1909 Head of the River

1st Wesley College - Bow: H S Dickenson, 2: N Surgeon, 3: H A Fleming, 4: W L Armstrong, 5: L A Pattinson, 6: H L Rintel, 7: J L Doubleday, Str: J A Prout, Cox: S M Lewis, Cch: Charles Donald
2nd Geelong Grammar - Bow: F Austin, 2: F H Lascelles, 3: P W Dobson, 4: J Simson, 5: B W Briggs, 6: C N Armytage, 7: E L Smith, Str: G A Ritchie, Cox: R Chomley, Cch: A F Garrard
3rd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: H V Adams, 2: C G Moule, 3: H Gellion, 4: H F Maudsley, 5: E S Anderson, 6: L R Marks, 7: Harry Latham Baillieu, Str: C M Williams, Cox: I C Watt, Cch: W E P Austin

1909 Wesley College

Melbourne Grammar Crew - Back row (from left): H.V. Adams, Mr. W.E.P. Austin, C.G. Moule and H. Gellion. Seated: H.F. Maudsley, E.S. Anderson, C.M. Williams, H.L. Baillieu and L.R. Marks. Out front: I.C. Watts (cox)

Photo reproduced with permission from MGS archives

The Age reported on the final in the following terms:

The north and south side crews moved smartly from the start, but Wesley, not having their boat straight and rowing very dirty, just escaped touching the Melbourne Grammar. At the bridge the latter led by two feet, the others being level. From here the Wesley gave a fine exhibition of unflurried rowing, and passed the corner half a length ahead of Geelong, who led Melbourne by a few feet. In the straight the leaders, with a good length stroke, well held to the finish, kept their position The Geelong and Melbourne crews, however, rowed a close race, with the latter at Brander’s Ferry in second place. The order was unchanged to near the finish, where Wesley were a length ahead of Geelong, who by a fine effort had got in front of Melbourne. The winning post was passed by Wesley three-quarters of a length ahead. Geelong being a third of a length from Melbourne Grammar.

Other crews:
Xavier College - Bow: B Sheppard, 2: J Hopkins, 3: Edgar W Burne, 4: T J O'Brien, 5: E X Ryan, 6: P J Morrissey, 7: R P MacGillicuddy, Str: Gordon T Kirby, Cox: G A Cusson, Cch: Jack Fogarty
Geelong College - Bow: W B Pearce, 2: W A S Dunlop, 3: G C D Reid, 4: J C Kininmonth, 5: P G Pullar, 6: J D Blair, 7: J D Hearne, Str: J B Gibson, Cox: J M Broughton, Cch: William H Pincott
Scotch College - Bow: Frank W Fay, 2: Clyde A C Thompson, 3: Clive S Steele, 4: Graeme Stobie, 5: Albert E V Hartkopf, 6: Olaf F de Lacy, 7: Ashley R Grist, Str: Athol H J Harding, Cox: Leonard T Mullett, Cch: Alexander B Sloan

Heat results:
E1: 1st MGS, 2nd GC, Time: 5:10.6, Margin: 1 1/4 lengths
E2: 1st WC, 2nd SC,Time: 5:10.0, Margin: 1 length
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd XC, Time: 5:21.4, Margin: 1 1/2 lengths

The Age reported on the heats as follows:

First heat
On moving away from the start boats, Geelong were quicker in reaching top, and led through botanical bridge by four feet. Melbourne however, were rowing strongly, and at the corner had gained a lead of half a length, which increased rounding the point to three quarters. Both crews were going well. The leaders by their fine length and even rowing must have surpassed any practice work; while the Geelong, excepting a light finish, were keeping good form. Brander’s was passed by Melbourne a length ahead, and eventually they won by a length and a quarter.

Second heat
As expected, this heat proved a great race. Wesley got going very quickly, and were within a foot of Scotch at the Bridge. In the row to the corner Wesley gained a few feet, which they increased to half a length in the turn. The strong leg drive and even rowing gained a few more feet for the north side crew. Scotch, approaching Brander’s, put in effective work and reduced the lead to half a length. From this out they made further gain, eventually passing the post a length to the bad.

Third heat
Both crews got away well. Geelong leading by half a length to the bridge. Xavier made up slightly at the corner and held their opponents for about half a mile, when the greater power of Geelong began to tell and enabled them to win by two lengths.