1954 QLD GPS Head of the River
The 32nd Head of the River was conducted on Saturday 24th April 1954 on the Milton Reach of the Brisbane River. All races on the programme finished at the Toowong Boathouse.
The Brisbane Telegraph suspected that, given recent form, the O'Connor Cup would be fiercely contested by Churchie, Southport, Brisbane Boy's College, and Brisbane Grammar.
Churchie gave a polished exhibition of controlled rowing which almost won the B.D.R.A regatta for them in the weeks leading up to the event, only the experience of the Toowong crew allowed them to cross the line a canvas ahead of Churchie.
Southport firsts and seconds had logged 150 miles in training since the actual crews were formed and another 60 miles in preliminary conditioning before this. However, the other Brisbane Crews, particularly B.B.C and B.G.S, rowed a greater distance than this in their own preparations.
By filming B.B.C. crews and then later letting them see their faults in slow motion plus industrious coaching, Dave Magoffin has produced a first crew that recently won the Brisbane Under Twenty championship over 1 ¼ miles. The exaggerated lay-back at the finish of the stroke was eliminated and B.B.C crews were now much more comfortable in their rowing.
This was the second time Gregory Terrace had competed at the Head of the River since 1928 and the reason for their entry in 1954 was to allow their crews to gain experience before the O'Connor Cup rowed for in Eights in 1955.
More than 12 000 spectators lined the banks of the Milton Reach for the big day, with the Sunday Mail describing the atmosphere as 'electric.'
Southport's claimed their ninth head of the River success since 1918 making it a triumph for coach Clavill Bere who had now coached four successful southport crews to victory - 1921, 1923, 1953 and 1954. One expert commented. “they simply used their weight to advantage without rushing.”
Brisbane Grammar who have not been placed in the Head of the River for four years, surprised. They rowed really well and with a sudden burst too the lead at the three-quarter mile post and appeared to have a great chance of winning their first Head of the River in 20 years.
With 34 crews competing across six events including the Old Boys' race, some 200 oarsman competed at the 1954 Head of the River.
Organising Committee
Great Public Schools Association
All Schools' Championship Four
The O'Connor Cup
Distance: 1 Mile
Winning Time: 5:25.00
Margins:
1.25 Lengths
0.5 Length
0.5 Length
0.5 Length
1st The Southport School - Bow: P. W. Walker 11st 1lb, 2: A. C. Ussher 11st 8lbs, 3: J. C. King (11st 5lbs), Str: R. C. Gillam 11st 1lbs, Cox: W. A. Barton 8st, Coach: Clavill Bere
2nd Brisbane Grammar School - Bow: J. Young, 2: F. Jorgenson, 3: J. Sweet, Str: I. F. Elcock, Cox: J. East
3rd Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: R. Scott, 2: R. Shaw, 3: D. Cameron, Str: C. Southwell, Cox: R. Foster
4th Church of England Grammar School - Bow: J. Holt, 2: D. W. Henderson, 3: W. Coburn, Str: G. Baker, Cox: A. Miller. Coach: P. Krebs
5th Gregory Terrace - Bow: R. Murphy, 2: J. Campbell, 3: L. Geddes, Str: P. Lee, Cox: T. O’Keefe
"Head of the River champions, The Southport School, step up their finishing burst to cross the winning line on Milton reach yesterday. Brisbane Grammar (not shown) were second, with Brisbane Boys' College (at far side) third." (Page 22, Sunday Mail Sunday 25th April 1954 Edition via Trove)
"Still "winded" after their mighty win, Southport School head of the River victors rest on their oars at the finish. left to right are: P. W. Walker (bow), A. C. Ussher (2), J. H. King (3), R. C. Gillham (Stroke), W. A. Barton (cox)"
Brisbane Boys' College 1954 First IV Crew from left to right: Bow: R. Scott, 2: R. Shaw, 3: D. Cameron, Str: C. Southwell, Cox: R. Foster. (Page 18, Brisbane Telegraph Wednesday 21st April 1954 Edition)
"Church of England Grammar School puts in a hard finish during a final training row on the Toowong Reach yesterday afternoon. The crew, which will row in the GPS Head of the River Regatta to-morrow is (from left): L. Toft (cox), J. Quayle (stroke), C. Bennett (3), L. Drake (2) and P. Grant (bow)." (Page 11,The Courier-Mail 23rd April 1954 Edition via Trove)
1954 Church of England Grammar School First IV
1954 Gregory Terrace First IV
In 1977, Anglican Church Grammar School honoured their 1954 First IV Coach, Peter Krebbs, by naming a four-oared racing boat in his honour. Krebbs was the rowing master at Churchie from 1951-1954 and left the year before Eights were introduced in 1955 and he went onto become the Headmaster of St. Paul's Anglican School, Bald Hills in 1956.
