History of AAGPS Head of the River Rowing Regatta

1958 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

‘Comeback’ After 51 Years. Thrills in big boat race. (Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Apr 1958)

Riverview won the G.P.S. Head-of-the-River race yesterday for the first time in 51 years.

It was one of the most thrilling and grueling Head-of-the-River races in recent years. During the race a member of St. Joseph’s eight, John Williams, “caught a crab” with his oar and was catapulted into the water. The racing shell continued with one oar dangling and finished last.

Williams, who was picked up be an umpire’s boat, said later that the front chock of his moveable sear broke and threw him off balance. He added, “The next thing I knew the oar caught me under the chest and I was thrown into the air.

“I hit the water headfirst.”

The King’s School led High and Riverview most of the race. In the last 200 yards Riverview overtook The King’s and went on to win. Ten minutes later the members of the winning eight jublilantly threw their young cox, W.M. Hedger, into the river. All eight members jumped in after him while the other crews cheered.

Yesterday’s win was Riverview’s first sine 1907, when the championship was for four-oared boats. High took the first honours of the day yesterday by winning the first fours from Riverview and Grammar.

race finish line

Senior 1st Eight

Major Rennie Trophy

8:10.25

¼ length

1 ½ lengths

1^st Riverview – Bow: R. Rose, 2: R. Meagher, 3: R. Curtin, 4: G. Durrell, 5: S. Hammond, 6: N. Hammond, 7: M. Oates, Str: D. Rowe, Cox: W. Hedger

2^nd Shore

3^rd High

4^th The King’s School

5^th Grammar

6^th Scots College

7^th Newington

8^th St. Joseph’s College

Senior 1st Four

Yaralla Cup

6:07.00

3ft

1 length

1^st Sydney High – Bow: R. Madgwick, 2: I. Toll, 3: J. Campbell, Str: C. Hull, Cox: R. Caddy

2^nd Riverview

3^rd Grammar

4^th Newington

5^th Scots College

6^th Shore

7^th The King’s School

8^th St. Joseph’s College

Senior 2nd Four

6:19.00

1 length

Dead heat

1^st Sydney High – Bow: D. Hall, 2: D. Moran, 3: A. Skinner, Str: I. Stewart, Cox: K. Lloyd

2^nd Scots College

2^nd Shore

4^th The King’s School

5^th St. Joseph’s College

6^th Newington

7^th Riverview

8^th Grammar

Senior 3rd Four

4:31.25

1 ½ lengths

¼ length

1^st Grammar – Bow: P. Barcham, 2: D. Cohen, 3: I. Hottes, Str: R. Hearn, Cox: R. Dight

2^nd Newington

3^rd Scots College

4^th Riverview

5^th High

6^th The King’s School

7^th St. Joseph’s College

8^th Shore

Senior 4th Four

4:30.00

Canvas

½ length

1^st Riverview – Bow: M. Lowrey, 2: M. Williams, 3: P. Bookallil, Str: M. Dureau, Cox: J. Brennan

2^nd Scots College

3^rd The King’s School

4^th Shore

5^th Newington

6^th Grammar

7^th High

8^th St. Joseph’s College

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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.

1958 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

Senior 1st Eight

Senior 1st Four

Senior 2nd Four

Senior 3rd Four

Senior 4th Four

NSW AAGPS Head of River

Summaries