1948 Head of the River

1st Xavier College - Bow: John D Booth, 2: Ian S Rainford, 3: James A Gobbo, 4: Norman M O'Bryan, 5: Lee J Crameri, 6: Gerard A Santospirito, 7: Gerard J O'Keeffe, Str: Brian J Doyle, Cox: Phillip R Plunckett, Cch: Jack Mulcahy
2nd Mebourne Grammar - Bow: J T C Hewison, 2: Roger D Day, 3: R B Lulofs, 4: Anthony J Smith, 5: D C Debenham, 6: E A D Jowlett, 7: J M Withers, Str: H D F Ward, Cox: B A Morgan, Cch: Walter N Ricketts
3rd Geelong College - Bow: I D Ramsay, 2: J B Burgess, 3: D J Morris, 4: J E Varley, 5: R W Purnell, 6: D B Lawler, 7: S W G Johnson, Str: R J Jeffreys, Cox; H M Lilburne, Cch: Albert B Bell

The Argus reported on the final as follows:

In splendid conditions, with a light southerly just rippling the water, the three crews – MGS (north bank), Geelong College (centre), and Xavier (south) – dashed away to a perfectly even start and raced for the first 200 yards with bows level.

Then MGS, rowing with fine length and great vigor, forged ahead slightly, with Xavier and Geelong College still together. As they neared the half-mile MGS still had about a ¼ length advantage over Xavier, and Geelong College had dropped back slightly.

As they passed the half-mile the Xavier boat suddenly rolled to bow side, three of the blades on stroke side all but missed the water, and for two or three strokes the crew floundered.

It was a fatal situation that could have been fatal to Xavier’s chances, for MGS quickened and puled out to a lead of one-third of a length. Then Brian Doyle, Xavier stroke, with the coolness of a veteran, rallied his crew, and gave them a chance to settle down, then called for a dozen. The response was wonderful.

To the ¾ mile it was a stern chase after MGS. Geelong College was beaten off. Little by little Xavier crept up until with only 100 yards the boats were level. MGS sprinted, and Xavier responded by raising its striking rate, and hit the front. Another desperate challenge by MGS – its last – was fought off, and amid the roar of 15,000 spectators, Xavier went on to win by ¾ of a length from MGS, with Geelong College half a length farther back. Time was 5min 6sec.

The finish of the Head of the River

Photo XC boatshed

Xavier Crew

Photo XC boatshed

Melbourne Grammar First Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers Final
1st Scotch College - Bow: George A Freeman, 2: James F Kent, 3: James H Ramsay, 4: Ian H Munro, 5: John T De Ravin, 6: Peter L Barrett, 7: Graeme R McLeish, Str: John S Edwards, Cox: William M Bailey, Cchs: Charles G Saleh and James M Ferguson
2nd Wesley College - Bow: C J Hunt, 2: A R Bartram, 3: B C Jones, 4: B Tutton, 5: A J Thompson, 6: M F A Robertson, 7: J C Mcglashan, Str: S F Muir-Smith, Cox: J H Fielden, Cch: Alan W Mitchell
3rd Geelong Grammar - Bow: D A Morwood, 2: D S Thewlis, 3: John S Rowe, 4: J S Jose, 5: G R Reeves, 6: Garth O V Manton, 7: G Brian Dawes, Str: G E Carroll, Cox: P B Wright, Cch: John E L Barber

Heat results:
E1: 1st XC, 2nd WC, Margin: 1/4 length, Time: 5:01.2
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd GGS, Margin: 1/2 length, Time: 5:02.2
The two heaviest crews – Melbourne Grammar and Geelong Grammar – met in a thrilling second heat. The Dark Blues established an early lead, and rowed with telling smoothness and power. They were never head, and although repeatedly challenged by Geelong Grammar, unleashed a typical “Ricketts” sprint over the last 200 yards, and won by a third of a length.
E3: 1st GC, 2nd SC - SC withdrew during the race after equipment failure.
Racing with plenty of dash and holding a slight lead 25 seconds after the start of the third heat of the Head of the River contest on the Barwon yesterday, Scotch College, the favorites, ceased rowing when No. 4 lost his seat. Geelong College had no opposition, and paddled home for a solo victory.

