1956 Rowing Victoria State Championships
The championships were conducted at various courses and on various dates as noted below.
Given the impending Olympic Games, which were to be conducted over 2000m, all Championships were conducted over that distance or the shorter 1 mile depending on the restrictions of the course.
Mercantile easily won the eight as expected and Don Dudgeon of Richmond won the scull. South Melbourne won all the lightweight races showing their dominance in this division.
The women's championships are still being researched.
Race Results
Victorian Eight-Oared Championship
2000m
Time: 6:47.2
Margin: Four lengths
1st Mercantile - Bow: Hubert R Frederico, 2: Warwick O Granowski, 3: John Foley, 4: C Brian Dawes, 5: Garth O V Manton, 6: David H Boykett, 7: Jack Morganti, Str: Brian J Doyle, Cox: H Neil Hewitt, Coach: Robert R Aitken
2nd Melbourne University
3rd Composite Crew
Raced at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat on the 11th of February 1956. Crews raced for the Norwich Shield and the Sir Thomas Nettlefold Medallions.
Victorian Four-Oared Championship
2000m
Time: 7:42.8
Margin: ½ length
1st Mercantile - Bow: Hubert R Frederico, 2: C Brian Dawes, 3: John A Hunt, Str: Roland H Richardson, Cox: H Neil Hewitt, Coach: Norman W Cairnes
2nd Albert Park
3rd Corio Bay
Holders: Albert Park Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra on the 21st of April 1956.
Victorian Pair-Oared Championship
1 mile
No Times Taken
Margin: 3 ½ lengths
1st Albert Park - Bow: R B Duncan, Str: B D Dickson, Cox: J Cockbill, Coach: H R Duncan
2nd Lake Colac
3rd Essendon
Other competing crews:
Banks/Albert Park
Mercantile
Rowed on Lake Nagambie over 1 mile on the 26th of December 1955.
Victorian Sculling Championship
2000m
Time: 9:21.2
1st Richmond - Don Dudgeon
2nd Melbourne - G Barker
3rd Melbourne University - John Hunt
Other competing crews:
Yarra Yarra - P Begelhole
Essendon - D Brooke
Melbourne - B Bacash
Rowed on Lake Wendouree, Ballarat on the 11th of February 1956.
Victorian 2,000 Metres Sculling Championship
2000m
Refer to Champion Scull which was raced over 2000m
Victorian Junior Eight-Oared Championship
2000m
Time: 7:07.2
Margin: ½ length
1st Scotch College - Bow: Andrew S Peacock, 2: M J Errington, 3: A S Olsson, 4: C C Grant, 5: J P Rowland, 6: A R Frater, 7: Robert E Lee, Str: N C Courtney, Cox: F P Newman, Coach: L H Christie
2nd Trinity College
3rd Extra Collegiate
Other competing crews:
Mercantile
Ormond College
Banks
Albert Park
Rowed on the Lower Yarra over 2000 metres on the 21st of April 1956.
Victorian Junior Four-Oared Championship
2000m
Time: 7:58.00
Margin: 1 length
1st Albert Park - Bow: E Stranger, 2: Kevin McMahon, 3: R Libbis, Str: F Jacobs, Cox: N Treslso, Coach: Fred Easton
2nd Mercantile
3rd Banks
Other competing crews:
Richmond
Rowed on the Lower Yarra over 2000 metres on the 17th of December 1955.
Victorian Junior Pair-Oared Championship
1 mile
No time taken
1st Albert Park - Bow: B Libbis, Str: F Jacobs, Cox: N Wright, Coach: F Easton
2nd Preston
3rd Essendon
Other starters:
Mercantile
Yea
Footscray City
Rowed on Lake Nagambie over 1 mile on the 26th December 1955.
Victorian Lightweight Eight-Oared Championship
2000m
Time: 7:34.8
Margin: 1 canvas
1st South Melbourne - Bow: T Summers, 2: E Jackson, 3: R Gallery, 4: R Jones, 5: Leigh Gallagher, 6: W Stevens, 7: G Taylor, Stroke: R Tanner, Cox: A Campbell, Coach: W Graham
2nd Mercantile
Rowed on the Lower Yarra over 2000 metres on the 21st of April 1956.
Victorian Lightweight Four-Oared Championship
2000m
Time: 8:06.2
Margin: 1 length
1st South Melbourne - Bow: T Summers, 2: L Gallagher, 3: G Taylor, Str: R Tanner, Cox: A Campbell, Coach: J Webster
2nd Yarra Yarra
3rd Mercantile
Rowed on the Lower Yarra on the 17th December 1955.
Victorian Lightweight Pair-Oared Championship
1 mile
No time taken
Margin: 2 lengths1st South Melbourne - Bow: T Summers, Str: G Taylor, Cox: A Campbell, Coach: J Webster
2nd Richmond
3rd Rutherglen Lake
Other Starters:
Mercantile
Hawthorn
Ballarat City
Yarra Yarra
Albert Park
Rowed on Lake Nagambie on the 26th December 1955.
Sources
Victorian Rowing Association, Reports 1942 - 1975.