1967 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

The King’s Capture Title After 46 Years. A Shock Win in Rowing (David Kennedy, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 Apr 1967).

The King’s School yesterday proved itself again after years with a great 1 ½ length win in the G.P.S. Head of the River on the Nepean.

With completely mastery of the race from half a mile out, The King’s beat Newington and Grammar is a real boilover.

The King’s, which had been barely considered this season, surprised experts, and the supporters in the powerhouse, determined victory.

The school entered G.P.S. rowing in 1920 and won at its first attempt. Since then, The King’s have tried, but the closest they came to victory was in 1956, when their eight was beaten by three feet by St. Joseph’s. It was an emotional scene when The King’s pulled into the landing after the race.

The King’s had shattered the opinions of expert by beating second favourites Newington by a length from Grammar, third.

The favourite, Riverview, finished fourth from Shore, Scots, High and St. Joseph’s. The only credentials that The King’s had to offer, as far as form was concerned, was a win in the open eights at the Newington Regatta in mid-March. 

The crew had won by six lengths from Newington, but this win was not highly regarded by experts. A crowd of 40,000 watched the eight crews line up at the newly constructed fixed start.

The race was away about 15 minutes late. Every crew, rating high, burst away from the cable dead level. There was a slight head-wind but this did not favour any of the crews.