1950 Head of the River

1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: E J Baenziger, 2: C H Mylius, 3: W J Cliff, 4: C W Jones, 5: I H Izon, 6: R P Simson, 7: H F Smith, Str: B J Myer, Cox: D K Sholl, Cch: John E L Barber
2nd Scotch College - Bow: Alfred B Wallace, 2: Ronald J Carr, 3: John W A Dartnell, 4: Frederick W Shepherd, 5: John C Duncan, 6: Ian M McEacharn, 7: Denis J Pickwell, Str: John B Allison, Cox: William M Bailey, Cch: Charles G Saleh
3rd Wesley College - Bow: J Morrison, 2: G C Gaylard, 3: J P Hall, 4: J R Daley, 5: R P Quirk, 6: B C D Kermode, 7: N Sutherland, Str: A G Simmons, Cox: M R lee, Cch: Alan W Mitchell

Geelong Gammar won the Head of the River title for the first time in 15 years. The race was reported in The Age as follows: Grammar fell behind the other crews soon after the start, and many experts thought its stamina would not stand the test. Weley went past Scotch stroking at a rate of about 40.

In the run to the mills, Wesley appeared to have the race in hand. Refusing to be unbalanced by the strain, however, Grammar and Scotch lifted their rating slightly and came into the picture.

Rating 40, Scotch drew up to Wesley at three-quarter mile mark. Grammar, in the centre station, maintained a solid 38 and ruggedly pulled abreast. With 20 yards to go, stroke Myer's coolness held Grammar together, and they beat off the last challenge of Scotch and Wesley.

Scotch College first crew

Photo: The Scotch Collegian May 1950

Losers Final
1st Geelong College - Bow: L D Moore, 2: P J Negri, 3: K D McNaughton, 4: F G B McFarlane, 5: C S Baird, 6: B L Cole, 7: A Michael H Aikman, Str: P G Fleming, Cox: John N Button, Cch: Albert B Bell
2nd Xavier College - Bow: J R Anderson, 2: K M Adamson, 3: M J Hickey, 4: A J Healy, 5: I B Maughan, 6: W M Somerville, 7: J E O'Connor, Str: Bart A Borghesi, Cox: Basil J Lynch, Cch: Jack Coghlan
3rd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: C H L Murray, 2: A J Day, 3: R G Birrell, 4: E S Millear, 5: J D Beecham, 6: D H Breedon, 7: K H A Levi, Str: D A Shaw, Cox: Frank C Covill, Cch: Walter N Ricketts

Melbourne Grammar First Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Heat results:
E1: 1st SC, 2nd XC, Time: 5:09.8, Margin: 2 1/2 lengths
E2: 1st WC, 2nd MGS Time: 5:10.4, Margin: 1 3/4 lengths
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd GC, Time: 5:03.8, Margin: 3/4 length

The Argus reported on the heats as follows.

First Heat - Scotch v Xavier

After an even start Scotch settled quickly into an even, powerful swing, and immediately began to edge away from Xavier. It maintained a striking rate of 36, until at the ¼ mile, it had a lead of rather more than a length. This was increased to a length at the half-mile.

After that Xavier never looked like challenging successfully. In the closing stages Scotch broke down the striking rate to 32, but still continued to swing ahead.

Scotch won by 2 ½ lengths in 5min 9.8sec.

Second Heat - Wesley v MGS

Wesley appeared to have the measure of MGS by the time the crews had covered 200 yards. Well before the ¼ mile was reached it had pushed the nose of its boat in front.

As the crews approached the half-mile MGS was striking 36 in a vain attempt to reduce Wesley’s lead, but Wesley, rowing at no more than 34, found no difficulty in staying in front.

Twice before the ¾ mile, Grammar’s stroke made desperate efforts to close the gap, but without result. Unflurried and unhurried, Wesley went on to win with comparative ease.

Wesley won by 1 ¾ lengths in 5min 10.4sec.

Third Heat - Geelong Grammar v Geelong College

This was an even race for most of the first half-mile. Geelong College’s younger crew held its own.

From the half-mile Geelong Grammar’s longer and more powerful swing and steadier recovery told its tale. The crew was able to win a three-quarter of a length lead and hold it against Geelong College’s determined challenges.

Geelong Grammar won by ¾ length in 5min 3.8sec.

1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: D Michaelis, 2: P Teare, 3: J Colville, 4: J Roxburgh, 5: F Bathurst, 6: R Carnegie, 7: R Vasey, Str: D Coultas, Cox: D Goss, Cch: A Marshall
2nd Geelong College - Bow: E Baird, 2: A Dearnley, 3: B Jacobs, 4: J George, 5: A Jones, 6: B Hodgson, 7: J Gibb, Str: James Howden, Cox: B Stewart, Cch: P Everist
3rd Scotch College - Bow: H M F Adams, 2: A E D Gunn, 3: R G M Yorston, 4: H A C Falconer, 5: P Haugen, 6: Warwick O Granowski, 7: J B Hodges, Str: J R Mitchell, Cox: R A Buchanan, Cch: A W L Mitchell (Warwick Granowski replaced W O Roberts a few days before the race due to illness.)

Scotch College 2nd Crew (with W O Roberts in 6 seat)

Photo: The Scotch Collegian May 1950

Losers final:
1st Wesley College
2nd Xavier College - Bow: J Anderson, 2: K Adamson, 3: M Hickey, 4: A Healy, 5: I Maughan, 6: M Somerville, 7: J O'Connor, Str: B Borghesi, Cox: B Lynch, Cch: Brian Doyle
3rd Melbourne Grammar

Melbourne Grammar Second Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Heats:
E1: 1st GC, 2nd XC, Time: 2:34.4, Margin: 2 lengths
E2: 1st GGS, 2nd WC, Time: 2:37.0, Margin: 3/4 length
E3: 1st SC, 2nd MGS, Time: 2:38.4, Margin: 2 lengths

1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: H Hopkins, 2: I Edwards, 3: P Kininmonth, 4: R Larrit, 5: S Johns, 6: J Smeaton, 7: M Inglis, Str: J Lloyd, Cox: E Vine, Cch: R Blomfield
2nd Scotch College - Bow: R C W Ekberg, 2: G N J Anderson, 3: B J Shepherd, 4: A G Schrader, 5: David H Boykett, 6: D M Thyer, 7: J D Scarborough, Str: L D Fisher, Cox: D McLeod, Cch: R I Gillies
3rd Xavier College - Bow: J Regan, 2: J Healy, 3: R O’Bryan, 4: F Vurtain, 5: A Sullivan, 6: K Sullivan, 7: D Grant, Str: W Harrison, Cox: J Hayden, Cch: Clive Bailey

Losers final
1st Wesley College
2nd Geelong College
3rd Melbourne Grammar

Melbourne Grammar Third Crew

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Heats:
E1: 1st XC, 2nd WC, Time: 2:34.5, Margin: 1/3 length
E2: 1st SC, 2nd GC, Time: 2:38.4, Margin: 1 1/4 length
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd MGS, Time: 2:39.4, Margin: 2 lengths