1949 Head of the River

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: Roger G Day, 2: M R Keeley, 3: F H Osborn, 4: David Olliff, 5: W J Craig, 6: Anthony J Smith, 7: J M Withers, Str: H D F Ward, Cox: J B Mitchell, Cch: Walter N Ricketts
2nd Xavier College - Bow: R M Williams, 2: W A Comerford, 3: R N Joshua, 4: M J Corridon, 5: P F Moloughney, 6: B A Borghesi, 7: Gerard J O'Keefe, Str: Brian J Doyle, Cox: B J Lynch, Cch: Jack Mulcahy
3rd Geelong Grammar - Bow: A A Blythe, 2: C H Mylius, 3: A S N Ashkanasy, 4: R Y Gardiner, 5: W J Cliff, 6: G M Tallis, 7: John S Rowe, Str: J S Jose, Cox: D K Sholl, Cch: John E L Barber

The crews were drawn with XC on the north, MGS centre and GGS on the south. XC got the best of the start but MGS soon settled and led the race. They were never troubled and the race for second place became more interesting. In the end XC just managed to pip GGS to finish second.

The Argus reported on te final as follows.

Crews in the Head of the River final on the Barwon on Saturday had no covered more than 100 yards after an even start before MGS’s boat edged slightly to the front.

From that point MGS’s superiority steadily asserted itself. The crew rowing very strongly, but was not being bustled.

At the ¼ mile MGS had a lead of three-quarters of a length, and at the half mile were a clear length. Then the MGS stroke called for a greater effort, and the crew went right away to win by 3 lengths.

Xavier and Geelong Grammar fought each other over the whole of the course. There was never more than a third of a length between them, and the lead see-sawed. Xavier’s splendid effort gave it second place by a canvas.

1949 Melbourne Grammar School crew

Back row (from left): M.R. Keeley, D. Olliff, W.N. Ricketts Esq., F.H. Osborn and R.D. Day. Seated: A.J. Smith, H.D.F. Ward, J.B. Mitchell (cox), J.M. Withers and W.J. Craig
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers Final
1st Scotch College - Bow: Albert B Wallace, 2: James F Kent, 3: Denis J Pickwell, 4: Warwick O Granowski, 5: John C Duncan, 6: Frederick W Shepherd, 7: Malcolm D G Murray, Str: Richard J D Oliver, Cox: William M Bailey, Cch: Charles G Saleh
2nd Wesley College - Bow: J C Spencer, 2: C G Gaylard, 3: A R Bartram, 4: I F H Ross, 5: N Sutherland, 6: D W Woodford, 7: G T Castles, Str: M F A Robertson, Cox: M R Lee, Cch: Alan W Mitchell
3rd Geelong College - Bow: W C Anderson, 2: N L Sykes, 3: I R D Campbell, 4: T G Lawler, 5: A F McIllwain, 6: D B Lawler, 7: D J Morris, Str: I R Mackay, Cox: H M Lilburne, Cch: Albert B Bell

Scotch College First Crew

Heat results
E1: 1st XC, 2nd GC, Time: 4:56, Margin: 3/4 length
E2: 1st MGS, 2nd SC, Time: 4:47.8, Margin: 2 lengths
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd WC, Time: 4:54.0, Margin: 0.6 length

The Age reported on the heats as follows.

First Heat

Xavier and Geelong College got away to an even start and both crews swung steadily over the first ¾ of a mile with little between them. Approaching the mill, however, Xavier, rowing very evenly, with power and perfect timing, gradually pulled away to win by ¾ of a length in 4min 46sec.

Second Heat

MGS, the heaviest crew in the field, took the lead from Scotch early. Striking a slower rate than Scotch, Grammar was half a length in front at the end of a ¼ mile, and increased the lead to a length at the half mile. Here Scotch made a determined challenge, but without success.

Still rowing with perfect style, Grammar drew away to cross the line two lengths ahead in 4min 47sec, lowering the record of 4min 55.4sec established for this course by Geelong College in 1946.

Third Heat

Geelong Grammar, against Wesley, got away to a good start and established an early lead, which it increased to half a length at the half-mile. Despite a determined effort by Wesley near the finishing post, Geelong was never seriously challenged and won by ¾ of a length in 4min 54sec.

