1942 SATIS Northern & Southern Head of the River
Saturday, April 18 - Tamar River & Derwent River:
First Four - North:
The Northern Regatta was raced over one-mile on the Tamar. The 3 crews involved were:
- Launceston Church Grammar School,
- Scotch College, and
- St. Patrick’s College
Launceston Church Grammar were successful in breaking Scotch College’s two-year streak in the split regatta.
First Four - South:
Four crews started for the Southern Regatta of 1942, raced over the Derwent over 1¼ mile:
- Clemes College,
- The Friends’ School,
- Hutchins School, and
- St. Virgil’s College
The Mercury described the race as an exciting as a result of the lead changing several times throughout the race. Clemes, St. Virgil’s and Hutchins all led the race at some point, but it would be Hutchins who would win by just half a canvas over St. Virgil’s. It was Hutchins first win of the major race since 1937.
Second Four - North:
The same three schools above entered crews in the Second Four, in which they raced over ½ mile:
- Launceston Church Grammar School,
- Scotch College, and
- St. Patrick’s College
Launceston Church Grammar also claimed victory in the junior race.
Second Four - South:
There were eight starters for the junior race. They were:
- Clemes College,
- The Friends’ School 1 & 2,
- Hutchins School 1, 2 & 3, and
- St. Virgil’s College 1 & 2
According to The Mercury, St. Virgil’s put in a “remarkable sprint” to win by half-a-length over the half-mile course.
First Four - North:
The Advocate reported that Grammar led from start-to-finish and won by 2½ lengths.
Winners of the 1942 First Four at the Northern Head of the River - Launceston Church Grammar
(Source: The Examiner, 18 April 1942)
First Four - South:
The Mercury provided the following report of the enthralling seniors race:
“At the starting gun Clemes went to the front, closely challenged by the other crews, and at the quarter-mile distance little separated the four contestants. St. Virgil's then secured a slight lead from the other three crews, rowing level with each other. At the half-mile Hutchins caught St. Virgil's, with Friends losing ground and Clemes improving its position. Over the final quarter of a mile Hutchins and St. Virgil's fought out the issue, each in turn gaining a slight lead. With 100 yards to go, Hutchins had a canvas lead over St. Virgil's, and Friends were coming with a strong finishing challenge. Amid excitement Hutchins finished well half a canvas ahead of St. Virgil's, with Clemes half a canvas away and Friends half a length behind in fourth place.”
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Hutchins (top right) winning the 1942 Southern Head of the River by just half-a-canvas
(Source: The Mercury, 30 March 1942)
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Winners of the 1942 First Four at the Southern Head of the River - Hutchins School
(Source: Hutchins School Magazine, June 1942)
Second Four - North:
The Advocate reported that Launceston Church Grammar won by an enormous six lengths.
Second Four - South:
The Mercury wrote the following:
“The race for Junior crews was equally spectacular. The eight participating crews finished in a bunch. While attention was focussed mainly on Hutchins II and Friends' II crews, St. Virgil's II, close in shore, put in a remarkable sprint over the last 300 yards of the half-mile course and flashed over the line half a length ahead of the other two crews, who were separated only by half a canvas, second place going to Hutchins.”
Organising Committee:
Tasmanian Rowing Association
Officials:
Northern Head of the River:
(unknown)
Southern Head of the River:
Starter: Mr. J. Sharp
Umpire: Mr. E. Bessell
Judges: Mr. F. Sorrell & Mr. J. Berkery
Timekeeper: Mr. W. Taylor
First Four - North
1 mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 2½, 1½ lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: F. Bean, 2: H. Hadrill, 3: C. D. von Stieglitz, Str: D. Sadler, Cox: R. Tucker
2nd Scotch College – Bow: K. Southern, 2: R. Curwan, 3: L. Watchorn, Str: G. Ellis, Cox: M. Cunningham
3rd St. Patrick’s College – Bow: R. Bishop, 2: F. Heritage, 3: R. Potter, Str: W. Sullivan, Cox: J. Tabart
First Four - South
1¼ mile
Time: 5 min 36 sec
Margins: ½ canvas, ½ canvas, ½ length
1st Hutchins School – Bow: D. G. Gibson, 2: N. B. Foster, 3: D. G. Baker, Str: R. P. Freeman, Cox: P. Abbott
2nd St. Virgil’s College – Bow: B. Murray, 2: A. Cunningham, 3: J. Dwyer, Str: L. Johnston, Cox: R. Cooper
3rd Clemes College – Bow: P. Parkes, 2: G. Suter, 3: P. Pitt, Str: R. T. Allwright, Cox: D. Archer
4th The Friends’ School – (crew unknown)
Second Four - North
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 6, 3 lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: A. Seddon, 2: D. Meredith, 3: C. Goodwin, Str: S. Rolph, Cox: P. Hooker
2nd Scotch College – Bow: B. Pearce, 2: D. Cairns, 3: W. Crisp, Str: R. McKenzie, Cox: J. McFadzean
3rd St. Patrick’s College – Bow: R. Edmonson, 2: P. James, 3: T. Barrenger, Str: J. Fitzpatrick, Cox: K. Illingsworth
Second Four - South
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: ½ length, ½ canvas
1st St. Virgil’s College 1 – (crew unknown)
2nd Hutchins School 1 – Bow: P. J. Thompson, 2: R. J. Downie, 3: J. Bennetto, Str: M. A. Agnew, Cox: B. A. Cottier
3rd The Friends’ School 1 – (crew unknown)
Other Starters: Clemes College, St. Virgil’s 2, The Friends’ School 2, Hutchins School 2 & 3
Sources
GRAMMAR WINS LAUNCESTON HEAD-OF-THE-RIVER Regatta (1942, 20 April), Advocate (Burnie, Tas.: 1890 – 1954), p. 5, Retrieved 22 May 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68762030
HUTCHINS HEAD-OF-THE-RIVER (1942, 30 March), The Mercury Hobart, Tas.: 1860 – 1954), p. 6, Retrieved 22 May 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25919352
Hutchins School Magazine, June 1942
ROWING HONOUR TO HUTCHINS (1942, 30 March), The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: 1860 – 1954), p. 6, Retrieved 22 May 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25919340