Head of the Trent regatta has become the university’s largest party
Regatta begins at 8 a.m. Saturday with other varsity sports all homecoming weekend
Head of the Trent started 49 years ago as a rowing regatta hosted by the Peterborough Rowing Club but it’s grown into Trent University’s biggest annual party.
It’s also become a showcase for the Trent Excalibur varsity sports programs and in a bigger way a showcase for the university. Between 3,000 to 4,000 visitors, many alumni, will descend on Trent for the HOTT and homecoming weekend this weekend.
“It’s one of the most exciting times on our campus,” said Trent athletic director Deborah BrightBrundle.
“It’s not only an outstanding regatta and extremely large regatta but now that it’s wrapped up with homecoming weekend as well it really seizes on all the exciting things the campus has to offer.”
This is Bright-Brundle’s fourth year at Trent and she’s struck by one other aspect of HOTT.
“What I’m really seeing is the connection back to alumni and families,” she said.
“They are there for alumni connections and anniversaries but they bring their families and their friends and that homecoming feeling tied to our current students and student-athletes”
More than 2,000 rowers attend the regatta making it the largest single-day head race in North America.
Bright-Brundle says the regatta illustrates the partnership between the PRC and Trent who share facilities on the east bank.
“It’s a reflection of Trent, the strength of the community and the Peterborough Rowing Club,” she said.
“It started as Head of the Trent regatta but it’s morphed into a reflection of the whole school and the partnerships that we have.”
Events kick off Friday when the Excalibur men’s rugby team hosts the Brock Badgers at 7:30 p.m. followed by a men’s rugby booster club fundraiser at the Peterborough Pagans clubhouse at Nicholls Oval at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the HOTT regatta kicks off at 8 a.m. with the first flight of rowers starting near the Parkhill Road swing bridge and finishing at the Faryon Bridge. Races will continue through to 5:30 p.m.
Otonabee College will host an alumni and student pancake breakfast at 9:30 a.m.
The alumni welcome tents open at 11 a.m. along with children’s activities and food and swag vendor tents. The beer garden opens at Lady Eaton College at noon.
Action at Justin Chiu Stadium also kicks off at noon with the women’s soccer team hosting Nipissing followed by the men facing the Lakers at 2:15 p.m.
At 4 p.m. the women’s volleyball team faces Queen’s in the Trent Athletics Centre gym. Women’s rugby takes to the pitch at 5:15 p.m. against Brock.
The Excalibur men’s volleyball team hosts RMC at 6 p.m. and the men’s lacrosse team faces Ottawa U at 8:15 p.m.
Varsity action continues on Sunday when women’s soccer hosts Laurentian at noon followed by the men meeting the Voyageurs at 2:15 p.m.