2010). The Eight: A Season in the Tradition of Harvard Crew . New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press. p.  24. ISBN   9780312539238 . Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  8. ↑ Ujifusa, Steven B. "The Founding of the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta" (PDF). Graphica. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Lyman Perry". SR/Olympic Sports. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  10. ↑ Van Allen, Peter. "History of the Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta" (PDF). Graphica. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ Herzig, Allison. "Penn Glee Club to open Philadelphia's largest regatta". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  12. ↑ Blackwall, Christopher (December 21, 2003). "Watch Our Back". Rowing News. 10 (18): 12. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Course Map" (PDF). hosr.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Letter to the Editor". Rowing News. 2 (22): 4. November 1995. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. October 27, 2013. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. October 25, 2003. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. October 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. October 26, 2002. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  19. 1 2 Winchester, Ed (November 8, 2001). "No Rest in Philly: Philadelphia's Head of the Schuylkill provides another fall racing opportunity". The Independent Rowing News. Chip Davis. 8 (18): 12. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Sponsorship Opportunities". hosr.org. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  21. 1 2 McManus, Tim (October 25, 2013). "Veteran pair tackles Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, PA: Philly.com. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  22. ↑ Narducci, Marc (October 27, 2012). "Olympic gold medalist Esther Lofgren in Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, PA: Philly.com. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  23. ↑ "41st Annual Head of the Schuylkill Regatta This Weekend Draws Over 5,800 Competitive Rowers". pitchengine.com. October 25, 2011. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Results". Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Head of the Schuylkill Results". Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 "2013 Schedules and Results". hosr.org. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  27. ↑ "2013 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta" (PDF). hosr.org. Retrieved November 6, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  28. 1 2 "Top International Rowers Compete For Historic Gold Cup Trophy". usrowing.org. September 9, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  29. 1 2 3 Burt, Nathaniel (1999). "The Schuylkill Navy". The Perennial Philadelphians: the anatomy of an American aristocracy. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 298–99. ISBN   978-0-8122-1693-6.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "The Philadelphia Challenge Cup, from 1920 to 2014". row2k.com. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
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