1928 Ballarat Head of the Lake
Saturday, 5/5/1928
“DOUBLE HONORS WON.”
Ballarat College, which had not won since 1920, scored a double win today, getting the Head of the lake and the Second fours. Herald, 5/5/1928.
There was a large and enthusiastic gathering for the Head of the Lake this year, and as in previous years hundreds of decorated cars crowded with spectators followed the races along Wendouree Parade. The racing was close and exciting with Ballarat College taking out the Head of the Lake for the first time since 1920. This was only their second win since the race began in 1913. The Second four also won in a close race winning from Grammar by half a length. The Grammar School won the Old Collegians race from Ballarat College with St.Patrick’s not fielding a crew.
The stroke of the Ballarat College crew, Huon Greenfield, was presented with the Must Cup by the Mayor Cr. A. McKenzie. His brother Alec was bow in the crew. Their father Angus Greenfield had rowed in the winning Geelong Grammar crew in Head of the River, in 1893. The Geelong Grammar crew had also contained two brothers from Ballarat, the Bailey brothers, W Bailey and C E Bailey, thus making it almost completely a Ballarat crew to win a Head of the River!
Organising Committee and Officials
Organising Committee: Ballarat Public Schools' Association
- Sunraysia Daily 7/5/1928
- Melbourne Herald, 5/5/1928
- Age, 7/5/1928, page 13
- Sporting Globe 12/5/1928 page 5 (Angus Greenfield)
- History of Ballarat College 1864-1964, W. Gordon Mein (Angus, Alec and Huon Greenfield)
- Australian Rowing History website-Head of the River, Victoria
Principal researcher: Kate Ellliott
Head of the Lake
Mile Course - Lake Wendouree
Time: 6 minutes, 14 seconds
Margins: 3/4 length and 1/2 length
1st Ballarat College - Bow: A Greenfield, 2: A Gunn, 3: H G Bradbury, Str: H Greenfield, Cox: R G Dowling, Coach: Mr W Clift
2nd St.Patrick’s College - Bow: R Porter, 2: F Cody, 3: P Kelly, Str: C MacPherson, Cox: T Mahoney, Coach: Mr W D Dawson
3rd Grammar School - Bow: J A H Smith, 2: S Clarke, 3: R W Mitchell, Str: J C Gray, Cox: F Suffren, Coach: Mr J B Suffren
St.Patrick’s College and Ballarat College had the best of the start and went to the front fairly well together and rowing steadily. Towards View Point, St.Patrick’s had a slight advantage, but Ballarat College, rowing strongly, overhauled them and in a dashing finish won by ¾ of a length. Grammar were half a length back in third.
Second Fours
Time: Not known
Margin: Half length
1st Ballarat College - Bow: R Strickland, 2: G Shaw, 3: G A Eva, Str: G P Jefree, Cox: J Bennett
2nd Grammar School - Bow: H Groves, 2: R Schmidt, 3: D Gibson, Str: W Lewers, Cox: J Howe
3rd St.Patrick’s College - Bow: P Hayes, 2: C Molloy, 3: M White, Str: L Premier, Cox: J Moor