1st Wesley College - Bow: D Stone, 2: J H Rowe, 3: J R Daley, 4: W T Green, 5: J C Morrison, 6: T W Nest, 7: B C D Kermode, Str: A G Simmons, Cox: K A Guyot, Cch: R Boynton
2nd Geelong Grammar - Bow: R A L Nance, 2: A J Brown, 3: F H Bathurst, 4: G N Kennison, 5: R A Vasey, 6: C W Jones, 7: I H Anderson, Str: C R Dugdale, Cox: D C Cross, Cch: A S Marshall
3rd Scotch College - Bow: I M Ogilvy, 2: I H Munro, 3: J B Hodges, 4: I M McEacharn, 5: R J Carr, 6: B J Shaw, 7: George P MacKenzie, Str: J R Mitchell, Cox: R C Stuart, Cch: A W L Mitchell

The first half of the race was very even with WC having only a slight advantage. WC then opened up the lead gradually and won comfortably.

Scotch College Second crew

Losers final
1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: F H Bilson, 2: K E Tibb, 3: J S B Langdon, 4: E S Millear, 5: D H Breedon, 6: P L Wilson, 7: J D Scales, Str: P F G Clements, Cox: Frank C Covill, W McKean
2nd Geelong College - Bow: E C Baird, 2: P F Richardson, 3: C S Baird, 4: A L Heggie, 5: P J Negri, 6: R H Cheetham, 7: A Michael H Aikman, Str: G A Hope, Cox: G D Best, Cch: P Neil Everist
3rd Xavier College - Bow: Hubert R Frederico, 2: D F Connor, 3: M J Prendergast, 4: A J Healy, 5: K M Adamson, 6: T M Ryan, 7: I B Maughan, Str: C K Rabl, Cox: J R Petty, Cch: Jack Coghlan

Melbourne Grammar Second Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Heats
E1: 1st SC, 2nd GC. Time: 2:40.0, Margin: 1/3 length
E2: 1st GGS, 2nd MGS. Time: 2:36.4, Margin 3/4 length
E3: 1st WC, 2nd XC. Time: 2:34.2, Margin: 1 1/4 lengths

1st Wesley College - Bow: R M Valentine, 2: R G Evans, 3: K R Lacey, 4: R D F Thomson, 5: J P Hall, 6: M R Bottomley, 7: J M Partridge, Str: W H Williamson, Cox: L Worth, Cch: I S Parkin
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: C H L Murray, 2: P W Blesson, 3: G P Jenson-Muir, 4: R P S Hayman, 5: W B Capp, 6: J G Willis, 7: K H A Levi, Str: D A Shaw, Cox: D H Greig, Cch: A F Hargrave
3rd Geelong Grammar - Bow: D G Michaelis, 2: P J Gordon, 3: H F Smith, 4: D B Coultas, 5: E J Baeniziger, 6: B J Myer, 7: M J Cook, Str: J G K Nevett, Cox: V E Vine, Cch: R M Bloomfield

Melbourne Grammar Third Crew

Photo courtesy of Mebourne Grammar Archives

Losers final
1st Scotch College - Bow: A E D Gunn, 2: E P Leggett, 3: G M Purdy, 4: H A C Falconer, 5: J W Dartnell, 6: J B Allison, 7: J K Hopkins, Str: J P Madsen, cox: R A Buchanan, Cch: R I Gillies
2nd Geelong College - Bow: J G Gibb, 2: B Jacobs, 3: D Duncan, 4: F G McFarland, 5: P G Fleming, 6: W V Thomson, 7: J H Bowman, Str: K Eastwood, Cox: J N Button, Cch: H Shaw
3rd Xavier College - Bow: L G Souza, 2: J F Doherty, 3: M D Lewis, 4: J D Anderson, 5: D L Elms, 6: J E O'Connor, 7: T J Byrne, Str: D J Burne, Cox: SL Schwarz, Cch: G Elias

Heats
E1: 1st MGS, 2nd GC, Time: 2:37.5, Margin: 1/3 length
E2: 1st GGS, 2nd XC, Time: 2:36.5, Margin: 2 lengths
E3: 1st WC, 2nd SC. Time: 2:36.5, Margin: 3/4 length