Weekend Wrap: Ottawa and Welland Host Head Races

Two head races took centre stage over the weekend as the Head of the Rideau ran from Ottawa and the Head of the Welland: Five Bridges Fall Classic took place in Welland.

In Ottawa, the Head of the Rideau launched from Mooney’s Bay Beach on Sunday, Sept. 27 and was hosted by the Ottawa Rowing Club. A total of 33 clubs from Ontario, Quebec, the USA and Czechia participated in the annual event with a total of 292 entries. The competitors raced in either 3km or 5km races in a wide variety of race categories including recreational, novice, junior, varsity, open, masters, and Special Olympics categories.

The host ORC won the most medals in club competition with an impressive 24 (14 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze). Other Ontario clubs earning medals on Sunday included the Hanlan Boat Club (6), Kingston Rowing Club (4), Peterborough Rowing Club (4), Burnstown Rowing Club (3), Brockville Rowing Club (3), Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (2), St. Lawrence Rowing Club (1) and Georgian Bay Rowing Club (1). In university competition, the Trent Excalibur came out on top of the medal tally with 17 medals (5 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze), followed closely by the McGill Redbirds/Martlets with 15 (5 gold, 8 silver, 2 bronze). Other Ontario university programs reaching the podium included the Ottawa Gee-Gees (11), Carleton Ravens (7), and RMC Paladins (2).

The day before the Head of the Rideau, the Head of the Welland: Five Bridges Fall Classic took place on Saturday, Sept. 27 from the North Course of the Welland International Flatwater Centre. Hosted by the South Niagara Rowing Club, the regatta featured 323 entries from 31 clubs from Ontario and the United States with the competitors racing a 5km course.

The St. Catharines Rowing Club had an impressive day on the water, earning medals in 29 of the 37 events they competed in. Overall, they claimed ten gold, nine silver, and ten bronze medals. Niagara Community Rowing also impressed on Saturday, winning the most gold medals with 14, to go along with seven silver medals for a total of 21.

Other Ontario clubs reaching the podium in Welland included the Argonaut Rowing Club with 18 medals, Ridley Graduate Boat Club (17), Don Rowing Club (13), Niagara Falls Rowing Club (9), Leander Boat Club (8), Ridley College (8), South Niagara Rowing Club (8), Branksome Hall (4), Guelph Rowing Club (4), Notre Dame Rowing Club (4), Collingwood Rowing Club (1), Georgian Bay Rowing Club (1), LaSalle Rowing Club (1), Orillia Rowing Club (1), Tillsonburg Rowing Club (1), Trinity College School (1), and Upper Canada College (1)

For full results from the Head of the Rideau, visit RegattaCentral.
For full results from tehe Head of the Welland, visit RegattaCentral.

For the full regatta schedule in Ontario, visit the Row Ontario website.

Picture is property of Niagara Community Rowing.