1965 NSW AAGPS Head of the River
Scots by Canvas (Rod Humphries, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 Apr 1965)
“Scots College yesterday beat Riverview “at their own game” to win a thrilling Head of the River on the Nepean.
Scots beat Riverview by a canvas, with Grammar half a length away third.
Scots last won the Head of the River in 1962, and Riverview was an easy six lengths winner last year. Riverview’s use of a revolutionary style of rowing last year prompted Scots to change their style. Using a basically similar style they were able to narrowly beat last year’s winners.
It was a great finish with Scots, moving stroke for stroke over the last half of the one-and-a-half-mile course.
The heavier and more experienced Grammar eight on the opposite side of the river rowed a good race to finish third. The odds were against Grammar who earlier in the day had misfortune to “hole” their boat after a training paddle.
Riverview may have ruined their chance by losing about a length at the start. When the crews were properly under way there was keen competition for the lead between five crews on the Sydney side of the river. The King’s, Scots, Newington, Riverview and Shore, and Grammar on the Emu Plains side.
Riverview appeared to take the lead just before half-way but Scots then got to the front and maintained their lead to the finish.”
Senior 1st Eight
Major Rennie Trophy
8:11.00
Canvas
½ length
1st Scot’s College – Bow: R.R. Norris, 2: J. Dolman, 3: B.W. Hawthorne, 4: A.J. Main, 5: W.F.G. Khan, 6: I.D. Black, 7: R.B. Hampshire, Str: J.P. Wheaton, Cox: D.A.B. Richards
2nd Riverview
3rd Sydney Grammar
Senior 1st Four
Yaralla Cup
6:09.50
1 ½ lengths
½ length
1st Riverview – Bow: R. O’Neill, 2: P. Duffy, 3: J. Curtin, Str: P. Rowley, Cox: A. Horsley
2nd Scot’s College
3rd Sydney Grammar
Senior 2nd Four
6:12.00
2 ½ lengths
½ length
1st Sydney Grammar – Bow: D.L. Richardson, 2: A.C. Strong, 3: C.P. Harris, Str: J.G. Warren, Cox: G.E. Gill
2nd Riverview
3rd The King’s School
Senior 3rd Four
4:32.00
3 lengths
3 lengths
1st Sydney Grammar – Bow: I.J. Polkinghorne, 2: M.C. Lewington. 3: R.A. Howard, Str: A.B. Canvin, Cox: D.H. Stevenson
2nd Newington
3rd Sydney High
Senior 4th Four
4:25.00
1 length
½ length
1st Scot’s College – Bow: R.H. Douglas, 2: W.D. Turner, 3: A.W. McKibbon, Str: H.J. Watson, Cox: F.W. Walker
2nd Shore
3rd Sydney Grammar