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Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
| Head of the Schuylkill Regatta | |
|---|---|
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300px The Head of the Schuylkill Regatta logo | |
| Date | Last Weekend of October |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Event type | Head Race |
| Distance | Script error: No such module "convert". |
| Primary sponsor | NSM Insurance Group |
| Established | 1874[1] |
| Official site | www.hosr.org |
| Participants | 1,614 entries; 230 clubs[2] |
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]
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]
Contents
History
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 Script error: No such module "convert". from the start to the finish at Boathouse Row and contains four bridges in total, which appear in this order from the start:
- Strawberry Mansion Bridge with 8.jpg
- Schuylkill Grandstand.JPG
- Pennsylvania Railroad Connecting Bridge (cropped).jpg
- Phila Girard Avenue Bridge301.png
The Columbia Railroad Bridge, is the most difficult part of the course because coxswains must make a sharp turn of nearly ninety degrees.[13]
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.
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]
- Fairmount Water Works Dam.jpg
- Fairmount Dam accross from Boathouses.jpg
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-descried "inclusive regatta."[20] However, it also attracts top world-class athletes. Recent competitors include:
- Victoria Opitz, world record W8+[21]
- Kerry Simmonds, world record W8+[21]
- Esther Lofgren, Olympic gold medalist W8+[22]
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 six programs have won the overall points trophy:[24]
Overall
College
- Drexel University (2010-2014)[25]
- Villanova University (2014) (tied with Drexel)
Open
- Vesper Boat Club (2011-2014)
- Penn AC (2010)
Masters
- Vesper Boat Club (2010-2013)
High School
- Saugatuck Rowing Association (2012-2013)
- 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 | 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 | Sagamore | Norwalk River | [27] |
| 2014 | Bucknell | Drexel | -- | -- | Vesper | Potomac | -- | -- |
Philadelphia Gold Cup Challenge
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]
| 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 | Joseph W. Burk | United States (Penn AC) | [30] |
| 1948 | Mervyn Wood | Australia | [30] |
| 1950 | Mervyn Wood | Australia | [30] |
| 1952 | Jurij Tjukalov | 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 | Don 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.[30]
| Year | Men's Winner | Country | Women's Winner | Country | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Iztok Čop | Slovenia | Mirka Knapkova | Czech Republic | [30] |
| 2014 | Kjetil Borch | Norway | Kim Crow | Australia | [30] |
References
- ^ a b Ferris, William R. (2004). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures: The Mid-Atlantic Region. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 391. ISBN 9780313332661. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. Oct 27, 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- ^ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta History and Growth". Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ a b Van Allen, Peter (January 2006). "36th Annual Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill". Rowing News 12 (11): 51. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Schulten and Müller Complete Fall Domination". Independent Rowing News 1 (2): 8. November 6, 1994. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ O'Brien, Rick (July 8, 2010). "Philadelphia regatta series is established". Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA: Philly.com). Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ 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 10 November 2013.
- ^ Ujifusa, Steven B. "The Founding of the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta" (PDF). Graphica. p. 8. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Lyman Perry". SR/Olympic Sports. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Van Allen, Peter. "History of the Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta" (PDF). Graphica. p. 9. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Herzig, Allison. "Penn Glee Club to open Philadelphia's largest regatta". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Blackwall, Christopher (December 21, 2003). "Watch Our Back". Rowing News 10 (18): 12. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Course Map" (PDF). hosr.org. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Letter to the Editor". Rowing News 2 (22): 4. November 1995. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. Oct 27, 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. Oct 25, 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. Oct 28, 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ "Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Regatta Central. Oct 26, 2002. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ 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 (Chip Davis) 8 (18): 12. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Sponsorship Opportunities". hosr.org. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ a b McManus, Tim (October 25, 2013). "Veteran pair tackles Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA: Philly.com). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ Narducci, Marc (October 27, 2012). "Olympic gold medalist Esther Lofgren in Head of the Schuylkill Regatta". Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA: Philly.com). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ "41st Annual Head of the Schuylkill Regatta This Weekend Draws Over 5,800 Competitive Rowers". pitchengine.com. October 25, 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ "Results". Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Crew Wins Head of the Schuylkill's Overall Points Title for Fourth Straight Year". Drexel University. October 26, 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ a b c "2013 Schedules and Results". hosr.org. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ "2013 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta" (PDF). hosr.org. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b "Top International Rowers Compete For Historic Gold Cup Trophy". usrowing.org. September 9, 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ 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 30 October 2014.
External links
- Tim Furlong, Matt Morano, Mitch Budman, Lyman Perry (27 October 2010). Head of Schuylkill Regatta (video). Philadelphia: nbcphiladelphia.com.
- Max Kaplan, Christopher Blackwell, Bruce La Londe (30 September 2009). Rowing 101: A Guide to Rowing in Philly's Schuylkill Regatta (youtube video). Philadelphia: aroundphilly.com.
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