Schools' Head of the River Race

The Schools' Head of the River Race (SHORR) is the UK's largest school-age processional (head rowing) race and is organised by Westminster School for crews aged between 14 and 18 years old. It is held in Spring, the end of the head race season.

Schools' Head of the River Race
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Championship Course, River Thames in London, England
Years active1946 – present
Previous event15 March 2019
Next event24 March 2021
Participantsapprox. 300 crews
Organised byWestminster School
Websitewww.shorr.org.uk

The race forms a leg of the national kudos of winning a rowing 'triple' in which occasionally an indefeasible Junior Eight (J18 8+ or WJ18 8+) wins this race, the National Schools Regatta, the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta or the Peabody Cup at Henley Women's Regatta.

Course

The race is held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on a course from Chiswick Bridge in Mortlake to Westminster School Boat Club flagpole in Putney. It is rowed with the tide and is in the opposite direction to The Boat Race.[1]

Race format

History

The event in its infancy offered a shortened course for smaller boats, such as J15 4s, J15 B 8's, and Maiden 4s. The shortened course ran from Hammersmith Bridge (from London Corinthian Sailing Club) to the regular finishing post at Putney. However, CD Riches, the event's manager, changed this in 2009.

Current format

The race is the largest head race of the winter season by junior crews. It attracts around 300 crews each year. Composite crews, drawn from more than one club or school, are not permitted.

All categories race the same course.

In 2012, the J4- and WJ4- events were introduced.[n 1]

In 2013, the Mix 4x[n 2] event was introduced to the race.

In 2017, the course was considerably shortened on the day, retaining the usual start line but finishing at the bandstand shortly after Barnes bridge.[2]

In 2020, the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions on 'non-essential' contact. [3]

Records

The current record holders for the events are:

Men's events
EventWinnerTimeYear
Ch8+Shiplake College16:362019
1st8+Canford School 17:132014
2nd8+Eton College 17:112018
3rd8+Hampton School 17:462007
J16 Ch8+Hampton School 17:252011
J16 1st8+Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 17:532011
J16 2nd8+King's College School 18:082018
J15 Ch8+Aberdeen Schools RA17:542018
J15 1st8+St George's College 18:122011
J15 2nd8+St Paul's School 18:372012
J15 3rd8+Hampton School 20:132013
J4x[n 2]Maidenhead Rowing Club17:19.52018
J17 4x[n 2]Westminster School 18:202014
J4-Westminster School 18:412012
J4+George Watson's College 18:422007
J16 4+Evesham RC 19:172011
J15 4+Westminster School 19:382012

Women's events
EventWinnerTimeYear
WCh 8+The Lady Eleanor Holles School 18:282011
WJ16 8+Henley Rowing Club 19:022018
WJ15 8+Latymer Upper School 19:332018
WJ 4x[n 2]Latymer Upper School 19:172018
WJ17 4x[n 2]Henley Rowing Club 20:562014
WJ4-Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 20:372012
WJ 4+Henley Rowing Club 20:122007
WJ16 4+Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls 21:032002

Mixed events
EventWinnerTimeYear
Mix 4x[n 2]Evesham RC 19:422013

Winners of all categories when last held
EventWinnerTime
Ch 8+Shiplake College 16:36
1st 8+Monmouth School
Winchester College		17:32
2nd 8+St Paul's School 17:16
3rd 8+St Paul's School 18:12
J16 Ch8+Eton College 17:30
J16 1st8+Bedford School 18:14
J16 2nd8+Eton College 18:19
J15 Ch8+King's College School 18:20
J15 1st8+St George's College 18:42
J15 2nd8+King's College School 19:07
W Ch8+Henley Rowing Club 18:18
W 1st 8+ Portora Boat Club 19:01
WJ16 8+Henley Rowing Club 19:02
WJ15 8+Latymer Upper School 19:34
Ch 4x-Maidenhead Rowing Club17:19
J16 4x-Henley Rowing Club 18:14
J4+Molesey Boat Club 18:26
J16 4+Aberdeen Schools RA19:18
J15 4+Radnor House School19:41
Mix 4x-York City Rowing Club 18:56
WJ 4x-Latymer Upper School 19:17
WJ16 4x-Marlow Rowing Club20:09
WJ 4+Henley Rowing Club 20:31
WJ16 4+Kingston Rowing Club 20:32

Previous J18 eights' winners
YearTimeWinnerSecondThird
201916:36[n 3]Shiplake College Eton College St Paul's School
201816:41St Paul's School Shiplake College Eton College
20174:50[n 4]Shiplake College Eton College St Paul's School
201617:38Westminster School Shiplake College St Paul's School
201517:58Westminster School St Paul's School Eton College
201416:56St Paul's School St Edward's School Radley College
201317:10Hampton School Abingdon School St Paul's School
201216:53Abingdon School Hampton School Shrewsbury School
201116:53Abingdon School Eton College Shrewsbury School
201017:22Eton College Shrewsbury School Hampton School
200916:47Eton College Shrewsbury School St Paul's School
20089:39[n 5]Shrewsbury School Abingdon School Eton College
200717:06Shrewsbury School Radley College Abingdon School
200617:13Shrewsbury School Abingdon School St Paul's School
200517:24Eton College Shrewsbury School Abingdon School
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See also

Notes and references
Notes
  1. In line with increased rationalisation globally to coxless fours see for example the 2006 abolition of the Prince Philip Challenge Cup and expansion of the Britannia Challenge Cup with the Prince Albert Challenge Cup for university student coxed fours at Henley.
  2. Quad. Ch, only used in the 8s category, denotes top boat (Championship entry for each school) for other symbols used (+ and -) see Rowing (sport)
  3. New Record.
  4. Shortened course.
  5. Shortened course.
    References
    1. "About the Race" Schools Head of the River Race Westminster School. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
    2. Rowing, British (23 March 2017). "Announcement! @schoolshead course has been shortened to finish at the bandstand due to current weather conditions #SHORR2017". @BritishRowing. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
    3. https://www.shorr.org.uk/2020/cancelled.html
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