1987 QLD GPS Head of the River
As the Wivenhoe Dam began to fill it became the preferred rowing course of southeast Queensland and the GPS Head of the River moved there in 1987. In the first three years the racing was held so that the finishing line was just west of the Water Board Administration Complex to allow a large spectator area in the front of the Administration block. However, this meant the course was restricted to 1500 Metres because a 2000m course finishing at this point would have started too close, to the dam wall.
By 1990, the water level had risen and Rowing Queensland had installed a 2000 Metre course with lane roped and fixed starting platform further to the west in Sheepstation Inlet. The race went back to 2000m and the same course was used until 2005. This course satisfied international criteria for fair racing and has been used more than once for the National and Interstate Championships.
Page 60, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, Published by Anglican Church Grammar School
Organising Committee:
Great Public Schools Association
Open First Eight
The O'Connor Cup
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st The Southport School - Bow: N. Agnew, 2: S. Bullard, 3: A. Eddowes, 4: D. Cumming, 5: P. Green, 6: M. Free, 7: L. Thomas, Str: J. Hillier, Cox: R. Hayes, Coach: I. Lee
2nd Gregory Terrace
3rd Brisbane Grammar School
4th Anglican Church Grammar School - Bow: I. D. R. Hooper, 2: D. N. Blanck, 3: R. P. Skerl, 4: A. G. Cool, 5: G. J. Harris, 6: I. M. Shaw, 7: P. W. Cullen, Str: M. R. C. Davies, Cox: C. M. Pollard, Coaches: G. J. Kernot & R. Paterson
D. N. Blanck rowed in the two seat of the Churchie 1st VIII in 1987 but before the end of that year his mother Mrs June Blanck died. The Blanck family donated a new Eight, manufacture by Jeff Sykes, to the Anglican Church Grammar School to celebrate the life of June Blanck and it was christened in the Magnus Quadrangle during the First Term of 1988 where Mr Blanck spoke inspiringly and the eldest daughter of the family cracked the champagne bottle over the bow of her mother’s boat.
In 1989, Anglican Church Grammar honoured their 1987 Captain of Boats, Michael Davies, by naming a racing pair boat in his honour. The six racing pairs obtained during the 1980s were all named for Churchie old boys or close associated who had represented Australia in rowing in one or other role. In 1990 Davies represented Australia at the World Championships in the VIII. He also competed at the 1988 Junior World Championships in the Four and represented Queensland in the King's Cup Five times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 & 1995). Davies also competed for Queensland in the 1992 Australian Rowing Championships in the Under 23 Coxed Four.
Churchie 1987 First VIII Bow Seat, Ivan Hooper, also rowed rowed in the Australian Team at the 1991 World Championships in the Light Weight coxless Fours event. Hooper also represented Queensland at the Penrith Cup Interstate Lightweight Fours in 1991, 1992 and 1994. In the 1990 Australian Rowing Championships, Hooper represented Queensland in the Under 23 Lightweight pair an the Coxless Four and in 1991 Championships rowed in the Queensland Under 23 Lightweight Coxless Four.
Open Second Eight
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st Brisbane Boys' College
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Open First Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd The Southport School
Open Second Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School
3rd St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
Open Third Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Open Fourth Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd The Southport School
3rd St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
Under 16 First Eight
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Under 16 First Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School
3rd The Southport School
Under 16 Second Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd The Southport School
3rd St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
Under 16 Third Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane State High School
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Under 16 Fourth Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Anglican Church Grammar School & Brisbane Grammar School
3rd The Southport School
Under 15 First Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Boys' College
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Under 15 Second Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Anglican Church Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
Under 15 Third Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School
3rd The Southport School
Under 15 Fourth Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd The Southport School
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Under 15 Fifth Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd The Southport School
3rd Brisbane State High School
Under 15 Sixth Four
Distance: 1000 Metres
1st The Southport School
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Brisbane State High School
Sources
Queensland Rowing 1880-1995 by Jack Pritchard, published by Rowing Queensland
Page 31-44, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, published by Anglican Church Grammar School
Pages 45-52, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, published by Anglican Church Grammar School
Page 60-61, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, Published by Anglican Church Grammar School
Page 68-98, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, published by Anglican Church Grammar School