History of the Victorian APS Head of the River rowing regatta

1899 Head of the River

The thirty-second Head of the River race was conducted on Albert Park Lake on 5th & 13th May and the course enabled a first & final. Scotch won in a good fashion under the great Alex Sloan. Again outrigger fours with sliding seats were used.

Eric Tulloch, the three man of the MGS crew went onto coach MGS first crews from 1921 to 1926. Sadly the night before the final in 1926, he was shot by a burglar in his home.

The river improvements on the Upper Yarra course were being completed at this time.

The testing of the new Monier Bridge at Anderson Street, later named Morell Bridge after Sir Stephen Morell, Lord Mayor of Melbourne and past Scotch College coach.

Note that the river was yet to pass under the bridge. This was to occur with the river improvements at that time.
Photo courtesy of Mercantile Rowing Club

Index to Results:

Head of the River
Second Crews

Officials

Starter: Mr George E Upward
Umpire: Mr George E Upward
Judge: Dr T P McInerney

Head of the River

Time: NTT
Margins:1.25, 0.5 & 1 length

1st Scotch College - Bow: Albert G Lindblade, 2: Herbert B Shaw, 3: Sydney W Smith, Str: John A Fraser, Cox: John S Smith, Cch: Alexander B Sloan
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: B C Merrillees, 2: H C Gordon, 3: Eric W Tulloch, Str: J C Cockbill, Cox: J P C Govett, Cchs: A J Evans & W A Purves
3rd Wesley College - Bow: N L Cleeland, 2: A Blaubaum, 3: A J "Doc" Pearce, Str: F R Looney, Cox: E Jones, Cch: Unknown
4th Geelong Grammar - Bow: D E Smith, 2: H Fulford, 3: H Lovell, Str: H D K Macartney, Cox: J Elder, Cch: A F Garrard

The Age reported on the race as follows:

The annual contest between the first four-oared crews of the public school was rowed yesterday afternoon on the lake, at Albert Park. There was a strong northerly wind, but no accident occurred throughout. The competing crews represented the Scotch and Wesley Colleges and the Melbourne and Geelong Grammar schools. Melbourne had rather the best of the start. In a dozen strokes Scotch College gained a slight lead, and MGS had a ¼ length lead of Geelong Grammar and Wesley crews. The Scotch then forged further ahead, and Melbourne Grammar increased its lead upon Geelong and Wesley. Nearing Obstruction Island, the Scotch were fully two lengths ahead of Melbourne. In the last half mile Melbourne Grammar closed a little upon Scotch College, which shot past the post a length ahead. Geelong stopped just before the winning post was reached, and Wesley rushed passed and secured third place.

Melbourne Grammar Four

Back row (from left): H C Gordon, Mr W A Purves, and B C Merrillees.
Seated: J Cockbill, Mr A J Evans and E W Tulloch. Out front: J P C Govett (cox)
Photo courtesy of Melbopurne Grammar Archives - Cat No 4201

Second Crews

(This was not conducted at the Head of the River regatta but on 19th May.)

Time: NTT
Margin: 2 feet and 6 lengths

1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: L Jessop, 2: A Murphy, 3: H Lovell, Str: A Outtrim, Cox: J Eldar, Cch: Mr J Cuthbertson
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: G Hepburn, 2: B Hutchinson, 3: S Bruce, Str: E Tulloch, Cox: J Govett, Messrs Evans and Purves
3rd Wesley College - Bow: J Slatter, 2: H Brown, 3: R Wawn, Str: A Blaubaum, Cox: E Jones, Cch: Mr A Farrell

The Age reported on the second crews as follows:

The annual four-oared race for second crews of the public schools was rowed yesterday afternoon on the lake at Albert Park. The Geelong and Melbourne Grammar Schools and Wesley College were represented, and after a splendid tussle, Geelong beat Melbourne Grammar School by 2 feet only, Wesley half a dozen lengths behind. Mr Linden, head master of the Geelong Grammar School, acted as judge, and Mr. Geo. Upward as starter and umpire.

Sources

The Victorian Oarsman by John Lang 1919 - A H Massina & Company
Appendix to A Deepening Roar Scotch College 1851-2001 by James Mitchell, Allen & Unwin 2001
The Pincott Club Handbook 2006
MGS first crew names from MGS boatshed
Scotch Collegian magazine 1938
Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar Archives
Picture Morell Bridge - Mercantile Rowing Club
Picture MGS - MGS archives
ROWING. (1899, October 14). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188656998
ROWING. (1899, May 20). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202627264

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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.

1899 Head of the River

Officials

Head of the River

Second Crews

Sources

VIC APS Head of River