1954 Head of the River

1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: Ian C Kininmonth, 2: Andrew F Chirnside, 3: David R Clutter, 4: John B Sutherland, 5: Peter W Coy, 6: G F Collison, 7: Robin B Ritchie, Str: Ian G Urquhart, Cox: John F Mann, Cch: Roger M Blomfield
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: C W Grant, 2: B S Paul, 3: W R Riche, 4: H Wallace-Mitchell, 5: J B Ward, 6: J N Bryson, 7: J W Michie, Str: J C Grimwade, Cox: G E Hazard, Cch: Roger G Day
3rd Xavier College - Bow: M J Eather, 2: J A Feely, 3: D B Jones, 4: P J Sullivan, 5: H D Curnow, 6: H W Clark, 7: P R Dowling, Str: Leo R Hart, Cox: G D Reilly, Cchs: Jack J Mulcahy & Fr M J O'Mahony SJ

The Age report on the final follows.

“20,000 people watch finish”

Geelong Grammar, the heaviest crew in the race, rowed with great power for a schoolboy eight, and showed more strength than its opponents over the closing stages.

Xavier left its shed for the start late because of a fault in the rudder, but the race was started almost on time.

Xavier was quickest to settle down and stroking cleanly, led slightly from Geelong Grammar, with MGS close at hand.

After 200 yards, Xavier and Geelong were on level terms. Xavier, driving hard, again went to the front with a ¼ of the course covered, but only a few feet separated the three crews.

Geelong Grammar was half a canvas ahead of Xavier after the first half mile, which was rowed in 2min 20sec. With a third of a mile to go, MGS, which had challenged the other two crews all the way, dropped back a little and it was obvious that the Light Blues and Xavier would fight out the finish.

Geelong Grammar increased its lead with hard driving and a slightly faster rating, but Xavier fought back strongly. Xavier’s crew fought vigorously over the closing stages but could not make any impression on the more powerful Geelong eight.

Melbourne Grammar First Crew

Standing: B.S. Paul (2), H. Wallace-Mitchell (4), R.G. Day, Esq. (Coach), W.R. Riches (3), C.W. Grant (Bow). Seated: J.N.B. Bryson (6), J.C. Grimwade (Stroke), G.E. Hazard (Cox), J.W. Michie (7), J.B. Ward (5)
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers Final
1st Geelong College - Bow: G G Wills, 2: W W Lawler, 3: J O Saxton, 4: W A W Wood, 5: G J Davidson, 6: I W Macmillan, 7:B S Kinder, Str: A W McDonald, Cox: Roger L Moore, Cch: Albert B Bell
2nd Wesley College - Bow: M J Lee, 2: B R G McKeown, 3: I P Rockman, 4: D Ian Allen, 5: T H Jackett, 6: Peter J Guest, 7: M H J Higgs, Str: J W Frederick, Cox: L Castles, Cch: Alan W Mitchell
3rd Scotch College - Bow: David M Bruce, 2: Nigel E C Cooper, 3: Robert J O'Neill, 4: Alfred J McKelvie, 5: Michael J Edgar, 6: David H Munro, 7: Alasdair M W Courtney, Str: James D Moran, Cox: Graeme D Lawrence, Cch: Laurence H Christie

Finish of the Losers Final

Photo courtesy of Ian Allen

1954 Wesley College 1st Crew

Photo: Ian Allen

Scotch College

Photo: The Scotch Collegian June 1954

Heat results:
1st XC, 2nd GC, Time: 4:48.0, Margin: 1 length
1st MGS, 2nd SC, Time: 4:53.0, Margin: 1/2 length
1st GGS, 2nd WC, Time: 4:44.5, Margin: 1/2 length

The Argus reported as follows on the heats.

First Heat - Xavier v Geelong College

The only surprise [of the day] was Xavier’s one-length, all-the-way, lead from the quarter mile to win over Geelong College in 4min 48sec.

Second Heat - MGS v Scotch

MGS was hard pressed to win by half a length from Scotch which also raced above its training form and finished only half a length behind the Dark Blues. Time for this heat was 4min 53sec.

Third Heat - Geelong Grammar v Wesley

It was anticipated that the meeting of Geelong Grammar and Wesley would provide the “heat of the day”, and so it proved. Though Geelong Grammar had a stern chase from the start to within 300 yards of the finish, its splendidly powerful rowing in an exceptionally long sprint cut down Wesley’s lead at every stroke.

As the two boats neared the line, Geelong Grammar was travelling two yards to every one by Wesley.
Geelong Grammar’s time, 4min 44.5sec, was 7.5sec slower than the course record, made by this school’s crew when it defeated MGS last year. Grammar won by ½ a length.

Geelong Grammar on the far side edging out Wesley College in the heat

Photo: Ian Allen

1st Geelong College
2nd Geelong Grammar
3rd Xavier College - Bow: R Flynn, 2: M McEniry, 3: N Regan, 4: P Darling, 5: W Greville, 6: B Mahoney, 7: W Galbraith, Str: M Henderson, Cox: J Andre, Cch: G Elias

Losers final:
1st Melbourne Grammar
2nd Scotch College - Bow: A Kirsner, 2: A R Fraser, 3: D J MacDonald, 4: D L Bardas, 5: D K Sennitt, 6: Graeme A McCall, 7: W D Leslie, Str: G T Tilley, Cox: K S Kasper, Cch: M R Wood
3rd Wesley College

Heats
E1: 1st XC, 2nd WC, Time: 2:30, Margin: a canvas
E2: 1st GGS, 2nd MGS, Time: 2:27.6, Margin: 3/4 length
E3: 1st GC, 2nd SC, Time: 2:27, Margin: 1/2 length

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: B Vance, 2: C Hunt, 3: T J Parker, 4: H Henderson, 5: G Johnson, 6: A Johnson, 7: D B Brown, Str: R Laycock ; Seated: Cox: P Manger, Cch Anthony J Smith
2nd Geelong Grammar
3rd Wesley College

MGS Third Crew

L to R: Coach Anthony J Smith, Bow: B Vance, 2: C Hunt, 3: T J Parker, 4: H Henderson, 5: G Johnson, 6: A Johnson, 7: D B Brown, Str: R Laycock, Seated: Cox: P Manger
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Third Crew Final

Photo courtesy of Melbourne Grammar Archives

Losers final
= 1st Xavier College
= 1st Geelong College
3rd Scotch College - Bow: Robert E Lee, 2: G A Hall, 3: W S Tingate, 4: M H Munro, 5: J G P Ham, 6: Ian R A Law, 7: W V Waddell, Str: P G Russell, Cox: R B Beveridge, Cch: D F McLeish

Heats:
E1: 1st MGS, 2nd GC, Time: 2:30, Margin a canvas
E2: 1st WC, 2nd SC, Time: 2:33.5, Margin: a canvas
E3: 1st GGS, 2nd SC, Time: 2:31.r, Margin: 1/2 length