Head of the Schuylkill Regatta

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

HOSR
Head Race
Distance2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Established1874[1]
OrganizerUniversity Barge Club
Official sitewww.hosr.org
Participants8,000 entries; 272 clubs[2]

The Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (also known as the HOSR or the HOS) is a

Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Championship, the Schuylkill Navy Regatta, and the Independence Day Regatta.[6]

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

The HOSR was first held in 1874.

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

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.

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

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

  • Penn AC
    (2022)
  • Saugatuck Rowing Association (2021)
  • Vesper Boat Club (2010–2019)

High School

  • Row America Rye (2014, 2016-2018, 2021-2022)
  • Oak Neck Rowing Academy (2019)
  • Saugatuck Rowing Association (2012–2013, 2015)
  • Connecticut Boat Club (2010–2011)

By gender

Year College women College men Masters women Masters men Open women Open men High school women High school men Ref.
2010
Trinity
Drexel Vesper Malta
Penn AC
Penn AC
Connecticut St. Joe's Prep [26]
2011 Drexel/Villanova
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
Sagamore Norwalk River [27]
2014 Bucknell Drexel Vesper Undine Vesper Potomac Notre Dame/ Saugatuck Norwalk River
2015 UPenn UPenn Vesper Fairmount Vesper Vesper Saugatuck Saugatuck
2016 UPenn UPenn Vesper Undine Vesper
Penn AC
Saugatuck East End/ Malvern/ Whitemarsh
2017 UPenn UPenn Vesper Fairmount Potomac
Penn AC
RowAmerica Rye RowAmerica Rye
2018 UPenn Navy/ UPenn Vesper Fairmount Vesper
Penn AC
RowAmerica Rye RowAmerica Rye
2019 UPenn Drexel Vesper Fairmount Vesper Vesper Princeton NRA Oak Neck
2020*
2021* Georgetown Dartmouth Whitemarsh Fairmount Vesper Dartmouth RowAmerica Rye RowAmerica Rye
2022 Drexel Drexel Vesper
Penn AC
Drexel Undine RowAmerica Rye Notre Dame

Philadelphia Gold Cup Challenge

2014 Winners Kjetil Borch and Kim Brennan being presented with the Gold Cup by Sir Steve Redgrave
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.

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

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]

Year Winner Country Ref.
1920
John B. Kelly Sr.
United States (Vesper) [30]
1922 Walter M. Hoover United States (Duluth Boat Club) [30]
1923 W.E. Garrett Gilmore United 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. Campbell Canada (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]

Year Men's winner Country Women's winner Country Ref.
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

References

  1. ^ . 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. ^ a b 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. . 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. ^ a b c d "Letter to the Editor". Rowing News. 2 (22): 4. November 1995. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. October 27, 2013. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b Winchester, Ed (November 8, 2001). "No Rest in Philly: Philadelphia's Head of the Schuylkill provides another fall racing opportunity". The Independent Rowing News. 8 (18). Chip Davis: 12. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  20. ^ "Sponsorship Opportunities". hosr.org. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  21. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "Top International Rowers Compete For Historic Gold Cup Trophy". usrowing.org. September 9, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  29. ^ .
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "The Philadelphia Challenge Cup, from 1920 to 2014". row2k.com. Retrieved October 30, 2014.

External links