Two crews racing in Lagan Head of the River. The closer boat is being overtaken by the boat on the far side.

A head race is a time-trial competition in the sport of rowing, also known as crew. Head races are typically held in the fall and spring seasons. These events draw many athletes as well as observers. In this form of racing, rowers race against the clock where the crew or rower completing the course in the shortest time in their age, ability and boat-class category is deemed the winner.

Common categories of age may be high school and college-aged rowers as well as adults. Those over the age of 27 are typically referred to as "masters".

Common categories of ability may be: Junior-varsity boys/girls and varsity boys/girls among high school rowers Novice womens'/mens' and womens'/mens' among college-aged rowers Novice, club, intermediate, elite and championship among masters-aged rowers; also differentiated by women and men.

Common categories of boat class may be: 1x: one rower with two oars, known as a single sculler 2x: two rowers with two oars each, known as a double 4x: four rowers with two oars each, known as a quad Pair: Two rowers with one oar each (see sweep-rowing) 4+: Four rowers with one oar each and a coxswain 8+: Eight rowers with one oar each and a coxswain

To minimize collisions, Boats are started at 10 to 15 second intervals and are usually seeded so that the fastest start earlier.

The length of most head races are usually between 3 km and 6 km. Among the most well-known are the 4¼ mile (6,840 m) Head of the River Race that takes place each March on the river Thames in London, United Kingdom and the 3.2 mile (5120m) Head of the Charles race held each October on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The second largest Head Race in the United States, next to the Head of the Charles, is the 5,000 meter Head of the Hooch, which is currently held in Chattanooga, TN on the Tennessee River. Other notable head races include the head of the Trent in Peterborough, Ontario along the Trent-Severn Waterway, the head of the Rideau in Ottawa, Ontario, London in March, the 3¼ mile (5,000m) Head of the Lake through the Montlake Cut in Seattle, Washington, the Fremont 4-Miler also in Seattle, Washington, the 3 mile Head of the Ohio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania annually since 1987 along the Forks of the Ohio River, the 3 mile Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Head of the Fish, in Saratoga Springs New York. no

This rowing-related article article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e