Geelong Grammar Crew

Back row: D A Morwood, J S Jose, G R Reeve, John S Rowe, D S Thewlis
Front row: C Brian Dawes, G E Carroll, Garth O V Manton
In front: P B Wright
Photo GGS boatshed

1st Scotch College - Bow: M D G Murray, 2: J B Hodges, 3: D W Hobbs, 4: Warwick O Granowski, 5: M B Menelaus, 6: F W Shepherd, 7: G H Fewster, Str: A J Mitchell, Cox: R C Stuart, Cch: J M Ferguson
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: F A Billson, 2: A T Rose, 3: D Weir, 4: J D Scales, 5: F H Osborn, 6: B S Dyson, 7: R A Grieve, Str: K C Griffith, Cox: D N Sargood, Cch: W McKean
3rd Geelong Grammar - Bow: D W Smith, 2: P C Phillips, 3: D J Wordsworth, 4: A J Brown, 5: R A Walker, 6: J A D Piper, 7: A A Blythe, Str: R J Stalker, Cox: C L Carr, Cch: A S Marshall

Melbourne Grammar Second Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers final:
1st Wesley College - Bow: J L Blyth, 2: J R M Bottomer, 3: I R W Johnston, 4: W R Fox, 5: J D Bailey, 6: G Heath, 7: T L Read, Str: D W Woodford, cox: R Beaconsfield, Cch: R Boynton
2nd Geelong College - Bow: W J Waugh, 2: W G Mackay, 3: K F Bell, 4: I R Mackay, 5: A F McIlwain, 6: J R Sweetnam, 7: J M Neale, Str: N L Sykes, Cox: G D Best, Cch: B Kelly
3rd Xavier College - Bow: P D Banfield, 2: J F McCooey, 3: G R Chapman, 4: G L Rush, 5: P F Moloughney, 6: E J Darcy, 7: F X Murphy, Str: R M Williams, Cox: P J Gleeson, cch: Jack J Coghlan

Heats:
E1: 1st SC, 2nd WC, Margin: 1/2 length, Time: 2:42.0
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd GC, Margin 3 feet, Time: 2: 43.0
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd XC, Margin: 2 lengths, Time: 2:42.0

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: G W Rothwell, 2: R S Johnson, 3: J S B Langdon, 4: D Olliff, 5: W J Craig, 6: B C Z Woinarski, 7: R B D Rigg, Str: D Wallace-Mitchell, Cox: G J McIntosh, Cch: A F Hargrave
2nd Wesley College - Bow: B K Wilson, 2: W H Williamson, 3: J C Spencer, 4: P F DeHais, 5: G T Castle, 6: I F H Ross, 7: J I Fielding, Str: R H Bitcon, Cox: C G Durrell, Cch: I S Parkin
3rd Geelong Grammar - Bow: P J McConaghy, 2: R Y Gardiner, 3: P H D Sleigh, 4: C H Mylius, 5: A S N Ashkanasy, 6: N A Beischer, 7: F D S Gilder, Str: G N Kennison, Cox: H Elford, Cch: Rev S E Jones

Melbourne Grammar Third Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers final
1st Geelong College - Bow: E C Baird, 2: W A Shaw, 3: J W John, 4: R H Cheetham, 5: I R D Campbell, 6: D L Karmouche, 7: D M New, Str: T G Lawler, cox: J N Button, Cch: P Neil Everist
2nd Scotch College - Bow: Bow: I M Ogilvy, 2: R J D Oliver, 3: I H Cochrane, 4: R Carr, 5: G T Dunwoody, 6: P N Welch, 7: David B Bills, Str: J R Mitchell, Cox: G R Penington, Cch: R I Gillies
3rd Xavier College - Bow: Hubert R Frederico, 2: J P Lachal, 3: J D Chisholm, 4: R M Joshua, 5: G J Troup, 6: M L Niall, 7: A K Joyce, Str: C K Rabl, Cox: B J Lynch, Cch: G Elias

Heats:
E1: 1st GGS, 2nd SC, Margin: 1/2 length
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd XC, Margin: 1 3/4 length
E3: 1st WC, 2nd GC, Margin 1/3 length