<P> From 1893 until 1935, the Regatta was held on the Parramatta River; from 1936 until 1996 on the Nepean River; and since 1996 at the Olympic course . From 1893 until 1909 the race was contested by four - oared boats, and by eight - oared boats since then . Since 1996 the race has been contested over 2000 metres; all previous events were over a mile and a half, except in 1946 and 1947 when the races were over a mile and a quarter . It is the culmination of the GPS (Great Public Schools) rowing season for senior crews, and has been held since 1893 . Eight of the nine GPS schools, Sydney Grammar School, The King's School, Newington College, Sydney Boys High School, The Scots College, St. Joseph's College, Saint Ignatius' College and Shore School, send their eights to the Head of the River . In 2012 the ninth, The Armidale School, started sending Fours, and the First IV race of 2013 was an historic one as the first time crews from all nine GPS schools competed alongside each other in an event at the Head of the River . One of the most successful coaches of rowing among the schools was Robert Buntine at King's and Newington from 1966 until 1996 . </P> <P> The race is held over 2000 m . It is the last race of the official GPS rowing season, following on from the Riverview Gold Cup held on the Lane Cove River . The Head of the River is one week after other summer sports premierships--cricket and basketball--have finished . This enables over ten thousand school students and other supporters to attend . However, in 2008, the Head of the River was held on Wednesday, with all GPS schools given Thursday off as a students' holiday due to a booking by NSW Kayak Association on the Saturday . </P> <P> The current (SIRC) record time (and former junior world record until 2001) for the 1st VIII is 5: 42.6 set by Shore on 23 March 1996 . The most recent winner of the AAGPS Head of the River, and holder of the Major Rennie Trophy is Saint Ignatius' College, winning the regatta in 2018 breaking a 43 year old drought . </P> <P> The NSW Schoolgirls Head of the River was first raced in 1991 . The inaugural Schoolgirls Head of the River Regatta took place on Middle Harbour Creek at Davidson Park, Roseville . In following years the event was held at Iron Cove . </P>

Who won 2018 gps head of the river