1930 Head of the River

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: E D Scott, 2: F E C Loxton, 3: B A Laycock, 4: Kenneth F Cole, 5: D J Wilson, 6: T Luxton, 7: J G Brown, Str: H R Marks, Cox: P J Eckersley, Cch: W N "Wally" Ricketts
2nd Wesley College - Bow: W D'a Curtis, 2: K C W Beckett, 3: R B Walduck, 4: A W Mitchell, 5: J McCulloch, 6: C D Chamberlain, 7: J G Girdwood, Str: H R Millikan, Cox: J D Mackay, Cch: Charles Donald
Geelong Grammar disqualified - Bow: N C Campbell, 2: R E White, 3: P A Thornley, 4: H M Greenfield, 5: A W A Cartwright, 6: J G Barclay, 7: John G Gorton, Str: T A Gatenby, Cox: D L Green, Cch: William H Pincott

It is reported that Geelong Grammar cut off a bend and clashed with Wesley. The race was stopped and Geelong removed.

The Age report was as follows:

There was another immense attendance of spectators, all of them keyed up in anticipation of a very close race. In this they were doomed to disappointment, because of a dramatic incident which led to the disqualification of the Geelong Grammar School crew, when about a third of the course had been covered.

It transpired that the Geelong crew, which was on the north station, had early in the race moved over towards thy Wesley boat, which was in the centre. The coxswain corrected his error, but again allowed his boat to get off its course, with the result that the bow oars of Geelong crew interfered with those on the stroke side of the Wesley boat. Thereupon the umpire fired a shot to stop the race. Many of the spectators were unaware what had happened until they saw the Melbourne Grammar and Wesley crews turn their boats and paddle back to the start, while Geelong Grammar paddled sadly back to their boat house. It was a most unfortunate incident, and to a large extent spoiled the final.

Following, as it did on the incident in Friday’s racing, when Wesley narrowly escaped a similar fate, it marked the 1930 contest as one which will be long remembered for these incidents. The only previous disqualification was in 1916, when Wesley was penalised. This was also on the Barwon, but it is not due to any fault as far as this course is concerned, for there is no better river course in Victoria. At the time the clash occurred it appeared that Melbourne Grammar had about one-third of a length lead on Wesley, which In turn was slightly ahead of the Geelong crew.

The remaining two crews wasted little time in getting to the line. It made their task a much harder one than had there been no interruption, for the distance which had been rowed at high pressure without doubt took its toll of the crews. As they were on the line, a sharp rain storm swept over the course and caused a scatter. It quickly cleared, however, and conditions were quite good as the race was rowed. Melbourne Grammar was to first to show out. Rowing with great vigor and good length, the crew steadily forged ahead, and at the quarter-mile had about a canvas lead. At half a mile the difference was about half a length, which was increased to close on a length at three-quarters of a mile. Grammar all along looked winners, for the crew was rowing a fine length, with plenty of vigor. As the race progressed the Wesley crew, in its efforts to catch up, became very short in its work, which necessarily took a lot out of the crew. Nevertheless, Wesley made a wonderful fight of it. In the last 800 yards the crew struck a very high rate, and reduced Grammar’s lead to ¾ of a length when the line was passed. Time 5 min 35 1-5th sec.

Melbourne Grammar crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar archives

Wesley College crew

Geelong Grammar crew

Other crews competing were:
Scotch College - Bow: Sidney C Powell, 2: John F Ross, 3: Colin S McKay, 4: Gordon R Webb, 5: Henry D L Thompson, 6: Ernest D Lardner, 7: Hew F G McDonald, Str: William D Refshauge, Cox: Kenneth F E Cook, Cch: Dr Charles W B Littlejohn
Xavier College - Bow: J A Hartung, 2: Gerald F Jones, 3: Geoff E Gray, 4: M C Davies, 5: C E Long, 6: E Fuller McKenna, 7: Alan F Redding, Str: Colin M Wilkinson, Cox: Eddie A Fakhry, Cch: Mark Shea
Geelong College - Bow: J K Watson, 2: J H Gough, 3: J P Stoker, 4: S W Robertson, 5: F G Funston, 6: A E Forster, 7: J H Cato, Str: A R Hinchliffe, Cox: E M Emerson, Cch: C J Collyer

Scotch College crew

S C Powell, Dr C W B Littlejohn, C McKay, J F Ross, H D L Thompson, E D Lardner, W D Refshauge, H F G McDonald, G R Webb, K F E Cook

Xavier College crew

Geelong College crew

Heats
E1: 1st GGS, 2nd SC - Time: 5:10, Margin: 1 length
E2: 1st WC, 2nd XC - Time: 5:09, Margin: 0.5 length
E3: 1st MGS, 2nd GC - Time: 5:12, Margin: 3 lengths

The third heat with MGS leading from GC

The Age reported on the heats in the following terms -

First Heat - Geelong Grammar v Scotch
Scotch were first to show out. At a ¼ of a mile they were half a length ahead of Geelong, and at half a mile their lead had increased still more. They were rowing a good deal faster than the Geelong crew, and looked like being able to maintain their advantage. However, a change came, for superior length and weight of Geelong Grammar began to take effect. The Geelong stroke was keeping his crew steady, and after the half mile they made rapid progress, until passing Collins Bros’ mill they drew level. From there onto the finish they quickly drew ahead. Their lead was increased by a bad falling away on the part of Scotch. When they judge’s pistol was fired Geelong Grammar School were a length in front. The excellent time of 5 min 10 sec was recorded.

Second Heat - Xavier v Wesley
Contrary to expectations Xavier were first away. Both crews set a merry pace and rowed “all out” for a lead. At ¼ mile Wesley began to improve their position, and at half a mile had a good ¾ length lead. Meantime they had left the north station and were by the half mile in the centre position. Wesley maintained an excellent length passing the woolen mills. Both boats were in correct stations, and a great race to the post was witnessed. Wesley was too good, however, and finished half a length to the good. Many of the spectators expected that a protest would be lodged against Wesley, but this did not occur. Time 5 mins 9 sec.

Third Heat - MGS v Geelong College
The third heat between MGS and Geelong College does not call for much description. It was a first-class heavy crew against a game little crew, which rowed excellently. MGS were quickly in front, and had no difficulty winning by 3 lengths.

1st Wesley College - Bow: L R D Pyke, 2: K B Leigh, 3: V R Say, 4: P S Woodruff, 5: A B Foxcroft, 6: T G Luff, 7: J E Hartnell, Str: A A Parish, Cox: G V Harrism Cch: R J D Turnbull
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: L I Lloyd, 2: R Benson, 3: L Aitken, 4: J W P Wilson, 5: R A Wilmoth, 6: R A Craig, 7: G F Atyeo, Str: H R Smith, Cox: A Ket, Cch: H K Hunt
3rd Scotch College - Bow: A E Carlyle, 2: N H Straus, 3: R Blyth, 4: L F Orr, 5: S L Oke, 6: R Ferguson, 7: R B Campbell, Str: R J Cheney, Cox: R A Cliff, Cch: C E Boyes
4th Xavier College - Bow: W T Burnett, 2: D Sheahan, 3: H Mulcahy, 4: R McMinn, 5: G Grey, 6: A Grant, 7: J Roche, Str: J Gartlan, Cox: J England, Cch: Marcus Burke

Wesley won by 3 feet to MGS, Scotch were a length astern with Xavier half a length in the rear.

=1st Wesley College - Bow: H V Lamb, 2: T R J Walduck, 3: A N Waite, 4: N R Millikan, 5: N F Prescott, 6: D V Peck, 7: D A V Eastaugh, Str: H K Richardson, Cox: R J Clarke, Cch: W G Rolfe
=1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: C G Pitts, 2: K B Brownside, 3: J E H Rutter, 4: K H Watson, 5: C R Galletly, 6: T W Saxton, 7: J H Thomas, Str: T H Collins, Cox: R Eckersley, Cch: C R Franklin
3rd Scotch College - Bow: C S Tomlinson, 2: A C Young, 3: W White, 4: N C Elliott, 5: G I Anderson, 6: I M Bertram, 7: T H E Mitchell, Str: J R Collie, Cox: H Wilson, Cch: W Max Bailey
4th Xavier College - Bow: C M McClean, 2: A D McClean, 3: A Prytz, 4: R Whitehead, 5: G O'Keefe, 6: G G Perrignon, 7: R Burns, Str: A England, Cox: F Lavan, Cch: J Keleher

Dead heat between Wesley and MGS with Scotch only a canvas behind in third with Xavier two lengths astern.

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: W H Miller, 2: S E Vance, 3: A H T Pitcher, 4: A D Cook, 5: T Fitzgerald, 6: P B Bellew, 7: H Heseltine, Str: G J Talbot, Cox: R C Scarlett, Cch: J E Giles
2nd Wesley College - Bow: K H Robin, 2: J B Curtis, 3: E V Saynor, 4: D J Oldmeadow, 5: R A Fisher, 6: L M Brown, 7: F Sanguinetti, Str: G L Millard, Cox: W Mason-Cox, Cch: W G Rolfe
3rd Scotch College - Bow: H Wilson, 2: T C Adams, 3: L F Laidlaw, 4: K Gardner, 5: D D Drummond, 6: R M Hearn, 7: A G Cochrane, Str: D M Banks, Cox: C Stirling, Cch: David B Skewes
4th Xavier College - Bow: C Fontaine, 2: B Buxton, 3: T Keogh, 4: A Ley, 5: D O'Brien, 6: F Murphy, 7: R Calvert, Str: J McCaffrey, Cox: J Riordan, Cch: W Fox

MGS won by a length to Wesley, with Scotch ¾ of a length back and Xavier two lengths father back.

Melbourne Grammar Fourth Crew

From left: R C Scarlet, G J Talbot, H Heseltine, P B Bellew, T Fitzgerald, D A Cook, A H T Pitcher, S E Vance and W H Miller
Photo courtesy of MGS archives