1957 Head of the River
Index to Results:
The ninetieth Head of the River made one last return to the Yarra after the disorderly behaviour of 10 years earlier. The Yarra was still the preferred course of many of the metropolitan schools but the Headmasters preferred the smaller crowds and better behaviour experienced on the Barwon. 60,000 spectators attended the finals and the Headmasters permanently moved the regatta from the Yarra.
The heats were on Thursday 11th April with the finals on the Saturday 13th April.
Geelong College won for the third time in a row, their best result ever. It did not go smoothly at the start of the race with the Geelong crew breaking away from the stakeboat and then the race being restarted after Xavier veered across the Geelong crew's lane.
Officials
APS Committee - Alan W Mitchell WC (Chairman), J H Campbell GC, J E L Barber GGS, W McKean MGS, Laurence H Christie SC, Rev E W Morris SJ, XC
Starters: J P Gaskin and D A Calder
Umpires: Robert R Aitken and L Storrer
Timekeepers: Jack L Mounsey and H P Splatt
Judges: N G Rose and R W Thursfield
Launch Drivers: W Green and J Hoppe
Time: 4:47.2
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths and 2 lengths
Losers final
Time: 4:50.6
Margins: 1.5 lengths and 1 length
1st Geelong College - Bow: B N J Wood, 2: David B Ramage, 3: P H Troy, 4: H R Dickinson, 5: D McL John, 6: David M Caithness, 7: Duncan McDonell, Str: David R Messenger, Cox: A T John, Cch: Albert B Bell
2nd Scotch College - Bow: Anthony M Cordell, 2: Kenneth M Hume, 3: Andrew S Peacock, 4: Robert F Kent, 5: Anthony S Olsson, 6: Anthony A Staley, 7: Arthur O Cromie, Str: Neil C W Courtney, Cox: Francis P Newman, Cch: Laurence H Christie
3rd Xavier College - Bow: I L Cantwell, 2: W F Carew, 3: John B Galbraith, 4: Michael F McKenna, 5: Mal D McKenzie, 6: R J Leahy, 7: R J Petroff, Str: John F Ryan, Cox: A J McCabe-Doyle, Cch: Charles G Saleh
The finish as published in the Geelong Advertiser on Monday 15th April 1957
Geelong College is on the left, Scotch on the right and the white shirts of Xavier just visible near the bank
Scotch College First Crew
Photo: The Scotch Collegian June 1957
Losers final:
1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: A R Millear, 2: G I Taylor, 3: F J Grant, 4: P C Van de Velde, 5: P W Dodwell, 6: I A Taylor, 7: C S McArthur, Str: W R Watson, Cox: John Cockbill, Cch: Gordon Sargood
2nd Wesley College - Bow: Peter H McKeon, 2: R G Selleck, 3: A T Merrylees, 4: D J Price, 5: K J Macleay, 6: Paul M Guest, 7: J W Cook, Str: D G Selleck, Cox: R E Austin, Cch: Alan W Mitchell
3rd Geelong Grammar - Bow:
W I P Gatenby, 2: I B Carnegie, 3: I E Saxton, 4: W C C Guest, 5: P H Heysen, 6: A H Turnbull, 7: I W Smith, Str: G H Burston, Cox: N P W Allen, Cch: John E L Barber
Heat results:
E1: 1st GC, 2nd MGS, Time: 4:36.0, Margin: 1/2 length
E2: 1st SC, 2nd WC, Time: 4:37.0, Margin: 1/2 length
E3: 1st XC, 2nd GGS, Time: 4:32.0, Margin: 1/3 length
Time: 3:38
Margins: 1 1/4 length and a canvas
Losers final
Time:
3:42
1st Melbourne Grammar
2nd Geelong College
3rd Scotch College - Bow: R I W MacLeod, 2: F I McPherson, 3: H G Merry, 4: J W Munckton, 5: J S Collingwood, 6: D K Hyslop, 7: J T Bellair, Str: P J Keast, Cox: C T K Stuart, Cch: M R Wood
Scotch College Second Crew
Photo: The Scotch Collegian June 1957
Losers final:
1st Xavier College - Bow: P Griffin, 2: B O'Loughlin, 3: R Dobson, 4: P Kelly, 5: P Niall, 6: S Resch, 7: H Madden, Str: J McEncroe, Cox: P Cole, Cch: Fr M O'Mahoney SJ
2nd Geelong Grammar
3rd Wesley College
Heats:
E1: 1st MGS, 2nd XC, Time: 3:36, Margin: 1/2 length
E2: 1st SC, 2nd GGS, Time: 3:39.6, Margin: 3/4 length
E3: 1st GC, 2nd WC, Time: 3:39.4, Margin: 1 1/2 length
Time: 2:38.8
Margin: Canvas
Losers final
Time: 2:37.4
Margin: 0.33 length
1st Melbourne Grammar
2nd Xavier College
3rd Geelong College
Losers final
1st Scotch College - Bow: H G Orr, 2: J G McEwan, 3: M W Fleming, 4: T Christen, 5: D B Sharp, 6: C A Buchanan, 7: J L Barker, Str: R I Morse, Cox: C W Blackwood, Cch: Ian E Douglas
2nd Geelong Grammar
3rd Wesley
College
Scotch College Third Crew
Photo: The Scotch Collegian June 1957
Heats:
E1: 1st MGS, 2nd WC, Time: 2:25, Margin: 1/2 length
E2: 1st XC, 2nd SC, Time: 2:42.2, Margin: Canvas
E3: 1st GC, 2nd GGS, Time: 2:27, Margin: 3 feet
Sources
- 1957 Program
- Scotch Collegian Magazines
- Geelong Grammar Year Books
- Lift her Home to Victory Lads - a Centenary History of Xavier Rowing by Michael Lefebvre