The Race Described
“Southport, whose crew today included three who rowed in the winning four last year, took the lead from Brisbane Boys’ College, and Brisbane Grammar School 100 yard from home to win by the comfortable margin of 1 ¼ Lengths…. Today’s race was rowed in near perfect conditions and Southport’s time of 5min 25.0 secs for the mile created a new record. The mile record stood at 5:32.0 set by T.S.S. last year.
The new time today probably will stand for all time for the G.P.S. Head of the River fours, because the next year the Head of the River will be rowed in Eights.”
Page 23, Brisbane Telegraph Saturday 24th April 1954 edition
“From a hard touch BGS got a flying start, followed by the other crews. The positions at the 1/4 mile was BGS (37) leading BBC (35) by ½ length, followed by TSS (29), CEGS (35), GT (34) a few feet behind. At this stage the heavy BGS crew’s high rating was very noticeable, compared with the TSS rating. The ½ mile post provided a changed complexion to the race. BGS high rating caused them to falter, which Southport, rowing at 30 a length astern, grasped drawing up on level terms with BGS (37), BBC (35) and CEGS (35) made a forward move bringing the four crews up on even terms, followed by GT (34).
TSS still rowing strongly and holding their water with plenty of boat movement, still rated at a consistent 30 started to draw away from the tiring crews and at the ½ mile the position was TSS (29) ahead of BGS (36) and BBC (35) by ¼ length followed by CEGS (35) and a ¼ length astern followed by GT (35) a further half length behind. From this point the relative low rating of Southport told, allowing them to draw away at 32 strokes to win from BGS (36) by 1 ¼ lengths…
The crews were of high standard, the highlight being the comparative low rating of Southport who rated from 29-32 mostly 29-30 but with plenty of boat movement, this is hard to attain."
Page 6, South Coast Bulletin, Wednesday 28th April 1954 edition via Trove
All Schools' Second Four
Distance: 0.75 Mile
Winning Time:
Margins:
0.75 Length (1-2)
1 Canvas (2-3)
0.5 Length (3-4)
1st The Southport School - Bow: D. Miller, 2: F. Cunningham, 3: A. Cockerill, Str B. Whitecombe, Cox: G. Pie
2nd Church of England Grammar School - Bow: R. Grant, 2: L. Drake, 3: E. Bennett, Str: J. Qualye, Cox: L. Toft, Coach:
3rd Brisbane Boys’ College - Bow: G. Vickers, 2: K. Edwards, 3: P. Marks, Str: R. Kerrison, Cox: A. Anderson
4th Brisbane Grammar School
5th Gregory Terrace - Bow: B. F. King, 2: J. Kilcullen, 3: P. Wooderson, Str: N. J. Clarke, Cox: B. McGrath
Gregory Terrace Second IV
The Race Described:
“The positions were as follows: from the north bank, 1 TSS, 2: BGS 3: CEGS, 4: BBC: 5: GT.
From an even start, all crews rating around the 35 mark. TSS showed out with CEGS (36) and BBC (35). At the ½ mile TSS (36) had established an advantage of ¼ length from BBC (35) and CEGS (35) followed by BGS (37) and GT (35). In the final quarter mile BBC and CEGS tried to overtake TSS who gradually increased their lead to ¾ length. BBC and CEGS fighting out the minor placings.”
Page 6, South Coast Bulletin, Wednesday 28th April 1954 edition via TroveAll Schools' Third Four
Distance: 0.5 Mile
Winning Time: n/a
Margins:
0.75 Length (1-2)
1 Canvas (2-3)
1.5 Lengths (3-4)
1st Brisbane Boy’s College - Bow: N. S. Clough, 2: G. W. Kerrison, 3: P. B. Clarke, Str: D. A. Hughes, Cox: n/a
2nd The Southport School - Bow: R. Hassel, 2: J. Elmes, 3: R. Wakely, Str I. Cameron, Cox: M. Green
3rd Church of England Grammar School - Bow: B. Carter, 2: P. J. Apel, 3: G. Entsch, Str: D. Hall, Cox: M. Winders, Coach: C. R. Lyndon
4th Brisbane Grammar School
5th Gregory Terrace - Bow: E. Howard, 2: R. Donovan, 3: A. Draney, Str: R. Chapman, Cox: B. R. King
Gregory Terrace Third, Fourth and Fifth Crews.
The Race Described:
“Positions from the north bank, 1 TSS, 2: CEGS, 3: BBC, 4: BGS, 5: GT. After a food start by all crews, TSS seemed to develop trouble and dropped back rowing fourth at (35) until the ¼ mile was reached, when they regained form and gained 1.5 lengths to defeat CEGS for second place, BBC winning.”
Page 6, South Coast Bulletin, Wednesday 28th April 1954
All Schools' Fourth Four
Distance: 0.5 Mile
Winning Time: 3:40.00
Margins:
0.75 Lengths (1-2)
2.5 Lengths (2-3)
1st Brisbane Boy’s College - Bow: R. N. Wilson, 2: R. F. Bodman, 3: R. B. Glasse, Str: K. W. Law, Cox: B. A. Shachan
2nd The Southport School - Bow: J. Grant, 2: J. Shannon, 3: K. Davies, Str R. Brown, Cox: D. Rylance
3rd Church of England Grammar School - Bow: L. A. Gault, 2: Tyrie, 3: P. R. Jorss, Str: P. Varley, Cox: Earwaker, Coach: C. R. Lyndon
4th Brisbane Grammar School
5th Gregory Terrace - Bow: P. Speedy, 2: J. T. Russell, 3: P. Hickey, Str: D. Steele, Cox: B. O’Shea
The Race Described:
“Positions from north bank, 1 CEGS, 2 BBC, 3 TSS 4 BGS 5 GT. BBC got to the best of the start, and led CEGS at the ½ mile. From there TSS showed out coming away from BBC. In the final dash TSS and BBC rating at 37 drew away from the field. BBC winning."
Page 6, South Coast Bulletin, Wednesday 28th April 1954 edition via Trove
All Schools' Fifth Four
Distance: 0.5 Mile
Winning Time: 3:12.00
Margins:
0.5 Length (1-2)
0.5 Length (2-3)
1st Church of England Grammar School (a)- Bow: I. Gault, 2: I. Tyrie, 3: P. Jorss, Str: P. Carley, Cox: W. Winders
2nd Church of England Grammar School (b) - Bow: Cook, 2: Weston, 3: J. S. Jell, Str: G. Evans, Cox: Tutt, Coach: C. R. Lyndon
3rd Brisbane Grammar School
4th Brisbane Boys’ College & Brisbane Grammar School
5th Gregory Terrace - Bow: C. T. Russell, 2: J. Gates, 3: J. Taylor, Str: P. Hoffman, Cox: M. Baker, Coach: M. Baker
Sources
Page 34, Brisbane Telegraph 22 April 1954 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23830100
Page 19, The Brisbane Telegraph 23 April 1954 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/217146917?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 11, The Courier-Mail Friday 23rd April 1954 edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50573776?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 16, South Coast Bulletin, Wednesday 21st April 1954 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226274989?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 1, The Beaudesert Times Friday 30th April 1954 edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23435348
Page 23, Brisbane Telegraph Saturday 24th April 1954 edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23830157
Page 6, South Coast Bulletin, Wednesday 28th April 1954 edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226275192?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 22, Sunday Mail Sunday 25th April 1954 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/100183497?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 18, Brisbane Telegraph Wednesday 21st April 1954 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/217143174?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Page 62, St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace 1954 Newsletter, https://media.digistormhosting.com.au/sjgt-au-qld-91-oldboys/documents/1954-St-Joseph-College-Terrace.pdf?mtime=20180403073139
Page 15, The Truth Sunday 25th April 1954 Edition via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201198380?searchTerm=head%20of%20river
Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, Published by Anglican Church Grammar School