The Regatta Centre in Nagambie has hosted some of Australia’s best rowing talent and this year’s APS Regatta showcased a similarly impressive list.

Approximately 14,000 people attended this year’s APS Heads of the River rowing regatta, which has been successfully hosted by Nagambie since 2001.

On Saturday 28 March the 142nd Boys Head of the River and the 29th Girls Head of the River was decided at the Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre. This year, 1359 students from the eleven Associated Public Schools participated in what is officially known as The APS Regatta (Heads of the River).

Girls' Head of the River winner was Geelong Grammar School. The boys' winner was Melbourne Grammar School, finally beating Scotch College after that school had won for the last five years.

The standard of rowing at this level is very high, and this year’s racing promised some tight competition in the Girls' First VIII division. Geelong Grammar School was firm favourite to take out the Geelong Ladies' Challenge Cup, having dominated the APS field throughout the season. Fierce competition was expected from Wesley College and Geelong College for second place, based on previous performances, although Carey Grammar, Caulfield Grammar and Haileybury (the rapid improver of the previous two weeks) were all within striking distance.

An extraordinary Boys' First VIII field saw the two top schoolboy VIIIs in Australia fighting it out for the Fairbairn Challenge Cup. At the recent Australian National Rowing Championships in Tasmania, Melbourne Grammar School finished first, continuing a two-year dominance by Victorian schools over the long-held NSW dominance of that event. With strong performances from St Kevin’s College, Scotch College, Geelong Grammar School and Haileybury College, spectators were treated to a final that featured crews from those schools, with Wesley College, Xavier College and Brighton Grammar School completing the field in the A final.

Strathbogie Shire Mayor Cr Howard Myers, said, “The APS Regatta is the biggest event held in the Shire. It’s great, it’s a win-win for everyone: local businesses benefit, the accommodation providers are fully booked, and that, in turn, increases employment.”

Nagambie Lakes Ward Councillor Debra Swan added “It’s an event in which all the community gets involved, local primary schools, service clubs, sporting clubs - they’re all there, either raising money for the community or volunteering their time.”

Steve Crawcour, the Shire's Director, Strategic and Community Development, said, “The APS Regatta brings thousands of people to the area. It’s a wonderful day out for the whole family to enjoy in a festive, competitive atmosphere. We hope people will also take advantage of the wonderful wineries and other local attractions and stay for a few days, or return in the future to savour all the region has to offer.”