Patrick A Black
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
(01 Dec 1917 to 12 Feb 1941)
Pat was a well known and well liked member of the Club. He learnt to row at Melbourne Grammar School where he raced in the five seat of the winning second crew in 1934.
He joined Mercantile as a junior member in 1935-36 season and thereafter rose to the senior ranks and raced with much success.
Upon the commencement of WWII, Pat joined the RAAF and attained the rank of Flying Officer. At the time of his death, he had been posted to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II. On 12 February 1941, he died as a result of a flying accident during a practice flight. His obituary appeared in the Club's annual report.
1938 Henley-on-Yarra winning senior eight with Pat in the three seat
Summary of rowing record:
1934 - APS Head of the River, MGS Second Crew, five seat - First
1935 - Melbourne Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat - defeated in heat
1935 - Henley-on-Yarra Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat - defeated in heat
1936 - Footscray Regatta, Maiden Eights, five seat - unplaced
1936 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Maiden Eights, five seat - unplaced
1936 - Bairnsdale Regatta, Maiden Eights, five seat - unplaced
1936 - Sale Regatta, Maiden Eights, five seat -First
1936 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Eights, seven seat - First
1936 - Henley-on-Yarra Regatta, Junior Eights, seven seat - First
1937 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Senior Eights, three seat - defeated in heat
1937 - ANA Regatta, Senior Eights, three seat - defeated in heat
1937 - Barwon Regatta, Junior Eight, seven seat - First
1937 - Ballarat Regatta, Junior Eight, seven seat - Second
1937 - Victorian Championship Junior Eight, seven seat - unplaced
1937 - VRA Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - unsuccesful
1937 - Henley-on-Yarra Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - unsuccesful
1938 - Barwon Regatta, Junior Eight, seven seat - unsuccessful
1938 - Ballarat Regatta, Junior Eight, seven seat - unsuccessful
1938 - Victorian Championship Junior Eight, seven seat - Second
1938 - VRA Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First
1938 - Henley-on-Yarra Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First
1939 - Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First
1939 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First
1939 - Victorian Championship Senior Eight, three seat - Second
Andrew Guerin
January 2023