1954 Rowing Victoria State Championships

1^st Mercantile - Bow: W Wallace, 2: C B Dawes, 3: J Morganti, 4: L S Williams, 5: G O Manton, 6: W O Granowski, 7: J S Rowe, Str: B J Doyle, Cox: P Harrison, Coach: N W Cairnes

2^nd Albert Park

3^rd South Melbourne/Banks

Holders - Mercantile Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra over a course of 2 1/4 miles on the 20^th February, 1954. Won by Mercantile Rowing Club by eight lengths from Albert Park, second. 

1^st Mercantile - Bow: W Wallace, 2: B Dawes, 3: S J Rowe, Str: B J Doyle, Cox: P Harrison, Coach: N W Cairnes

2^nd Albert Park

3^rd Footscray

4^th Banks

Holders - Mercantile Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra over a 2,000 metres course on the 12^th December, 1953. Won by Mercantile Rowing Club by five lengths from Albert Park. 

1^st Albert Park - Bow: R B Duncan, Str: B D Dickson, Cox: J Libbis, Coach: H R Duncan

2^nd Banks

3^rd Mercantile

4^th Lake Colac

Holders - Albert Park Rowing Club. Rowed on Lake Nagambie, over a one mile course on the 26^th December, 1953. The race was won by Albert Park by three lengths from Banks Rowing Club. No times were taken.

1^st Don Dudgeon, Richmond

2^nd Don Brook, Essendon

3^rd Jack Webster, South Melbourne

Other competing crews:

John Williams, Mercantile

Peter Begelhole, Yarra Yarra

Holder - Ron V. Rawlins, Melbourne Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra over a two and a quarter miles course on the 20^th February, 1954. Won by Don Dudgeon of the Richmond Rowing Club. No times were taken.

1^st Don Dudgeon, Richmond

2^nd Peter Begelhole, Yarra Yarra

3^rd Don Brook, Essendon

Holder - D. Tucker, Melbourne Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra. Course 2,000 metres. 27^th March, 1954. Won easily by Don Dudgeon of the Richmond Rowing Club from Peter Begelhole (Yarra Yarra) and Don Brook (Essendon).

1^st Corio Bay Corio Bay Corio Bay Corio Bay - Bow: Robert Morell, 2: W Hunter, 3: M Watson, 4: E Partridge, 5: A Sceneay, 6: J George, 7: Gordon Cowey, Str: Jim Evans, Cox: D Riches, Coach: W Melourey

Mercantile - Str: Geoff Anderson.

Hawthorn

Harold Balfe's newspaper report of this race was interesting.
"Split second timing by stroke Jimmy Evans in a desperate last hope sprint gave Corio Bay a 12 inch win from Mercantile in the Victorian junior eight oar championship on Saturday.

"It was as exciting a finish as there has been on the lower Yarra 2000 metres course in recent years. Corio Bay gained a half length lead early but could not shake off Mercantile, which began to creep up at the swinging basin, where Hawthorn was 1 1/2 lengths behind. With his crew almost level and only 200 yards to go, Mercantile stroke Geoff Anderson began a long sprint and a neck and neck race followed to within 25 yards of the line. Gradually Mercantile inched to the front , and with the finish more than three strokes ahead, looked a certain winner. Then Evans called on Corio Bay again and actually with the last stroke the crew lifted its boat to a one foot win".

Holders - Mercantile Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra over the 2,000 metres course, on the 27^th March, 1954. Won by Corio Bay Rowing Club by one foot from Mercantile Rowing Club, second, Hawthorn third.

1^st Corio Bay - Bow: Gordon Cowey, 2: J George, 3: A Sceneay, Str: Jim Evans, Cox: R Moore, Coach: Albert B Bell

2^nd Footscray

3^rd Mercantile

Other competing crews:

Barwon

South Melbourne

Richmond

Albert Park

Hawthorn

Banks

Holders - Banks Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra. Course 2,000 metres. 12^th December, 1953. Won by Corio Bay Rowing Club by two lengths from Footscray Rowing Club, second. No times were taken.

1^st Mercantile - Bow: J Dartnell, Str: David Boykett, Cox: G Lawrence, Coach: Robert Aitken

2^nd Wendouree

3^rd Lake Colac

Other competing crews:

Essendon

South Melbourne

Ballarat

Nagambie

Holders - Lake Colac Rowing Club. Rowed on Lake Nagambie over a one mile course on the 26^th December, 1953. Won by Mercantile Rowing Club by two lengths from Wendouree, second. No times were taken. 

1^st Mercantile - Bow: P Leggett, 2: J Pell, 3: A Batiste, 4: R McCubbery, 5: G Robertson, 6: Vic Sharp, 7: Colin Lewis, Str: Roland (Ron) Richardson, Cox: L Butterfield, Coach: Robert R Aitken

2^nd Barwon

3^rd Ballarat

Other competing crews:

Banks

Wendouree

Holders - Barwon Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra. Course 2,000 metres. 27^th March, 1954. Won by Mercantile Rowing Club by three and a half lengths from Barwon Rowing Club, second. 

1^st Mercantile - Bow: G Robertson, 2: Vic Sharpe, 3: Colin Lewis, Str: Roland (Ron) Richardson, Cox: L Butterfield, Coach: Robert R Aitken

2^nd Banks

Holders - Mercantile Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra over a 2,000 metres course on 12^th December, 1953. Won by Mercantile Rowing Club by two and a half lengths form Banks Rowing Club.

1^st Ballarat - Bow: R Kirsopp, Str: W C Tainsh, Cox: I Godfrey, Coach: E Laughton

2^nd Banks

3^rd Yarra Yarra

Other competing crews:

Mercantile

South Melbourne

Ballarat City

Holders - Banks Rowing Club. Rowed on Lake Nagambie. Course one mile. 26^th December, 1953. Won by Ballarat Rowing Club by three-quarters of a length from Banks, second. No time was taken.