2025 Head of the River

The 2025 Head of the River (HoR) occurred on Saturday 15 March, on a scorching 40-degree day, with northerly head winds. The venue was packed with boats, supporters, and an electrifying atmosphere. HoR marked the culmination of a long and demanding season for the Norwood International High School (NIHS) Rowing Club. Their hard work and sacrifice came to fruition on race day, with teams delivering outstanding performances across multiple events. Dedication, teamwork, and resilience were on full display, resulting in several podium finishes.

The morning started with Scarlett finishing 4th in the schoolgirl reserve single scull which was an amazing effort in a tight race. Isaac and Noah competed in the schoolboy reserve single scull, the boys performed exceptionally, and placed 1st and 2nd respectively starting the day off with a bang!

Progressing to the quads, first up was the Schoolgirl Yr 8 4x+ B final, which saw Lucy M, Lucia, Audrey, and Lucy P, coxed by Stella (Coached by Ashley Ng) take 3rd place with a time of 5:05.23. In the Schoolboy Yr 8B 4x+ B final, Jack, Doruk, Noah, and Chase coxed by Hugo (Coached by Liam Howard) placed 2nd with a time of with a 5:15.68. Followed by the Schoolboy Yr 8A 4x+ B final, where Jacob, Ruben, Austin, and Thomas coxed by Hugo (Coached by Igor Zarubin) place 1st with a time of 4:44.65 which is an amazing achievement for the boys.

The NIHS Drum Corps, led by Mr Yohan Lee, delivered a striking and atmospheric performance to mark the opening of the Year 7 Hat Ceremony. Our ever-expanding group of Year 7 rowers – which is now pushing towards 30 students – proudly received their Norwood Rowing Club Hats presented by Captains of Boats, Nickolas and Sofia, and Vice Captains of Boats, Rohan, Julissa and Scarlett. It was a joy to officially welcome our newest members and witness them already embracing the value and camaraderie of rowing as part of their high school journey. We eagerly look forward to watching them grow, develop, and excel in the years ahead.

As we soldiered on through the day, the sun gained its summer bite and the year 9s took to the water to compete in their final races of the season. In the Yr 9B 4x+ B final Sophie, Rosie, Grace, and Jenny, coxed by Lylah and (Coached by Ashley Ng) finished 2nd with a time of 5:57.62. The Yr 9A 4x+ B final rowers Evie, Eva, Kemi, and Annabelle, coxed by Angie (Coached by Nicole Ng) placed 2nd in their final with a 5:05.33.

The Yr 9B 4x+ A final rowers Arata, Santiago, Diesel, and Jake, coxed by Senehas (Coached by Liam Howard and Dylan Barker) finished in 6th place in a tight race which saw the boys pull a personal best of 4:05.05. In the Yr 9A 4x+ A final, rowers Ethan, Filip, Felix, and Leandro, coxed by Phoenix (Coached by Liam Howard and Dylan Barker) finished 7th with a time of 3:54.59.

Next was the 1500m races with both of our Yr 10B 4x+ A finals. Pax, Kobe, Thomas (sub in for Jackson), and Henry, coxed by Senehas (Coached by Liam Whitehouse and Aaditya Sugunanandan) finished 8th with a 7:02.38, the team had a bumpy finish to the season with injuries and sickness but still competed well. In the Yr 10A 4x+ A final Aiden, Elliot, Leo, and Antonio coxed by Lucy P (Coached by Liam Whitehouse and Aaditya Sugunanandan) finished 7th with a time of 6:34.30.

With the end of the day fast approaching and the intensity rising, the marquee events for our Senior rowers were ahead. For our senior girls’ squad, the year levels combined to create a powerhouse crew that never lacked effort and determination culminating in a successful 3rd place finish with some tightly contested racing. Making it the best placement the NIHS Club has had in this event.

Schoolgirls’ 1st IV – Julissa, Serena, Sophia, Grace, Coxed by Tom (Coached by Alison Smith and Fotini Dimas) with a time of 10:05.04.

Our Senior boys were last on the schedule for the day, the boys started the year rowing the 8 but over the season injuries riddled the squad leaving the hard decision to row the 4. The boys never lacked grit and fighting spirit which was on show as they competed hard and finished 2nd which is the best Senior 4 placing since 2017 (in which we won the event).

Schoolboy 1st IV – Rohan, Chase, Bodhi, Nickolas, coxed by Mitchell (Coached by Brenton Terrell and Alex Worthington) finishing 2nd.

The 2025 Head of the River showcased the incredible depth of talent in the NIHS rowing club. Each rower displayed exceptional effort, discipline, and sportsmanship, contributing to the club’s strong presence in the competition. Our athletes’ hard work in training and dedication to the sport were evident in their performances, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements.

A huge thank you to our Rowing Manager, Talitha Benson, for her leadership, dedication, and for creating a fun and supportive environment that kept our rowers motivated throughout the season. Her passion for the sport has been instrumental in fostering both skill and team spirit within the club. Jumping into the role during the middle of the season is no small task and from everyone at the club, thank you.

A bittersweet ending for our Head Coach, Brenton Terell, who throughout his many years at the club departs at the conclusion of the season. He always showed a dedication, passion, and love towards the countless amounts of kids he has coached during his time at Norwood, and he will truly be missed.

A special thank you to the coaches for their unwavering support throughout the season. Your dedication, encouragement and passion for the sport played a significant role in the success of the crews on and off the water.

To the supporting staff at NIHS, thank you for your efforts throughout the year, particularly to Ben O’Connell and Nick Hyland for supporting the students during their class sessions, whether that be at school or the Torrens. We thank you for the countless hours teaching and helping the rowers achieve the most out of the sport.

Thank you to Mr Roy Page and Mr Reece Freak for coming down and experiencing your first of many Head of the Rivers to come, the way you have jumped on board with the program is amazing and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.

The 2024/25 season is now complete and we are starting to look forward to next season. We still have some race days to look forward to ahead; Monday 24 – Sunday 30 March, Nickolas will represent NIHS for the second year running at the Australian Rowing Championships, we wish him the best in his events and fingers crossed he brings the school back another gold medal.

As we look ahead to the 2025/26 rowing season, we are committed to achieving our largest intake of new rowers from the NIHS student body. We invite students from Years 7 to 11 to take part—whether you are new to the sport, or returning to build on previous experience. With the program set to grow again in 2025, this is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, and be part of an exciting and dynamic team. We encourage you to get involved and discover what rowing has to offer for you.