1992 QLD GPS Head of the River
The Five seat in Anglican Church Grammar Schools runner up crew, Alex Ridgeway, signified three generations of Rigdeways rowing for Churchie. Gordon Ridgeway rowed for the school prior to Churchie's relocation to East Brisbane 1918. His son, Robert (Rags) Ridgeway, rowed in the five seat in the 1st VIII in 1960 with Peter Schmidt in the three seat behind him.
Rag’s son was Alex. Unlike his father, Alex was not a big man and had an outstanding career as a lightweight oarsman after he left school but he filled the big seat in the middle of the eight in 1992 with real fight and commitment. It was often suspected that he was contributing above his weight because of the family history he represented.
The name of William Perry French Morris, Founder of the Anglican Church Grammar School and coach of School crews over many of the early years of the School’s history, should always grave the bow of an eight in the Churchie Boathouse, because no one has done, or is ever likely to do, more for Churchie rowing.
This was the sentiment when a new Eight oared boat was purchased by Churchie and named the William Perry French Morris Eight which be on full display at the 1992 Head of the River.
Organising Committee:
Great Public Schools Association
Boys Open First Eight
The O'Connor Cup
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st Brisbane Boys' College- Bow: A. M. Lyndon, 2: M. J. McNaught, 3: J. B. McKenzie, 4: C. T. Smith, 5: S. T. Wilson, 6: R. J. McDougall, 7: J. M. Bell, Str: L. J. Brown, Cox: R. J. Bishop, Coach: I. Luxford
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School - Bow: G. S. Worrell, 2: J. Davis, 3: C. Craddock, 4: R. Wilson, 5: A. Ridgeway, 6: S. Simpson, 7: T. Hasker, Str: B. Corbould, Cox: J. A. Pollock, Coach: B. Greenland
3rd Brisbane Grammar School
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: L. Taylor, 2: P. Sherwood, 3: M. Morrison, 4: S. Kennedy, 5: H. Pervan, 6: B. Wilson, 7: I. Thomson, Str: M. Seratini, Cox: D. Fletcher
Gary S. Worrell, the bow seat in the 1992 Anglican Church Grammar Crew that finished runner-up in the Head of the River, represented Queensland in the 1994 Penrith Cup Interstate Lightweight Four Championship as well as in the 1994 and 1995 Noel F. Wilkinson Youth Eight Trophy. James A. Pollock, the cox of the same school, also represented Queensland in the 1994 and 1995 Noel F. Wilkinson Youth Eight Trophy.
Boys Open Second Eight
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st The Southport School
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School
3rd Brisbane Boys' College
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: B. Cavallaro, 2: N. West, 3: S. Christensen, 4: M. Boyle, 5: N. Barclay, 6: M. Auld, 7: D. Cavallucci, Str: J.Brooks, Cox: A. Gibson
The Ridgeway Family
The Five seat in Anglican Church Grammar Schools runner up crew, Alex Ridgeway, signified three generations of Rigdeway's rowing for Churchie. Gordon Ridgeway rowed for the school prior to Churchie's relocation to East Brisbane 1918 and he was honoured in 1979 when Churchie named a four oar racing boat in his honour. Gordon Ridgeway attended Churchie at the Cathedral and the first year at East Brisbane. He was number 74 on the School Roll. His father was a school fellow of Canon Morriss at Melbourne Grammar and was a strong supporter of the new School.
Gordon Ridgeway served on the School Council for some years. Canon Morris addressed an open letter to Gordon Ridgeway in his book Sons of Magnus. In the letter he spoke of the excursions on the river in the early days. Gordon Ridgway was a mainstay of the Old Boys’ Association (OBA) holding a variety of offices for more than 50 years and was its first Honorary Life Member. It was fitting that the OBA launched a successful appeal for funds to purchase a four for the school to be named the Gordon Ridgeway.
His son, Robert (Rags) Ridgeway, rowed in the five seat in the 1st VIII in 1960 with Peter Schmidt in the three seat behind him. Rag’s son was Alex Ridgeway. Unlike his father, Alex was not a big man bu had an outstanding career as a lightweight oarsman after he left school and he filled the big seat in the middle of the eight in 1992 with real fight and commitment. It was often suspected that he was contributing above his weight because of the family history he represented. Indeed Alex was a well credentialed rower himself, having represented Australia in the 1995 Under 23 Rowing World Championships in the Lightweight Coxless Four event. Alex Ridgeway would also represent Queensland at the 1995 Australian Rowing Championships Under 23 Lightweight Pair and Coxless Four.
Boys Open Third Eight
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st Anglican Church Grammar School - Bow: J. E. Grainger, 2: D. Shakespeare, 3: C. J. Robinson, 4: S. A. Juniper, 5: R. McCready, 6: S. R. Williamson, 7: B. Prior, Str: D. Chenoweth, Cox: J. C. Perry, Coach: A. Dickson
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Brisbane Boys' College
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: N. Williams, 2: K. Martin, 3: S. Barry, 4: C. Sergiacomi, 5: D. McConaghy, 6: S. McSweeney, 7: J. O'Hara, Str: M. Ritchie, Cox: F. Currie
In 1997, Anglican Church Grammar School commemorated the 7 seat of their 1992 Third VIII that proved victorious at the Head of the River by naming a racing four boat in his honour. Ben Prior attended Churchie from 1987 to 1992. He was a prefect and Captain of Grenfell House in his last year. Ben made his mark most elegantly as a brilliant debater being the first Churchie boy selected for many years in the Queensland Team that competed in the Nationals School’s Debating Championships. He has the distinction within the Rowing Club of being the first boy to win his race at the Head of the River (at least in the era of underage competition) in each of the three years he competed (u15 3rd IV in 1990; u16 2nd VIII in 1991; Open 3rd VIII in 1992).
On leaving School he studied Arts/Law at the University of Queensland and became involved in the Queensland Debating Union as Secretary from 1993 and a member of the State Senior Team in 1994. Ben suffered a major medical problem and died in 1995 just three years after leaving school. He was a very popular member of the Churchie community and his family has had a long association with the School so it was particularly appropriate that the new racing four, the first bow-coxed four in the fleet, should be name after him in early 1997. It was also fitting that the U15 1st IV, stroked by Peter Davis, should drive that boat to victory in each race they contested that year including the Head of the River. Peter Jell offered the following comment: “I was proud to be associated with the boat (as coach) carrying the name of such a fine and courageous young man.”
Boys Under 16 First Eight
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st Brisbane Boys' College
2nd Brisbane State High School
3rd The Southport School
Boys Under 16 Second Eight
Distance: 2000 Metres
1st Brisbane State High School
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Brisbane Boys' College
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: P. Raven, 2: S. Rollston, 3: A. Oneto, 4: N. Cavallaro, 5: R. George, 6: M. Smith, 7: S. Martin, Str: M. Noonan, Cox: N. MottBoys Under 16 First Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd Brisbane State High School
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: L. Graham, 2: C. Carrigan, 3: K. Durack, Str: D. Clarke, Cox: M. Hoare
Boys Under 16 Second Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Boys' College
2nd Brisbane Grammar School
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: G. Reordan, 2: M. Reordan, 3: M. Toon, Str: D. O'Hanlon, Cox: N. MottBoys Under 15 First Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Anglican Church Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace - Bow: M. Boulton, 2: P. Cook, 3: R. Chisholm, Str: A. Alford, Cox: B. Grice
Boys Under 15 Second Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Anglican Church Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd Brisbane State High School
Boys Under 15 Third Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Boys' College
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School
3rd Gregory Terrace - Bow: J. Woolhouse, 2: C. Nordan, 3: M. Croker, Str: D. Cavallucci, Cox:D. Kloza
Boys Under 15 Fourth Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Brisbane Boys' College
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow:G. Newcombe, 2: C. Oneto, 3: B. Beckwith, Str: C. Galt, Cox: A. Ritchie
Boys Under 15 Fifth Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd Anglican Church Grammar School
3rd Brisbane Boys' College
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: P. Hakwins, 2: Z. Casagrande, 3: J. Cavanagh, Str: A. Taylor, Cox: M. Toon
Boys Under 15 Sixth Four
Distance: 1500 Metres
1st Brisbane Grammar School
2nd The Southport School
3rd Anglican Church Grammar School
Other Competing Crews:
Gregory Terrace - Bow: L. Bowes, 2: B. Hann, 3: P. Joseph, Str: L. Meldon, Cox: J. Hawkins
Sources
Queensland Rowing 1880-1995 by Jack Pritchard, published by Rowing Queensland
Page 90-97, St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace School 1992 Newsletter https://media.digistormhosting.com.au/sjgt-au-qld-91-oldboys/documents/1992_web.pdf?mtime=20190427132433
Pages 1-30, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, Published by Anglican Church Grammar School
Pages 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
Pages 68-98, Churchie Rowing by Peter Jell, Published by Anglican Church Grammar School