1955 SATIS Head of the River
Saturday, April 30 - Derwent River
First Four:
The 1955 raced used a different course from previous years on the Derwent River. The new course was a mile rowing up river, starting from the Boyer warehouse wharf and finished in Cornelian Bay. 6 crews raced in the 1955 race:
-The Friends’ School
-Hutchins School
-Launceston Church Grammar School
-Scotch College
-St. Patrick’s College, and
-St. Virgil’s College
The Hutchins School Magazine wrote that the conditions were slightly choppy but still reasonable. St. Virgil’s were in front early, however the crew “struck trouble” and were unable to finish the race. This allowed Launceston Grammar to take the lead to win for the second year running, with St. Patrick’s finishing second.
Organising Committee:
Tasmanian Rowing Association
Officials:
(unknown)
First Four
Golden Fleece Cup
1⅛ miles
Time:
Margins:
DNF
1st Launceston Church Grammar –
2nd St. Patrick’s College –
3rd Hutchins School – Bow: M. M. Bryden, 2: B. A. Hull, 3: R. B. Douglas, Str: I. R. S. Parker, Cox: M. C. Page
4th The Friends’ School –
5th - Scotch College –
6th St. Virgil’s College (Stopped rowing after stroke caught a crab and his seat seized.)
The race was well within the grasp of St Virgil's to win being a length up on Grammar at the halfway mark before the stroke caught a crab.
Second Four
½ mile
Time:
Margins:
1st St Virgil's College
2nd Launceston Grammar
3rd St Patrick's College
4th Hutchins School – Bow: C. Rankin, 2: R. B. Skinner, 3: S. J. B. Pixley, Str: E. C. Chen, Cox: T. A. Francombe
5th Friends School
6th Scotch College
Third Four
½ mile
Time:
Margins:
1st Launceston Church Grammar –
2nd St Virgil's College
3rd Friends School
4th St Patrick's College
5th Hutchins School – Bow: D. E. Blain, 2: H. Fergusson, 3: C. Taylor, Str: M. Gibson, Cox: M. Cooper
Fourth Four
½ mile
Time:
Margins:
1st Launceston Grammar
2nd St Virgil's College
3rd Friends School
4th Hutchins School – Bow: F. E. M. Lilley, 2: G. Salmon, 3: N. King, Str: P. Brammall, Cox: C. Burbury
Sources
- Hutchins School Magazine, December 1955
- Launceston Examiner Monday 2nd May 1955 page 18