1946 Head of the River

1st Scotch College - Bow: Neil F Daniel, 2: Barrie White, 3: John D Moir, 4: A Don Jackson, 5: Othesia Xeros, 6: John S Galbraith, 7: C Peter Roberts, Str: William G Phillip Cox: Malcolm D G Murray, Cch: Charles G Saleh
2nd Geelong College - Bow: J A Hooper, 2: T R Sutterby, 3: R C Morris, 4: Donald R T Macmillan, 5: H J Spalding, 6: K J Morton, 7: R M Wagstaff, Str: N L Barrett, Cox: D R Salmon, Cch: Albert B Bell
3rd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: K R Lowenstern, 2: C R Machin, 3: W Q C Cain, 4: D O Bowden, 5: M A Watt, 6: R B Gutteridge, 7: H I Prince, Str: P M Johansen, Cox: Gordon Sargood, Cch: Walter E "Wally" Ricketts

Melbourne Grammar First Crew

Back row (from left): C.R. Machin (2), D.O. Bowden (4), W.N. Ricketts Esq., W.Q.C. Cain (3) and K.R. Lowenstern (bow). Front row: R.B. Gutteridge (6), P.M. Johansen (stroke), G. Sargood (cox), H.I. Prince (7) and M.A. Watt (5)
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

The Age reported on the final as follows:

When Mr. H. Green, the starter, sent the three chosen crews, Geelong Grammar (north station), Melbourne Grammar (centre), and Scotch College (south), the favourites, off to a good start, the wing and swift stream were in their favor. Scotch raced off with the style of veterans, at the high rate of 40, to immediately snatch a lead from MGS and Geelong College, which had been outgeneraled by the dashing Scotch eight, and were not as “lively” as usual.

Quickly into their length and stroked superbly by W. G. Phillip, Scotch boys led to the bridge by half a length from Grammar, with the Geelong a half length further back. The Scotch cox on the intriguing south side, steered to save his crew all the distance possible, and did a clever job.

At that stage the Geelong blade work was faulty, and later led to disaster. Gathering themselves together, the Geelong boys unwound a magnificent burst, Barrett quickened for a heartening response form his crew and it was wonderful to see the frail racing craft pass MGS and actually head Scotch just before approaching the big bend.

It was an amazing special sprint, but in that turn for the straight Geelong went a shade wide, and it was there that blade work was bad and an oarsman crabbed. Scotch then rowed on to a half-length lead, and appeared a certainty for the race, while racing well at a comfortable rate.

Suddenly it was seen that Geelong College had staged a marvelous comeback, and the lads in green challenged with grim determination as they swung together with a determined, powerful catch and leg drive.

Halfway up the Henley staging Scotch led only by a canvas, and the race provoked wild excitement. Geelong actually raised its rate of striking and was just about on level terms with Scotch, with MGS a length further back, when Scotch came again and landed the win, to tremendous cheering by three feet, with MGS 1 ½ lengths away in third. Time: 4 min 47.4 sec.

Losers final:
1st Wesley College - Bow: D R Kennedy, 2: W B Crothers, 3: H L Williams, 4: D O Oldfield, 5: E C Wood, 6: J D Kidd, 7: R P E Whiteside, Str: R B Selleck, Cox: J H Fielden, Cch: Alan W Mitchell
=2nd Geelong Grammar - Bow: P J Kennison, 2: J S Goodwin, 3: G T Kryger, 4: O McK Coltman, 5: P G F Henderson, 6: S M McNaughton, 7: F M Davison, Str: R S de Fegely, Cox: C V T Bowen, Cch: John E L Barber
=2nd Xavier College - Bow: Brian J Doyle, 2: B G Fitzpatrick, 3: P F Bladin, 4: M F Kirsch, 5: T J Bushell, 6: D H Richardson, 7: G T Awburn, Str: Clive F Bailey, Cox: J W Sexton, Cch: Albert Anderson

Heat results:
E1: 1st SC, 2nd XC, Time 4:41.8 (course record), Margin: 3 1/2 lengths
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd WC, Time: 5:02.0, Margin: 2 lengths
E3: 1st GC, 2nd GGS, Time: 4:55.6, Margin: 1 1/2 lengths

The Argus reported on the heats as follows:

First Heat - Scotch v Xavier

Scotch maintained a long steady stroke of not more than 36 to the minute right to the end of the race, and, rowing with precision, gave Xavier no chance to settle down. With only 100 yards covered, Scotch led by one-third of a length, and at the turn were two lengths clear.

A desperate effort by Xavier about 200 yards from the finish only shortened the stroke and encouraged splashing. Scotch went on to win by 3 and a half lengths in 4min 41.8 sec.

Second Heat - MGS v Wesley

In the second heat MGS and Wesley staged one of the most exciting races for years. Wesley raced into the straight a length and a half ahead of the Grammar boys, who, however, were unperturbed, and made no attempt to shorten their stroke. This was in marked contrast to teams in the junior eights

About 400 yards from home the two crews were racing neck and neck. Grammar, then Wesley drawing slightly to the lead. With a final effort, Grammar won on the last stroke by only 3ft. Time: 5 min 2 sec.

Third Heat - Geelong Grammar v Geelong College

Rowing easily at the finish, Geelong College defeated Geelong Grammar by 1 ½ lengths. The time of 4min 55.6 sec was the fastest recorded by College on the course. Geelong Grammar moved away to a cleaner start, striking at 40 and gaining a slight advantage over College. Then College, rowing with more vigor, assumed the lead, which was never lost.

At Pakington Street, College was 1 ¼ lengths clear and was lengthening the stroke. Grammar challenged strongly and reduced the lead, but it was a dying effort which failed to make any appreciable effect on College.

1st Scotch College
2nd Geelong Grammar
3rd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: G B O'Byrne, 2: H D F Ward, 3: M Debenham, 4: K N Russell, 5: R B D Rigg, 6: R A S Riley, 7: D J P Langdon, Str: J P Strachan, Cox: D G Begg

Melbourne Grammar Second Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers final
1st Wesley College - Bow: L W Knight, 2: R J Taylor, 3: J S Woodhouse, 4: S F Muir-Smith, 5: D C Macglashan, 6: E J Wagstaff, 7: K Govett, Str: G A Carbines, Cox: Robert B Duncan
2nd Geelong College
3rd Xavier College - Bow: J Booth, 2: A Horgan, 3: A Lewis, 4: P McNamara, 5: K Owen, 6: D Fogarty, 7: K Silk, Str: S Byrne, Cox: J McCooey, Cch: Jack Coghlan

Heats
E1: 1st SC, 2nd WC, Time: 2:18.4, Margins: 2 1/2 lengths
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd XC Time: 2:25.4, Margin: 1 length
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd GC

Wesley College Second Crew

Photo courtesy of Bob Duncan

1st Wesley College
2nd Scotch College
3rd Geelong Grammar

Losers final
1st Geelong College
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: D R Anderson, 2: W H Tickner, 3: R G Day, 4: J S Monks, 5: P Kibby, 6: P F Kaye, 7: B P Selleck, Str: S B Bodinnar, Cox: H B Bold
3rd Xavier College

Melbourne Grammar Third Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Heats
E1: 1st GGS, 2nd GC
E2: 1st SC, 2nd MGS
E3: 1st WC, 2nd XC

Melbourne Crews
1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: F S Seward, 2: G L Hardy, 3: P L Thompson, 4: B D Crellin, 5: D C Debenham, 6: J B Stuckey, 7: D C Rollason, Str: B E Turner, Cox: B A Morgan
2nd Scotch College
3rd Xavier College

Melbourne Grammar Fourth Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Geelong crews
1st Geelong Grammar
2nd Geelong College

1st Scotch College
2nd Wesley College
3rd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: D Weir, 2: A Holloway, 3: D G B Bodycomb, 4: B D Crellin, 5: R J Holdaway, 6: J H Brett, 7: H W Bannister, Str: R Weir, Cox: D N Sargood

Melbourne Grammar Fifth Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives