1941 Head of the River

1st Scotch College - Bow: Ronald G Blacket, 2: Archibald G Simpson, 3: John B Ware, 4: John F McNicol, 5: James S Shaw, 6: Hugh Stretton, 7: George A Hagenauer, Str: Gordon D Fisher, Cox: Robert K Sim, Cch: G Harvey Nicholson
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: J H Fergusson, 2: Noel A Ritchie, 3: A B Colquhoun, 4: J S Bell, 5: C G Hill, 6: B S Winslow, 7: R S Bowles, Str: M N Hodgson, Cox: G F E DeRavin, Cch: Walter E " Wally" Rickett
3rd Wesley College - Bow: C A McPherson, 2: W J Bottomer, 3: B W Lockwood, 4: L C Weber, 5: R G Holst, 6: G J Pollock, 7: M J Foley, Str: R J M Walker, Cox: V G Vivian, Cch: Neil H MacNeil and Charles Donald

Melbourne Grammar First Crew

Standing: Ritchie N.A. (2), Bell J.S. (4), W.N. Ricketts Esq., Colquhoun A.B (3), Fergusson J.H (Bow). Sitting: Winslow B.S. (6), Hodgson M.N. (Stroke), Bowles R.S. (7), Hill C.G. (5). In Front: Deravin G.F.E. (Cox).
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Wesley College First Eight

Photo from the Wesley College Boatshed

The Age reported on the final as follows;

When the three crews first came into sight round the big bend the umpire’s launch that followed behind signaled MGS as leaders, but from the finishing post it appeared that Scotch and Grammar were almost level, and Wesley were only a few feet behind. Then the strong posts of Melburnians chanted their school song vociferously, and already proclaimed a certain victory for the “Dark Blues”, who won in 1938, 1939, 1940.

Steering a clever and fine course, the Scotch cox just called for a little extra pace, and from that point, 500 yards from the judge’s box, the race was practically over.

The work in the Melbourne Grammar boat became short and ragged, while the boat rolled badly. Scotch then swung along easily, and with a real Australian leg and body drive, rowed their best form to date. The stroke, G. D. Fisher, took his signal from the cox, R. K. Sim, and a snappy dozen finished all pretensions of Grammar, whose form had been lost half way through the race. Wesley, rowing well, found the impost of 10 and 12 lb. per man in the average weight too much, but must be complimented on a game and plucky performance.

Scotch won by a length in 5min 12.2sec, with Wesley half a length away in third.

Other crews competing were:
Xavier College - Bow: W E Burne, 2: P N Lewis, 3: G W Hiscock, 4: D J Conroy, 5: J A McCooey, 6: R A Hoppe, 7: W J Hobbs, Str: Alexander N Davison, Cox: P A Falkland, Cch: Eddie A Fakhry
Geelong Grammar School - Bow: R A B Vance, 2: I B Hartnell, 3: P C T Armytage, 4: D G Campbell, 5: R A Gilder, 6: B S Inglis, 7: B J Thewlis, Str: W S C Hare, Cox: E C Smith, Cch: William H Pincott
Geelong College - Bow: G A McKinley, 2: T V Hawkes, 3: J A C McDonald, 4: J H Anderson, 5: J M Ferguson, 6: G T Exell, 7: J A Strickland, Str: J R Morrison, Cox: W A Martin, Cch: Albert B Bell

Heat results:
E1: 1st SC, 2nd GC. Time: 5:12.2, Margin: 4 lengths
E2: 1st WC, 2nd XC, Time: 5:16.4, Margin: 5 lengths
E3: 1st MGS, 2nd GGS, Time: 5:58.5, Margin: One canvas.
The race was reported as "a magnificent struggle".

The Age reported on the heats as follows:

First Heat - Scotch v Geelong College

Scotch dashed away at the start, and shot the Morell-bridge in 52 ¾ sec., with an advantage of ¾ of a length. Racing well, and settling down to a fine swing, Scotch increased its lead to a length at the half mile, passed in 2 min 26 2-5th sec. As the crews straightened up for the final 200 yards, Scotch, two lengths in front, passed the repeated sprint challenges of Geelong unheeded. Won by four lengths in 5min 12.2sec, against full stream.

Second Heat - Wesley v Xavier

Wesley took the lead from pistol fire, and striking 37 to Xavier’s 39, was a length ahead at the Morell-bridge. Racing with a delightful body swing and solid leg drive, the light Wesley lads drew away at will. At the half-mile, clocked at 2min 27sec., the race was all over, and in the procession that followed Xavier struggled gamely but unavailingly, and saw its rival glide away without much trouble. Won by 5 lengths in 5min 16.4sec, against stream.

Third Heat - MGS v Geelong Grammar

Geelong Grammar got away from Melbourne at the start, although the Dark Blues struck 39 to the Light Blues 37. Geelong passed under the Morell-bridge, and was cheered there by a Geelong strong post, as the crew led its rivals by a third of a length. Geelong was the steadier crew at the half mile, when Melbourne faltered badly there. As the umpire’s launch was flying the white flag to indicate Geelong leading, the big crowds at the finish cheered wildly. Then a great race ensued. The Dark Blues sprinted to gain a narrow lead, when they were challenged again, and won the heat by a canvas. Time: 4min 58.5sec in dead water.

Melbourne metropolitan schools

1st Wesley College - Bow: G Blewett, 2: D Paine, 3: O Miles, 4: R Boyce, 5: J Powling, 6: J Chitty, 7: D Dennis, Str: W Cowley, Cox: G Johnson
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: W F Lockington, 2: K E Spargo, 3: G L Stewart, 4: J R Gutteridge, 5L W Harper, 6: H M Ponsford, 7: J H W Birrell, StrL R H Wallace-Mitchell, Cox: B S Sargood
3rd Xavier College
4th Scotch College - Bruce Adams

Melbourne Grammar Second Crew

From left: B.S. Sargood (cox), R.H. Wallace-Mitchell, J.H.W. Birrell, H.M. Ponsford, W. Harper, J.R. Gutteridge, G.L. Stewart, K.E. Spargo and W.F. Lockington
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Geelong schools

1st Geelong Grammar - McGregor, Coulson, Cox, Cumming, Donald, Gilder, Myer, Spowers
2nd Geelong College - Williams, Zimmerman, Johnson, Fearon, Neilson, Pearson, Davies, Vanrenan

Melbourne metropolitan schools

1st Wesley College - Bow: I Parkin, 2: D Cole, 3: W Donegan, 4: J McLean, 5: J Permezel, 6: D Trigg, 7: D McVey, Str: K Donaldson, Cox: W Duncan
2nd Scotch College
3rd Xavier College
4th Melbourne Grammar

Melbourne Grammar Third Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Geelong schools

1st Geelong Grammar - Armstrong, Young, Fairbairn, Linden, Whiting, Lathan, Sargood, Allen
2nd Geelong College - Dowling, Charles, Woolley, Michael, Towns, Drury, Russell

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: H Wilson, 2: D Keble-Johnston, 3: J Arnold, 4: I Watson, 5: M Dickens, 6: P Lemaire, 7: C Hanson, Str: G Handley, Cox: T Mills
2nd Wesley College
3rd Scotch College

Melbourne Grammar Fourth Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: R Jowett, 2: A Bassett, 3: W Williams, 4: M Newton, 5: J Abbs, 6: H Shain, 7: I Debenham, Str: R Johnston, Cox: D Scott
2nd Scotch College

Melbourne Grammar Fifth Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

1st Scotch College - Bow: G Hallam, C Mudie, J Mosman, K Pearson, B Robertson, V Canuer, Str: A Dix, Cox: J Todd
2nd Melbourne Grammar

Melbourne Grammar Sixth Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: G Colquhoun, 2: F Clendennin, 3: A McDonald, 4: F Fraser, 5: J Fergusson, 6: B Kennon, 7: K Welch, Str: R Cook, Cox: K Nicholson
2nd Scotch College

Melbourne Grammar Seventh Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives