In full voice, ready to roar: spit crews set for Boat Race school spirit

There were a mix of traditional rallies handed down through generations, like the Boomalacka, some tweaked from house chants and some new additions.

Grammar vice-captains Robert Johnson and Winnie Tayler said they could hardly wait to finally take their turn, as year 12s, in their school's spit crew tradition.

In what has been as much a feature as the rowing in Ballarat Associated Schools' Head of the Lake regatta, spit crews lead the war cries along the course finish at Lake Wendouree. Their jobs are to keep energy high among rowers, from junior racing right through to the title boys and girls events.

This all starts in the school yard.

"I think it's good [at school] that even if students aren't part of the rowing culture, just being able to see where they will eventually end up in year 12 is important," Johnson said.

READ MORE: We should never undersell Head of the Lake - it is the stuff of legends

Tayler said the experience was all being part of the long-standing school tradition.

"We're super keen and pumped for Sunday. I think the energy out there will be high," Tayler said.

"...Mostly [chants] are passed down and there is still a lot of meaning in them, like the Boomalacka."

Johnson was also lead designer for Grammar's spit crew shirts this year, taking on calls to featured crossed rowing oars and the school's Viking [fundraiser] heritage.

Almost 170 t-shirts were hand-printed by a team in three sessions after school.

GIRLS

BOYS

GIRLS

LANE 2: BALLARAT GRAMMAR SCHOOL

LANE 3: LORETO COLLEGE

LANE 4: DAMASCUS COLLEGE

LANE 5: BALLARAT HIGH SCHOOL

LANE 6: BALLARAT CLARENDON COLLEGE

BOYS

LANE 2: BALLARAT GRAMMAR SCHOOL

LANE 3: BALLARAT HIGH SCHOOL

LANE 4: BALLARAT CLARENDON COLLEGE

LANE 5: ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE