1903 PSA Head of the River

The Challenge Cup again was competed for on Saturday 27th June 1903 on a new course. The race was seven furlongs in length (1400M) from a point beyond the Swan Brewery to the Narrows, but neither the starting nor the finishing lines were at right angles to the course. It was reported that one very pleasing feature of Saturday's race was the fact that the four crews started together. The race was thereby considerably more interesting than in past years, when the contest was decided in heats.

"Stream" of the Western Times reported on the race as follows.

Those who braved the elements on Saturday afternoon and went down Mount's Bay Road to the Narrows to see the annual four-oared secondary schools' challenge race rowed were amply rewarded by witnessing a fine race and as close a finish as the keenest sculling man could have wished to see. Unfortunately, just about the time the race was to have been decided, heavy rain began to fall, and continued to fall for forty minutes. The High School and Christian Brothers' crews were early at the starting point, but the Guildford Grammar School and Scotch College crews and their boats were not at the post until the rain had nearly cleared on.

The slope of Mount Eliza, facing the finishing flag, at the Narrows, easily accommodated the couple of thousand spectators, who were able to gain an uninterrupted view of the whole course. When the tropical downpour was in progress the only available shelter was the tea-house, and its friendly roof covered many hundreds of thankful spectators. Even when the race was in progress, and the rain slightly recommenced, large numbers turned it into an impromptu grandstand.

The rain made the water like a sheet of glass when the boats got into position, about forty-five minutes late. The four crews got off well together, all rowing 38 to the minute, but the High School boys began to lag behind from the outset. They were never in it at all, and eventually finished a bad last. