1944 Head of the River

The seventy-seventh Head of the River was conducted on the Yarra with only the Geelong schools firsts and seconds coming to Melbourne.

The Losers Final was conducted again with all heat losing crews participating. It is therefore the first official year of the small final. The race was conducted on the finals day.

After a very long career as the Geelong Grammar coach, William H Pincott retires after serious illness.

Second crews again raced which showed a decrease in war restrictions. More importantly all schools competed.

Index to Results:

Head of the River
Second Crews
Third Crews
Fourth Crews
Fifth Crews
Sixth Crews
Seventh Crews

1944 Program

Officials

APS Hon Secretary: Euan M Davidson

Starter: H J Green

Umpires: Edward Kenny at the Bridge, Marcus Burke at the Bend, Jack L Mounsey at the Stagings

Judge: H T James

Timekeeper: Ray Todd

Head of the River

Time: 5:04.0
Margin: 1 1/2 lengths

Losers final:
Time: 5:01.1
Margins: 6 lengths and 1 foot

1st Geelong College - Bow: E R Ashton, 2: W F Humphreys, 3: D W Mackay, 4: Donald R T Macmillan, 5: I M McIlwain, 6: I E Cameron, 7: G H K Tippett, Str: N J Spalding, Cox: A L Bennett, Cch: Charles G Saleh
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: R J Scott, 2: H B Clark, 3: P L Baillieu, 4: R J Batchelor, 5: B McK Birrell, 6: D W Wales, 7: R D Watson, Str: D G Harrison, Cox: R McN Decker, Cch: Walter E " Wally" Ricketts
3rd Wesley College - Bow: K H Grant, 2: R Rosanove, 3: R T Drew, 4: K W E Vear, 5: G L Fudge, 6: I F Hibbins, 7: G W Eastaugh, Str: A S Wood, Cox: C J Hall, Cch: Neil H McNeil

Loser final:
1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: J A McArthur, 2: W J Grose, 3: C A Taylor, 4: R B King, 5: D E Charles, 6: K B Nelson, 7: K J Fulton, Str: R M Wynne, Cox: D G Crozier, Cch: William H Pincott and J E L Barber
2nd Scotch College - Bow: T P Ritchie, 2: Alexander T Dix, 3: Bruce L Burns, 4: Robert I Gillies, 5: John D Davis, 6: Malcolm L Fitzpatrick, 7: Graham E Proce, Str: Robert deC Shaw, Cox: John L Todd, Cch: Arthur L Burns
3rd Xavier College - Bow: C G Dawson, 2: A J Troup, 3: B S Dooley, 4: F A Mullins, 5: G T Awburn, 6: E T Hayes, 7: R D Bishop, Str: J Anthony Lewis, Cox: B K Grutzner, Cch: Albert Anderson

Geelong Grammar crew

Back row: J A McArthur, C A Taylor, D E Charles, R B King, W J Grose
Seated: K J Fulton, R M Wynne, K B Nelson
In front: D G Crozier

Scotch College crew

Back row: D M Jamieson, T P Ritchie, G E Price, B L Burns, J D Davis, J L Todd
Front row: M L Fitzpatrick, R deC Shaw, Mr A L Burns, A T Dix, R I Gillies
Photo: Scotch Collegian August 1944

The Age reported on the finals as follows:

As the crews lined up for the start, a strong head wind was blowing against them. MGS had the favored position on the south side, and actually led by over a length from College, with Wesley, on an erratic course, hopelessly out of it. The race then seemed the keeping of the dark blues, rowing steadily, but with a powerful leg drive and a snappy catch.

Geelong, however, was seen to be gaining on MGS. Gradually the Geelong stroke quickened his rate, and the crew, rowing as one man, wore down the dark blues, whose form under pressure went to pieces. In comparative calm water down the Henley straight, Geelong raced in to a lead of ¾ of a length, and were actually going away easily when no. 4 in the Grammar crew caught a crab. The lads recovered quickly, and although well beaten, raced on. Geelong forged ahead and crossed the line easy winners by 1 ½ lengths in 5min 4sec. Wesley trailed MGS by 1 ¼ length.

Losers final

Margin was six lengths. Xavier led to the bridge, when the cox steered them into a concrete ferry

Heat results:
E1: 1st WC, 2nd SC, Time: 5:20.0, Margin: 3/4 length and rowed on the Upper Yarra
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd XC, Time: 5:11.6, Margin: 3 lengths and rowed on the Upper Yarra
E3: 1st GC, 2nd GGS, Time: 4:20.0, Margin: 3 lengths and rowed on the Barwon

The Argus reported on the heats as follows:

First Heat - Scotch v Wesley

Scotch led temporarily after the start, but at the end of half a mile Wesley had the lead, and passed into the Henley straight the greater part of a length ahead. Hanging on grimly, Scotch had not lost any further ground by the time the Henley staging was reached, and a sprint half-way down the staging reduced Wesley’s lead to half a length. Thence onward, however, Wesley’s stronger rowing told, and Scotch lost by a length. Time: 5min 20sec.

Second Heat - MGS v Xavier

MGS jumped clear at the start, and after a good race to the bridge had Xavier’s measure. The first half mile gave Grammar a two lengths lead, and this was increased to three lengths at the finish. Time 5min 11sec.

Third Heat - Geelong College v Geelong Grammar

At Geelong a large crowd saw Geelong College achieve a good win over Geelong Grammar in bad conditions. A strong westerly blew down the mile course, and the Barwon was rough. College, on the north bank, settled down quickly and had the boat moving freely in the first dozen strokes. Grammar, relying on the long and steady swing, rated at about 34 to College’s 36. At Pakington street College had a half length advantage, and was rowing well within itself. Grammar quickened the stroking rate and gained some ground, but College drew away again and finished strongly to win by three lengths. NTT.

Second Crews

Distance: 0.5 mile
Time: 2:43.0
Margin: 1/3 length

Losers final:
Time: 2:35.0
Margins: 1 length and one canvas

1st Wesley College - Bow: R Whiteside, 2: A Stubbs, 3: G Galt, 4: R Loder, 5: T Harrison, 6: P Bailey, 7: D Elsworth, Str: W Duncan, Cox: P Duncan
2nd Geelong Grammar
3rd Melbourne Grammar

Losers final
1st Scotch College - Bow: D G Holloway, 2: J Cameron, 3: P C Roberts, 4: K Waltori, 5: G Hallam, 6: J Beyer, 7: D F MacLeish, Str: D Walton, Cox: M J Smith
2nd Xavier College - Bow: J McCarthy, 2: J Clayton, 3: R Britten-Jones, 4: D Richardson, 5: P Coleman, 6: R Gorman, 7: D Coughlin, Str: W Hill, Cox: R Moore, Cch: Rev J Smith SJ
3rd Geelong College

Heat results:
E1: 1st MGS, 2nd XC, Time: 2:44.0, Margin: 1 canvas
E2: 1st WC, 2nd SC, Time: 2:42.0, Margin: 1 1/4 length
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd GC, 3rd GGS 3rd crew