1943 Head of the River
The seventy-sixth Head of the River was again compromised by the requirements of WWII. The Geelong crews raced each other and the metropolitan schools did the same. Interestingly, a losers final was conducted for the first time for the metroplitan schools. The metropolitan schools raced heats on Wednesday 14th April and the finals were conducted on Saturday 17th April. Finals day brought a strong cross breeze and choppy water which made for difficult rowing.
The junior regatta was also held on 17th April.
Geelong Grammar won the Geelong race and challenged the winning Melbourne Grammar crew to find the Head of the River. Melbourne Grammar declined the invitation. Geelong Grammar then challenged Wesley, the crew who came closest to the winning Melbourne crew. Wesley accepts but Geelong Grammar wins easily. Both Geelong Grammar and Wesley called for Geelong Grammar to be given the title of the Head of the River. Eventually the Headmasters declared both Geelong Grammar and Melbourne Grammar joint winners.
Index to Results:
Time: NTT
Margin: 1 length
1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: W B Patterson, 2: I N Southey, 3: A M Campbell, 4: W H Morshead, 5: H Murton, 6: T E Legoe, 7: R A Kennison, Str: R F Jones, Cox: D L Martin, Cch: William H Pincott
2nd Geelong College - Bow: J W Foreman, 2: M A Spittle, 3: C F Ostberf, 4: R K Fullager, 5: E J Errey, 6: D B Rolland, 7: J C C Shuter, Str: P W Grutzner, Cox: G A Buchanan, Cch: E S Kishere
Time: 5:15.4
Margin:
4 lengths
Losers final:
Time: 5:23.4
Margin: 2 lengths
1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: V C Morgan, 2: M Wallace-Mitchell, 3: G J Colquhoun, 4: B Kennon, 5: R D Watson, 6: J R Gutteridge, 7: W R Harper, Str: I D Watson, Cox: D A Clendennen, Cch: W E " Wally" Ricketts
2nd Scotch College - Bow: Vernon R Camier, 2: Alexander W Ogilvy, 3: Alexander T Dix, 4: Malcolm L Fitzpatrick, 5: Robert R Trengove, 6: Robert I Gillies, 7: John D Davis, Str: David M McLaren, Cox: Michael J Smith, Cch: Charles B Boyes
The Grammar crew were a far stronger crew than the College crew and they won well.
Standing: M. Wallace-Mitchell (2), B. Kennon (4), W.N. Ricketts Esq., G.J. Colquhoun (3), V.C. Morgan (bow). Sitting: J.R. Gutteridge (6), I.D. Watson (stroke), W.R. Harper (7), R. D. Watson (5). In front: D.A. Clendinnen (cox)
Losers Final
1st Wesley College - Bow: G L Fudge, 2: A S Wood, 3: G W Eastaugh, 4: I F Hibbins, 5: W K Boynton, 6: K G Donaldson, 7: I S Parkin, Str: R J Purdue, Cox: G A Carbines, Cch: Neil H MacNeil
2nd Xavier College - Bow: C Dawson, 2: P Chapman, 3: B Dooley, 4: M Doyle, 5: D Watson, 6: J Tuthill, 7: G Byrne, Str: Kevin O'Brien, Cox: G Larkin, Cch: James Byrne
The Wesley crew led from the start but were checked heavily by the wind coming out of new cut corner. Xavier made the best out of north station and the shleter it provided. However the bigger and stronger Wesley crew prevailed.
Heat results:
1st MGS, 2nd WC, Time: 4:55.2, Margin: 3/4 length
1st SC, 2nd XC, Time: 5:06.1, Margin: 3 lengths
Time: Not known
Margin: 1 length
1st Melbourne Grammar
2nd Wesley College
3rd Xavier College
4th Scotch College - Bow: K A Fraser, 2: B L Gorham, 3: J W Dandie, 4: T P Ritchie, 5: G E Price, 6: W A M Blair, 7: B L Adams, Str: R deC Shaw, Cox: J L todd, Cch: J A Booth
Scotch raced Geelong College in training and lost to them by 1/2 length.
Time: Not known
Margins: 1/2 length, 1 length and 1 canvas
1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: K J A Asche, 2: F J Richardson, 3: D B Parrington, 4: H B Clark, 5: B McK Birrell, 6: P L Gray, 7: A P R Hamilton, Str: R J Scott, Cox: R McN Decker
2nd Wesley College
3rd Xavier College
4th Scotch College - Bow: T I Leslie, 2: K C Walton, 3: D M Jamieson, 4: D G Holloway, 5: R D Purnell, 6: J A Beyer, 7: B L Burns, Str: D F Walton, Cox: D Smith, Cch: A W L Mitchell
Melbourne Grammar Third Crew
R. McN. Decker (cox), R.J. Scott (Stroke), A.P.R. Hamilton (7), P.L. Gray (6), B. McK.Birrell (5), H.B. Clark (4), D.B. Parrington (3), F.J. Richardson (2), K.J.A. Asche (Bow)
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives
Time: Not known
Margins: Several lengths & one canvas
1st Wesley College
2nd Melbourne Grammar
3rd Scotch College - Bow: D F Macleish, 2: J S Galbraith, 3: R S Salthouse, 4: B Hughes, 5: L R Stuber, 6: J Peacoulakis, 7: A J Gillespie, Str: K R Cox, Cox: B Ricker, Cch: Alex T Dix
Time: Not known
Margins: 1/2 length, 1/3 length
1st Wesley College
2nd Melbourne Grammar
3rd Scotch College - Bow: J C Boyd, 2: W B Mather, 3: J A Taylor, 4: J N Cann, 5: J D Aberdeen, 6: J Coburn, 7: I R Johnson, Str: W Philip, Cox: D Elliott, Cch: D M McLaren
Time: Not known
Margin: 1 length
1st Mebourne Grammar
2nd Scotch College - Bow: P Roberts, 2: J B Matthew, 3: J D Cathcart, 4: A J Martin, 5: D S McGregor, 6: T Glazebrook, 7: J L Lavett, Str: E D Lloyd, Cox: R B Haywood, Cch: A L Burns
Time: Not known
1st Melbourne Grammar 7th crew
2nd Melbourne Grammar 8th crew
3rd Scotch College - Bow: L D Gilsenan, 2: A B Falk, 3: A R Johns, 4: F E Gibson, 5: P G Dent, 6: H Middleton, 7: F C Snell, Str: W R Wood, Cox: T C West, Cch: R deC Shaw
Melbourne Grammar Seventh Crew
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives
Sources
- The Pincott Club Handbook 2006
- Scotch Collegian 1943
- Lift her home to victory, lads! A centenary history of Xavier College 1906-2006 by Michael Lefebvre
- Appendix to A Deepening Roar Scotch College 1851-2001 by James Mitchell, Allen & Unwin 2001
- Wesley College Chronicle 1943