1936 QLD GPS Head of the River
The 15th Head of the River was conducted on Saturday 2nd May 1936 on the Milton Reach of the Brisbane River.
According to the Queensland Times, “Churchie’s average weight was 11st 5½ lbs. Southport boasted an exceptionally heavy four averaging 12st 12lbs. The other crews were - B.B.C. 11 ¾ st, B.G.S. 11st 3lbs; High School, 10st 9 ½lbs. Second crews - B.G.S. 11.3; Southport 11st ½lb; Church of England Grammar School 10st 2 ½lb; Brisbane Boys’ College 9st 13lbs; High School 9st 10lbs. These weights are fairly heavy for schoolboys and they suggest that some schools will be fielding some very solid football teams later in the year.”
The five competing crews would line up in the following order:
Firsts Crews (2.20PM): No. 1 Brisbane Boys College, No. 2 Brisbane Grammar School, No. 3 Brisbane State High School, No. 4. Church of England Grammar School, No. 5 The Southport School
Second Crews (1.30PM): No. 1 Brisbane State High School, No. 2 Brisbane Grammar School, No.3 The Southport School, No. 4 Brisbane Boys’ College, No. 5 Church of England Grammar School
Church of England Grammar proved victorious in the Championship Four, winning the head of the river for the first time since 1926.
The cup for the winning crew was presented at the Commercial Rowing Club’s shed later in the afternoon by Rev. Bro. J. A. Kearney, the president of the Queensland Great Public Schools Association.
Page 8, The Telegraph, Saturday 2nd May 1936 Edition
Organising Committee:
The 1936 Head of the River was conducted by the Queensland Great Public Schools Association.
All Schools Championship Four
The O'Connor Cup
Distance: 0.75 Mile
Winning Time: 4:25.00
Margins:
0.5 Length (1-2)
0.5 Canvas (2-3)
0.5 Length (3-4)
3 Lengths (4-5)
1st Church of England Grammar School - Bow: P. A. Todd 10st 8lbs, 2: J. G. Weatherlake 11st 12lbs, 3: G. R. Eastman 12st 3lbs, Str: J. E. Trotter 10st 12lbs, Cox: K. H. Buss, Coach: Mr. J. Cumming
2nd Brisbane Grammar School - Bow: S. W. Creed 10st 6lbs, 2: S. W. White 12st 3lbs, 3: G. A. Denham 11st 3lbs, Str: B. Evans 11st, Cox: H. Heath
3rd Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: J. A. Sagar 10st 3lbs, 2: J. W. Newell 10st 2lbs, 3: W. S. Georgeson 11st 5lbs, Str: S. Hawgood 11st 11lbs, Cox: R. Harris
4th The Southport School - Bow: H. S. Midgelly, 2: W. G. Buchanan 12st, 3: L. S. Powell 12st 9lbs, Str: R. R. Griffin 12st 5lbs, Cox: R. F. Ash
5th Brisbane State High School - Bow: J. Covell 10st 4lbs, 2: G. B. Miedecke 11st 6lbs, 3: K. Newson 10st 8lbs, Str: K. Sowden 10st 6lbs, Cox: K. Woodward
From left to right: P. A. Todd (Bow), J. G. Weatherlake (2), G. R. Eastman (3), J. E. Trotter (Str), K. H. Buss (Cox)
1936 Church of England Grammar School First IV.
Page 17, Sunday Mail, Sunday 3rd May 1936 Edition
Page 6, Truth, Sunday 3rd May 1936 Edition
The Race Described
“The C.E.G.S. four, stroked by J. E. Trotter, on Saturday won the head of the river race, defeating Brisbane Grammar by half a length, with Brisbane Boys’ College half a canvas away third. From a good start, C.E.G.S. went to the front and they were never headed. There was a great race for second place between Grammar and College, who for most of the distance rowed stroke for stroke.
After half a mile of the course had been covered Southport moved up to the crews who were fighting for second place, but spurted near the finish, and held their advantage, while Grammar just staved off a challenged from College. Southport was half a length away fourth, and State High School some lengths farther back.”
Page 7, The Courier-Mail, Monday 4th May 1936All Schools' Second Four
Distance: 0.75 Mile
Winning Time: 4:20.00
Margins:
2 Lengths (1-2)
1 Canvas (2-3)
1st Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: R. Wright 9st 5lbs, 2: B. Palmer 9st 11lbs, 3: W. Clayton, 10st 11lbs Str: J. C. Fraser 9st 11lbs, Cox: A. Debney 9st 13lbs
2nd Church of England Grammar School - Bow: R. E. Stobs 9st 7lbs, 2: F. H. Cowlishaw 10st 6lbs, 3: P. D. V. Moni 10st 8lbs, Str: P. S. Marwedel 10st 3lbs, Cox: K. Watson
3rd Brisbane Grammar School - Bow: J. W. Stacey 10st, 2: J. H. Bookless 11st 13lbs, 3: J. H. Ellis 11st 13lbs, Str: N. C. Walsh 11st, Cox: A. W. Fox
4th The Southport School - Bow: C. K. T. Thompson 10st 13lbs, 2: A. H. Smith 10st 4lbs, 3: M. A. Manson, Str: W. E. C. Marks 12st, Cox: A. D. Shand
5th Brisbane State High School - Bow: R. Kelly 9st 1lb, 2: H. Hawkins 9st, 3: A. Chippendall 10st 10lbs, Str: B. Stanley 10st 1lbs, Cox: R. Corscadden
Brisbane Boys' College All Schools' Crews.
Page 1, The Telegraph, Saturday 2nd May 1936 Edition
The Race Described
“Grammar led the others from a good start and the dropped back. C.E.G.S. taking the lead from College, who were rating steadily at about 36. About 100 yards from the finish College took the leader and steadily drew away from the rest of the crews to win by two lengths. C.E.G.S. were second, and Grammar third, with Southport a close fourth, and State High School some distance away fifth.”
Page 99, The Portal, December 1936 EditionSources
Page 7, The Courier-Mail, Monday 4th May 1936 via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38490068?searchTerm=School%20rowing
Page 99, The Portal, December 1936 Edition via Trove https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1484127463/view?partId=nla.obj-1484248278#page/n98/mode/1up
Page 46, The Portal, December 1936 Edition via Trove https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1484127463/view?partId=nla.obj-1484217601#page/n47/mode/1up
Page 9, Queensland Times, Thursday 7th May 1936 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/117609529?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 31, The Telegraph, Friday 1st May 1936 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182341613?searchTerm=School%20rowing
Page 8, The Telegraph, Saturday 2nd May 1936 Edition viaTrovehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/19790111
Page 6, Truth, Sunday 3rd May 1936 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22185466
Page 17, Sunday Mail, Sunday 3rd May 1936 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97964029
Page 138, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, Published by Anglican Church Grammar School