1919-1920 Rowing Victoria State Championships

1^st James Barton, Richmond

2^nd C Collyer, Corio Bay

3^rd A William B Fawcett, Footscray City

4th W C Harvey, Mercantile

5th A Smith, Yarra Yarra

6th E T J Kerby, Civil Service

Lower Yarra, 13^th March, 1920. For this event – the first since 20^th March, 1915 – an entry of seven scullers was received, six of whom started. The race was won by James Barton, of Richmond. This was both the first win for Mr. Barton and also for the Richmond Club on achieving its first championship honours.

L S Davis from Albert Park was entered but did not start and Kirby from Civil Service did not finish the race.

The troubles with competing on the Lower Yarra were again evident this year with the S S Monaro decided to clear port about half a mile from the finish line interfering with several scullers.

Officials for the Championship were: Umpire - Lieut-Col G I Stevenson CMG DSO, Starter - G Green, Judge - J Twaits, Timekeeper - E T Bradshaw.

1^st Nagambie – Bow: V M Sullivan, Str: J S Vickers, Cox: W C Sullivan, jun.

2^nd Footscray City - Bow: J Arthur Jonsson, Str: William Fawcett, Cox: J Manning

3^rd Hawthorn - Bow: D W Barrie, Str: C S Boxall, Cox: F Mann

4^th Civil Service - Bow: T S Flint, Str: E Burne, Cox: J Hunter

5^th South Melbourne - T Barrell, Str: W McCabe, Cox: F McDonough

6^th Mercantile - Bow: H W Lloyd, Str: Jud Harding, Cox: E Counihan

7th Richmond - Bow: J Johnston, Str: R Jenkin, Cox: C Harris. 

Lower Yarra, 17^th January, 1920. The previous contest for the Pair-oared Championship was held pre-WWI on the 14^th November, 1914. The entry of seven crews for the 1919-20 race was satisfactory, and an interesting contest resulted in a win for Nagambie. This is also Nagambie’s second win in this event.

There was a strong cross wind from the south for this event making the start difficult. The start was delayed due to an accident to a seat in the Civil Service boat which was repaired. Despite the conditions, starter James Donald got them away well. Hawthorn got away very quickly followed by Footscray and Nagambie. Nagambie with a clean sharp stroke rowed through Hawthorn and Footscray to take the lead which they never lost. Richmond was rowing mid field but suffered a couple of crabs and eventually withdrew with a stretcher problem.

The race was followed by an official launch containing the President Giles Turner, Vice-President Cr Stephen Morell, Vice-President of Footscray John Donald, A N Hopkins President of Nagambie, the State selectors and other dignatories.

Officials for the Championship were, Umpire - James M MacFarlane, Starter - James Donald, Judge: Lieut-Col J M Semmens VD and Timekeeper - E T Bradshaw.

1^st Nagambie – Bow: V M Sullivan, 2: G Richards, 3: W C Sullivan, Str: J S Vickers, 12st., Cox: W C Sullivan, jun.

2^nd Banks - Bow: T Keogh, 2: G Tully, 3: C J McCarthy, Str: E J Stanton, Cox: L Kenny

3^rd Richmond - Bow: S Turnbull, 2: A Girling, 3: James Barton, Str: R Jenkin, Cox: J Croft

4th Footscray City - Bow: T Gipton, 2: H Hommersham, 3: Arthur Jonsson, Str: William Fawcett, Cox: J Manning

5th Hawthorn - Bow: D W Barrie, 2: W Day, 3: C Boxall, Str: H B Kirsch, Cox: R Brierley

6th Albert Park - Bow: R T Leslie, 2: E W Tulloch, 3: E Walsh, Str: D Laird, Cox: J McGregor

The 28th annual Four Oared Championship was conducted on the Lower Yarra on 15^th November, 1919. This was the first Four-oared Championship since 12^th December, 1914, and the satisfactory entry of six crews was received. Nagambie won comfortably and it was their second win in this event. Their winning crew had one change from the entered crew with W C Sullivan replacing the entered T Vickers.

The conditions were good for the race. The tide had just commenced to flow in and the water was calm.

Officials for the Championship were, Umpire - James M MacFarlane, Starter - James Donald, Judge: Lieut-Col J M Semmens VD and Timekeeper - E T Bradshaw.

1^st Civil Service – Bow: C Edwards, 2: H Schlichting, 3: T S Flint, 4: E W Burne, 5: E C Sievwright, 6: A V McLaughlan, 7: R M Erck, Str: J C D’Arcy, Cox: J Hunter

2^nd Nagambie - Bow: C J Welch, 2: J S Vickers, 3: V M Sullivan, 4: W C Sullivan, 5: G Richards, 6: E T Vickers, 7: F Catlin, Str: W Heath, Cox: W C Sullivan

3^rd Corio Bay -  Bow: L Coulson, 2: F Lauder, 3: F R Pilley, 4: C Palmer, 5: W Kilmartin, 6: O Bews, 7: H Martin, Str: W Emmerson, Cox: W Brownbill

4th Mercantile - Bow: W B Davy, 2: Jack L Mounsey, 3: G M Dallimore, 4: Jud Harding, 5: R V Gregg, 6: James M Buchanan, 7: H B Cole, Str: Cecil N McKay, Cox: J H Counihan

5th Banks - Bow: M J Maher, 2: E Loft, 3: T Keogh, 4: D O'Callaghan, 5: W Pincott, 6: G M Tully, 7: C J M McCarthy, Str: E J Stanton, Cox: E Young

DNF Footscray City - Bow: J O'Donoghue, 2: T Gipton, 3: R Swartz, 4: A Campbell, 5: E Christie, 6: R Simmons, 7: H Homersham, Str: W Southerwood, Cox: H Davis

Albert Park

Lower Yarra, 13^th March, 1920. For this event the record entry of seven crews was received, this being the first race for the title since 20^th March, 1915. All entrants faced the started, Civil Service winning a splendid race from Nagambie by half a length, with Corio Bay third. The Civil Service Club is congratulated on its first win in this important event. Footscray City did not finish the course stopping half way.

The conditions were calm  with a light northerly breeze with the tide flowing in.

The course was from a point 13 chains below the 2 1/2 mile mark (Coode's Canal) to the 13 chain mark at the big crane (south side).

Officials for the Championship were: Umpire - Lieut-Col G I Stevenson CMG DSO, Starters and judges - G Green and J Twaits, Timekeeper - E T Bradshaw.

1^st Albert Park Ladies – Bow: F Brooks, 2: Lena Partington, 3: R Sullivan, Str: F Brooks, Cox: unknown
2nd Bendigo - Bow: Brownlee, 2: Oldfield, 3: Oldfield, Str: Elder, Cox: unknown

Whilst the Victorian Ladies' Rowing Association was not formed until May 1924, 'unofficial' women's four championships had commenced.  This is not unsurprising given that the first women's club was formed in 1907 - Albert Park. Other women's Clubs were formed from 1912 onwards. This 'unofficial' label does not do justice to the Championship status as clearly this event was regarded by those racing as the championship event. It is certainly regarded by this publication as the first Women's Four Championship.

At the Henley on Maribyrnong Regatta on 14th February 1920, this Championship began with an event known as the Ladies' Champion Fours. Albert Park (Misses F Brooks, Lena Partington, R Sullivan and F Brooks (str) defeated Bendigo (Misses Brownlee, Oldfield, Oldfield and Elder (str) by a canvas.

Sources:

• HENLEY ON THE MARIBYRNONG. (1920, February 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1677617
• Henley-On-Maribyrnong. (1920, February 16). The Age page 9