History of AAGPS Head of the River Rowing Regatta

1991 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

The rowing goes on, without the rolling. (Susan Owens, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 Mar 1991)

Dr Maurice Renshaw’s Penrith house nestles on the banks of the Nepean River, opposite the finishing line for the annual GPS Regatta, which Newington College won for the third year in succession on Saturday. For more than 20 years, as many as 300 friends wandered through the Renshaw’s house on regatta day and a sort of GPS party would go into full swing for friends of their five sons, who went to St. Joseph’s.

But St. Joseph’s hasn’t won the Head of the River since 1973 and these days this, and all other rituals, have subsided. When some years ago the head-masters got together to end the drunken aftermath on the banks opposite Dr Renshaw’s house, they succeeded with the effectiveness of General Schwarzkopf.

“They actively discouraged publicity so the race is no longer televised,” Dr Renshaw said. “And they brought forward the race time, so that it is now all over at 1.45 when once it was just beginning.”

“It was a gunfight,” he said, and dusted down his 1938 St. Joseph’s honour cap with the gold tassel and the word “Champions” on the brim.

His old school showed early form and won the first two races. “We’ve got Cardinal Freeman up there helping the Catholics.” He said.

“Of course, these days old boys don’t get up early and come to watch, and people have diverse interests,” he added.

Newington winning crew

Senior 1st Eight

Major Rennie Trophy

7:11.91

5.79s

2.61s

1^st Newington – Bow: M. Conney, 2: B. Nelson, 3: A. White, 4: N. Wainman, 5: D. Donneley, 6: M. Long, 7: G. Stewart, Str: J Stewart, Cox: P. Moses, Cch: Michael D Morgan

2^nd Scots College

3^rd The King’s School

4^th Shore

5^th St. Joseph’s College

6^th Grammar

7^th St. Ignatius’ College

8^th High

Senior 2nd Eight

7:42.41

2.18s

1.47s

1^st St. Joseph’s College – Bow: L. Green, 2: F. Bryan, 3: J. Velluti, 4: A. Nann, 5: J. Costello, 6: D. Hourigan, 7: B. Mannix, Str: M. Truscott, Cox: P. Yates

2^nd The King’s School

3^rd Newington

4^th Scots College

5^th Shore

6^th St. Ignatius’ College

7^th Grammar

8^th High

Senior 1st Four

Yaralla Cup

5:25.34

2.98s

7.77s

1^st Shore – Bow: D. Macready, 2: T. King, 3: M. Salvage, Str: D. Scammell, Cox: D. Patterson

2^nd St. Joseph’s College

3^rd Newington

4^th St. Ignatius’ College

5^th The King’s School

6^th Scots College

7^th High

8^th Grammar

Senior 2nd Four

1^st Shore – Bow: A. Partridge, 2: M. Burrell, 3: I. Randall, Str: A. Rowlay, Cox: M. Little

2^nd St. Joseph’s College

3^rd The King’s School

4^th St. Ignatius’ College

5^th Newington

6^th Scots College

7^th High

8^th Grammar

Senior 3rd Four

5:41.81

5.89s

3.87s

1^st St. Joseph’s College – Bow: B. Muirhead, 2: L. Saunders, 3: M. Crick, Str: D. Brennan, Cox: C. Colquhoun

2^nd Shore

3^rd The King’s School

4^th St. Ignatius’ College

5^th Newington

6^th High

7^th Scots College

8^th Grammar

Senior 4th Four

5:39.49

7.44s

3.74s

1^st St. Joseph’s College – Bow: J, Daly, 2: S. Pass, 3: G. Prennan, Str: P. Francis, Cox: B. Kochanski

2^nd Newington

3^rd The King’s School

4^th Shore

5^th Grammar

6^th High

7^th Scots College

8^th St. Ignatius’ 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.

1991 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

Senior 1st Eight

Senior 2nd Eight

Senior 1st Four

Senior 2nd Four

Senior 3rd Four

Senior 4th Four

NSW AAGPS Head of River

Summaries