The highlight of the rowing season in Galway, the annual Head of the River, returns to the Corrib on Saturday.
Formerly the Tribesmen Head, the newly named Galway Head, is a result of a new partnership between NUIG Boating Club and Tribesmen Rowing Club who will jointly host the event to ensure its future success.
The Galway head traditionally signals the end of the winter training period and the beginning of the regatta season and, as such, it has long been a favourite of both local and visiting crews.
The event will follow the tried and tested three-head approach, with the first head running from 10.30am, the second from 1.30pm, and the final head from4pm. Each head caters for different boat classes.
A newly-established local Irish speaking club, Colaiste na Coiribe, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be racing at Galway Head this year, while local clubs such as GRC (junior women’s Irish novice champions ) and St Joseph’s (junior men’s current Irish and British schoolboy champions ) will put their pre-season preparation to the test on Saturday.
The 4.3km race course is from the mouth of Lough Corrib to just downstream of the Quincentenary Bridge. Spectators can position themselves at Dangan slip or along the riverbank near the bridge (within the university grounds ) for a good view of the action.
The 2012 edition of this race will bring several hundred crews to the city and provides an opportunity to put this great event firmly back on the rowing calendar.
Volunteers are still required, and the clubs ask anyone wishing to help to make contact in advance of the event to [email protected], or visit www.galwayheadoftheriver.ie
