1938 South Australian Schools' Head of the River
Saturday, 28 May – Torrens Lake:
The 1938 edition of the SA Head of the River featured the following events on the Torrens Lake:
- First Eight
- Clinker Fours (Seconds)
- Open Tub Fours (Slides)
- Under 16 Tub Fours (Slides)
- Under 15 Tub Fours (Slides)
The Mail reported that the weather was disappointing and a reduced crowd of about 5,000 people attended the regatta. In the First Eight final , Prince Alfred College won for the second year row by just a ½ canvas margin over St. Peter's College. This ensured they retained both the Gosse and Blackmore Shield. P. A.C. won the Open Tub Slides and the inaugural Wallman Trophy, presented to the winner of the Clinker Fours (Seconds). Meanwhile, St. Peter's won the Under 16 and Scotch College won the Under 15 Tub Slides.
First Eight
The Mail wrote the following of Prince Alfred College's back-to-back win in the final of the 1938 First Eight:
"Both crews got away to a perfect start in the final of the big race, but St. Peter's had a slight mishap and the starter recalled both crews .In the second starts the St. Peter's hit a slightly higher rating, but Prince's, with long, sweeping strokes, took the lead by half a length at the willows. Nearing the Morphett Street Bridge. Saints had raised their rating, but their opponents still led by a canvas. Passing the Adelaide Rowing Club, Prince's still held a slight lead, but Saints, with a magnificent burst of fine rowing, had drawn almost level at Long Point. From then on a stirring tussle ensued to the finishing post with Prince Alfred gaining a well-earned victory by half a canvas."
Winners of the 1938 SA Head of the River – Prince Alfred College
(Source: The Advertiser, 27 May 1938)
Organising Committee:
South Australian Rowing Association
Officials:
Starters: Mr. L. T. Grummet & Mr. K. Forwood
Umpires: Mr. C. R. Butterworth, Mr. J. C. Walter, Mr. S. T. Facy, Mr. F. K. Milne, Mr. J. R. Goode & Mr. W. A. Wadey
Judges: Mr. C. T. Madigan, Mr. R. H. Wallman & Mr. F. J. Nicholls
Timekeepers: Mr. L. H. Symons & Mr. A. E. J. Close
First Eight
Gosse Shield
½ mile
Time: 3 min 8 sec
Margin: ½ canvas
1st Prince Alfred College – Bow: J. K. Marshmann, 2: L. Kirkman, 3: G. B. Black, 4: H. P. Gray, 5: R. H. Buttery, 6: P. Claridge, 7: M. Solomon, Stroke: J. M. Shannon, Cox: R. H. Turner
2nd St. Peter's College – Bow: R. Beresford, 2: G. Hewitson, 3: G. Millhouse, 4: C. Abbott, 5: L. Gordon, 6: R. Burston, 7: D. McMichael, Stroke: W. J. Menz, Cox: N. G. Sprod
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
Adelaide High School – Bow: P. P. Howard, 2: J. Ranford, 3: H. Whittle, 4: R. Blake, 5: M. C. McLean, 6: P. Nicholls, 7: K. Kermode, Stroke: F. Rowe, Cox: J. Cornish
(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College):
Scotch College – Bow: G. Murrie, 2: D. Arrowsmith, 3: J. Fearn, 4: L. Harris, 5: F. Harvey, 6: J. Smith, 7: L. Camens, Stroke: F. Trembath, Cox: A. Scott
Clinker Four (Seconds)
Wallman Trophy
¼ mile
Time: unknown
Margin: 1 length
1st Prince Alfred College – Bow: D. Guppy, 2: R. Woollard 3: P. F. Edwards, Stroke: P. G. Sullivan, Cox: D. Kirkman
2nd St. Peter's College – Bow: R. Harrington, 2: D. Craven, 3: I. Pavy, Stroke: P. W. Leslie, Cox: I. Robertson
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
Adelaide High School –
Open Tub Four (Slides)
¼ mile
Time: unknown
Margin: 1½ lengths
1st Prince Alfred College – Bow: F. Voss, 2: L. Lavis, 3: W. Pedler, Stroke: R. Schulze, Cox: D. Buttery
2nd Scotch College – Bow: R. Pearce, 2: W. Wildash, 3: R. Reed, Stroke: W. Butcher, Cox: H. Thurgood
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
Adelaide High School –
(Knocked out in heat by Scotch College):
St. Peter's College –
Under 16 Tub Four (Slides)
¼ mile
Time: 1 min 17 sec
Margin: 2 lengths
1st St. Peter's College – Bow: P. Gilbert, 2: R. Giles, 3: C. Riley, Stroke: J. Nicholls, Cox: H. P. Boucaut
2nd Prince Alfred College – Bow: G. Stokes, 2: R. Gyrst, 3: R. Keller, Stroke: J. N. Close Cox: B. Dixon
(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College):
Adelaide High School –
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
Scotch College –
Under 15 Tub Four (Slides)
¼ mile
Time: unknown
Margin: 2 feet
1st Scotch College – Bow: R. Woods, 2: J. Retallick, 3: B. Turner, Stroke: M. Davis, Cox: P. Marshall
2nd Prince Alfred College – Bow: I. Hobbs, 2: D. Waxman, 3: M. Western, Stroke: J. Whitehouse, Cox: A. Compton
(Knocked out in heat by Scotch College):
Adelaide High School –
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
St. Peter's College –
Sources
HALF CANVAS WIN TO P.A.C. (1938, 28 May), The Mail (Adelaide, SA: 1912 – 1954), p. 24, Retrieved August 1 2023, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55843870
SCHOOLS ROWING REGATTA (1938, 27 May), The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 – 1954), p. 36, Retrieved August 1 2023, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74382080