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History of the South Australian Schools Head of the River rowing regatta

1951 South Australian Schools' Head of the River

Saturday, 21 April – Torrens Lake:

The 1951 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)


Despite the weather being "dull" as described by The Advertiser, around 8,000 people attended the regatta. St. Peter's College made it five-in-a-row in the First Eight with a convincing 1½ length victory over Adelaide High School. St. Peter's College also won all remaining events except the Under 16 Tub Four, which was won by Prince Alfred College.

 

First Eight

The Mail wrote of the exciting First Eight race at the 1951 Head of the River:

"After a perfect start, both crews were level for 50 yards, until Adelaide High, rating 38 to Saints' 36, took the lead by a canvas. At the willows, Saints increased their rating to overhaul Adelaide High inch by inch. With 500 yards of the course behind them, Saints had a 4-ft, lead, but had not gone far before Adelaide High drew abreast again...Saints had their bow in front 150 yards from Morphett Street Bridge. The crowd gasped as their oars appeared certain to strike the northern buttress of the bridge, but cox Burr swung the boat round in time and emerged with a lead of a third of a length. In another 100 yards Saints had increased their lead to half a length, but at Long's Point, 150 yards from home,Adelaide High put in a terrific burst to reduce the margin. Saints' stroke. Lea, answered the challenge, and his crew responded magnificently. They spurted ahead and skimmed across the line to win by open water."

St. Peter's College ahead of Adelaide High School in the 1951 First Eight
(Source: The Advertiser, 23 April 1951)

Winners of the 1951 SA Head of the River – St. Peter's College
(Source: The Mail, 21 April 1951)

Organising Committee:

South Australian Rowing Association

Officials:

(unknown)


First Eight

Gosse Shield

½ mile

Time: 2 min 58 sec

Margin: 1½ lengths

1st St. Peter's College – Bow: C. J. Cooper, 2: D. Wurm, 3: J. Bryan, 4: J. Clutterbuck, 5: J. Gordon, 6: R. Clampett, 7: J. Hancock, Stroke: R. Lea, Cox: J. Burr

2nd Adelaide High School – Bow: Hallam, 2: Spry, 3: Johnston, 4: Mills, 5: Bradtke, 6: Thompson, 7: Heinjus, Stroke: Sims, Cox: Blaby

(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College): 

Prince Alfred College – Bow: Walker, 2: Cooper, 3: McTaggart, 4: Hoepner, 5: Bailey, 6: Carter, 7: Tivey, Stroke: Measday, Cox: Humble

(Knocked out in heat by Adelaide High School): 

Scotch College – Bow: Davies, 2: DeCaux, 3: Dollman, 4: Emms, 5: Cobiac, 6: McEwin, 7: Cottle, Stroke: Ball, Cox: Nairn


Clinker Four (Seconds)

Wallman Trophy

½ mile

Time: 3 min 22½ sec

Margin: 3 lengths

1st St. Peter's College – Bow: Lea, 2: Jacob, 3: George, Stroke: Hill, Cox: Forgan

2nd Prince Alfred College – Bow: Humbler, 2: Cooper, 3: Harbard, Stroke: Litchfield, Cox: Silk

(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College): 

Scotch College – Bow: Macrow, 2: Howard, 3: Stirling, Stroke: Thomas, Cox: Stephenson

(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College): 

Adelaide High School – Bow: Rehn, 2: Fulton, 3: Elms, Stroke: Buchanan, Cox: Monkhouse


Open Tub Four (Slides)

¼ mile

Time: 1 min 14½ sec

Margin: 2 lengths

1st St. Peter's College – Bow: Brett, 2: Wright, 3: McCormick, Stroke: Johnston, Cox: Burr

2nd Adelaide High School

(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College): 

Prince Alfred College – Bow: Greenslade, 2: Wilson, 3: Allanson, Stroke: Bailey, Cox: Merry

(Adelaide High School had a bye)


Under 16 Tub Four (Slides)

¼ mile

Time: 1 min 12½ sec

Margin: ½ length

1st Prince Alfred College – Bow: Sampson, 2: Bradey, 3: Sheppard, Stroke: Gill, Cox: Prider

2nd St. Peter's College – Bow: Forwood, 2: Matthews, 3: Nairn, Stroke: Kelsey, Cox: Samuel

(Knocked out in heat by Prince Alfred College): 

Scotch College – Bow: Skellon, 2: Kraehe, 3: Pattridge, Stroke: Lamont, Cox: Atkinson

(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College): 

Adelaide High School – Bow: Jackett, 2: Cropley, 3: Ryan, Stroke: Pitchon, Cox: Da Costa


Under 15 Tub Four (Slides)

¼ mile

Time: 1 min 19 sec

Margin: 2 lengths

1st St. Peter's College – Bow: Johnston, 2: Forwood, 3: Andrews, Stroke: Taylor, Cox: Stephen

2nd Adelaide High School – Bow: Potter, 2: Woodroofe, 3: Jenkins, Stroke: Homes, Cox: Radford

(Knocked out in heat by St. Peter's College): 

Scotch College – Bow: Peart, 2: Love, 3: Gericke, Stroke: Chinner, Cox: Munro

(Knocked out in heat by Adelaide High School):

Prince Alfred College – Bow: Aird, 2: Williams, 3: Blockley, Stroke: Moffatt, Cox: Gibson


Sources

HEAD-OF-RIVER TITLE AGAIN TO ST. PETER'S (1951, 21 April), The Mail (Adelaide, SA: 1912 – 1954), p.33, Retrieved February 22 2024, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55853244

Head-Of-The-River Title Held By S.P.S.C. (1951, 23 April), The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 – 1954), p. 6, Retrieved February 22 2024, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45707167


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