1937 Ballarat Head of the Lake
This race was conducted on Lake Wendouree on Saturday, May 1with the third and Fourth crews racing on Thursday, April 29.
The Head of the Lake was won by St Patrick's College in record time. The school also won all the minor events.
It was the 25th running of the event and St. Patrick’s College made it a clean sweep winning all the races in the Head of the Lake. The SPC Annual that year reported:
The 1937 Head of the lake contest is likely to be remembered for a long time by the students and friends of St. Patrick’s College, for in the series they were successful in all the races for the School crews, namely, First, Seconds, Thirds and Fourths.
Success in each minor event last year heralded the approach of more fruitful results in an event that had not been won (by St. Pat’s) since 1930.
The crew were coached by experienced oarsman and coach from the Ballarat City Rowing Club, Otto Hauser. Otto had coached St.Pat’s to a solid second place in 1936 and with some strong rowers from the victorious second crew from last year stepping up joining Leo Horgan from last year’s first crew, they not only won, but set a new course record in the process.
The conditions on the day were bleak. The vocal crowd of supporters kept warm by shouting their various “war cries” and cheering encouragement to their crews.
(Source SPCB Annual 1937-1938)
Organising Committee and Officials
Regatta Committee: Ballarat Public Schools' Association
Organising Committee and Officials: Ballarat Rowing Association
Head of the Lake
1 mile
Time: 5:41 (record)
Margins:1 1/2 length and 2 lengths
1st St Patrick’s College - Bow: Kevin de Lacy, 2: Harvey Munday, 3: Leo Horgan, Str: Adrian Jones, Cox: Jim Wise, Cch: Mr Otto Hauser
2nd Grammar School - Bow: H W Best, 2: R A McGregor, 3: E T Mann, Str: A J Moorhouse, Cox: F J George, Cch: Mr F Suffren
3rd Ballarat College - Bow: H C Burmester, 2: R A McGregor, 3: J P Schinckel, Str: J Garde, Cox: N R Webb, Cch: Mr G Hutchens.
Winning St Patrick's College crew
L-R: Otto Hauser, A J C Desnoy, A C 'Acey' Wilson of Ballarat City Rowing Club who coached St. Patrick’s College First, Seconds, Thirds and Fourths crew to victory in Head of the Lake 1937
The SPCB Annual 1937-1938 again reported on the race. A puff of smoke a mile away across the water signalled the start. Enthusiasm ran riot as the boats, away to a good even start, raced stroke for stroke towards the half-mile post. At this period St. Patricks’ were rowing excellently. Their body work, blade work and perfect length were a treat to watch and were quite the envy of the older oarsmen. Approaching View Point the St. Pat’s crew increased their stroking rate and drew away from Grammar taking a commanding lead. As the crews passed View Point, Grammar threw out a challenge, but were unable to withstand the powerful finish of St. Pat’s who won by a length and a half from Grammar School with Ballarat College two lengths back in third. Their time was 5 minutes 41 seconds beating the previous record time of 5 minutes 46 seconds set by Grammar School in 1931.
1.St.Pat’s Firsts leaving for the start of the Big Race
2.Old Boys Crew, J.Ryan (bow),P.Harrison (2), M.O’Leary(3), W.Baikie (str), L.Scullion (cox)
3.Finish of the Head of the Lake-St.Pat’s winning in record time
4.St.Pat’s winning the Seconds Race.
Second Fours
Not known
Margins: Not known
1st St Patrick's College - Bow: L M Vaughan, 2: P J McLoughlin, 3: J W Flannery, Str: B A Mulcahy, Cox: D W Munday, Cch: Mr A C Wilson
2nd Ballarat Grammar
3rd Ballarat College
Old Collegians Fours
1/2 mile
Time: Not known
Margins: Not known but easily
1st Ballarat College - Bow: A Urquhart, 2: I R John, 3: L Jelbart, Str: N Jelbart, Cox: G.King.
2nd Grammar School
3rd St Patrick’s College - Bow: J Ryan, 2: P Harrison, 3: M O’Leary, Str: W Blaikie, Cox: L Scullion
Not the least interesting event on the program is the half mile race for members of the Old Collegians Association and in this each College was strongly represented. With the advantage of having active oarsmen to fight again for their old school, Ballarat College avenged their earlier defeats by crossing the line with a safe margin to spare from Grammar School and St. Patrick’s.
Third Fours
Time: Not known
Margins: 1 foot
1st St. Patrick’s College - Bow: D W Hunter, 2: W J Rice, 3: F J Vigano, Str: J B Flannagan, Cox: G Dwyer, Cch: Mr A Desnoy
2nd Ballarat Grammar
3rd Ballarat College
Fourth Fours
Time: Not known
Margins: 6 lengths
1st St. Patrick’s College - Bow: J T Sullivan, 2: A D Anderson, 3: S V Sinclair, Str: K J Ryan, Cox: B P Gibney, Cch: Mr A Desnoy.
2nd Ballarat College
3rd Grammar School
Sources:
- Ballarat Courier 100 years Head of the Lake Supplement
- SPCB Annual 1937-1938