THE big day has arrived!
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hundreds of Ballarat high school students and their families will descend on Lake Wendouree for three hours of rowing, cheering and chanting this afternoon at the annual Head of the Lake regatta.
And if you can't make it, don't despair. You can follow all the action through the The Courier's social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and online at our website.
Racing begins from 1pm and runs through until the final boat crosses the finish line about 4pm.
Open division one crews will fight it out for the Dowling Challenge Cup (boys) and the Patterson Trophy (girls), with the Harold Deveson Cup (boys) and JH Netherway Cup (girls) awarded to the premier rowing schools of the day.
Meanwhile, Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart is gearing up for one of the biggest races of her career this weekend.
Newly-crowned Ballarat Pacing Cup champion Restrepo will carry the hopes of the region in harness racing's flagship race - the Inter Dominion Grand Final - at Menangle on Sunday.
Restrepo, a $12 chance with TAB Sportsbet, has drawn gate 11 for the $750,000 race and will be driven by regular reinsman Gavin Lang.