Head of the Trent expands to two days
Masters, junior races in spotlight for the second day on Sunday; dash races added to this year’s regatta
Organizers of the Head of the Trent Regatta can no longer boast it is North America’s largest single day head race.
That’s because the 49th edition will be held over two days on Saturday and Sunday at the Peterborough Rowing Club and along the Otonabee River.
Truth be known in recent years the Welland regatta and some U.S. events have become larger than HOTR. To grow it the PRC’s only alternative was to add a second day. The event is held each year to coincide with Trent University’s Homecoming Weekend.
“We don’t have a problem with losing that title,” said PRC president Brian Love, who has been a part of HOTR since 1978.
“The exciting thing is we’re offering more events for juniors, U19, plus masters, 30 and over. That’s been a particular drive of our own in Peterborough.”
“Given our course, where the canal is so narrow, it’s actually quite a feat to put 450 boats through in a day,” said HOTR chairman Neil Horne.
“We were at the point where we couldn’t really take on any more boats on the one day.”
Row Ontario is trying to encourage growth in junior racing and approached PRC about expanding its junior division at HOTR.
Junior and masters numbers are growing at the club. PRC has 130 active members with 54 on the competitive side and the rest recreational. Juniors make up 39 members with the rest in adult and masters classes.
A second day was the only way to accommodate larger numbers. So Day 1 will feature the university crews along with club and masters singles. Day 2 will focus on junior and masters divisions. They’ll put 320 boats through on day one and 200 on day two.
“Our goal is to grow the regatta to accommodate 900 boats over the two days,” Horne said. “This is just the beginning of that vision.”
Junior growth is integral to keeping the sport strong.
“We have a growing junior team both competitively and recreationally, just introducing young people to the sport,” Love said.
“Row Ontario has also been encouraging people to have more opportunities for juniors to race in the fall.”
“We realized there was a need for more junior development racing and that has been a focus of the Peterborough Rowing Club,” Horne said. “We’re very interested in getting out to more public schools and introducing it in Grades 7 and 8 but also renewing our commitment to running a junior program that would run not only for the high school season but into the summer.”
Also new this year are 500 metre dash races from the area near the PRC dock to Faryon Bridge for singles and pairs in all divisions.
“We’re trying to create a better fan experience so more people can spend time on the Trent Faryon Bridge watching consistent races,” Horne said.
“A sprint race is just so much different than a long head race. Instead of going 4.5 kilometres or 3.5 kilometres which we do for masters. A sprint race should be really exciting and I know some university crews are very excited about it.”
The dash races will take place both days between the launch of head race divisions.
It takes close to 100 volunteers each day to run the regatta. They include club members, Trent Excalibur alumni, umpires and members of the Peterborough Amateur Radio Club who help with communication along the course and satellite weather.
A canteen will operate on both days at the club.
“We’d encourage Peterborough residents if you haven’t seen the regatta come on out,” Horne said.
“Anywhere along the canal is fine but especially up near the university is a wonderful opportunity to see a sport you may not have seen before. There are other sports going on but rowing is the focus.”