1945 South Australian Schools' Head of the River
Saturday, 14 April – Torrens Lake:
The SA Head of the River in 1945 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 Australasian wrote that approximately 8,000 people lined the banks of the Torrens for the final of the First Eight race. In favourable conditions, St. Peter's won the First Eight race by just a canvas over Prince Alfred College. It was St. Peter's first outright win since 1936, however, they tied the race with Scotch in 1940 (Scotch retained the Gosse Shield as they also won in 1939). Other results included Adelaide High School winning the Clinker Four, St. Peter's College winning the Open Tub Four and Under 16 Tub Four, and Prince Alfred and Adelaide High racing a dead heat for the Under 15 Tub Four.
First Eight
The Mail wrote of St. Peter's College win of the Gosse Shield in 1945:
"For the final, a silght following breeze sprang up, which admirably suited the high rating of St. Peter's. An excellent start was given by Mr. Pacey, and when the crews had settled down there was nothing to choose between the two crews. Nearing the willows, Prince's hit their rating a little higher and took a slight lead. Saints threw out a strong challenge to draw level with a good strong leg drive, with a rating of 34 to 36, but at the bridge the steering was not so good, and they went a little wide to allow Prince's to draw level. At this stage Saints body work became a little ragged, and it looked like Prince's race, but Saints made a wonderful recovery. Stroked with fine judgment, by Middleton. they went ahead to snatch victory by a canvas in the good time of 2 57 ½."
The banks of the Torrens River for the 1945 Head of the River
(Source: The Australasian, 5 May 1945)
Winners of the 1945 SA Head of the River – St. Peter's College
(Source: The Australasian, 5 May 1945)
Winners of the 1945 Under 16 Tub Four – St. Peter's College
(Source: The Mail, 14 April 1945)
Organising Committee:
South Australian Rowing Association
Officials:
Starter: Mr. Pacey
First Eight
Gosse Shield
½ mile
Time: 2 min 57½ sec
Margin: 1 canvas
1st St. Peter's College – Bow: B. Smith, 2: R. Bishop, 3: R. Tolley, 4: R. Moffitt, 5: D. Hanlon, 6: D. Harris, 7: C. McLeay, Stroke: D. Middleton, Cox: P. Robin
2nd Prince Alfred College – Bow: P. James, 2: D. Bennier, 3: E. Ashby, 4: C. Moore, 5: J. Moffat, 6: M. Phillips, 7: J. Cooper, Stroke: J. Hocking, Cox: J. Sanderson
(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College):
Adelaide High School –
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
Scotch College –
Clinker Four (Seconds)
Wallman Trophy
½ mile
Time: (unknown)
Margin: 3 lengths
1st Adelaide High School – Bow: M. Lawrie, 2: M. Cantlon, 3: K. Shaw, Stroke: L. Beames, Cox: C. Mayman
2nd St. Peter's College – Bow: J. Coogan, 2: J. Bowden, 3: M. Ridgeway, Stroke: M. Cunningham, Cox: F. Monk
(Knocked out in heat by Adelaide High School):
Scotch College –
(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College):
Prince Alfred College –
Open Tub Four (Slides)
¼ mile
Time: (unknown)
Margin: 1 length
1st St. Peter’s College –
2nd Prince Alfred College –
(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter’s College):
Scotch College –
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
Adelaide High School –
Under 16 Tub Four (Slides)
¼ mile
Time: (unknown)
Margin: 2 lengths
1st St. Peter’s College – Bow: A. B. Kinnear, 2: J. C. Hughes, 3: B. Hacket, Stroke: C. W. Clutterbuck, Cox: P. D. Magill
2nd Adelaide High School – Bow: N. Martin, 2: B. Marcus, 3: J. Jeanes, Stroke: R. Severin, Cox: D. Sims
(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter’s College):
Prince Alfred College –
(Knocked out in heat by Adelaide High School):
Scotch College –
Under 15 Tub Four (Slides)
¼ mile
Time: (unknown)
Margin: dead-heat
=1st Prince Alfred College – Bow: R. S. Kalin, 2: K. Moore, 3: J. Giles, Stroke: K. Morris, Cox: R. Silk
=1st Adelaide High School – Bow: D. Griffin, 2: R. Brock, 3: B. Nicholson, Stroke: P. Hardy, Cox: W. Watts
(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College):
St. Peter's College –
(Adelaide High School had a bye)
Sources
HEAD-OF-THE-RIVER TITLE TO ST. PETER'S (1945, 14 April), The Mail (Adelaide, SA: 1912 – 1954), p. 12, Retrieved February 5 2024, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55859968
HEAD OF THE RIVER IN TWO STATES (1945, 5 May), The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC: 1864-1946), p. 17, Retrieved February 5 2024, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145703980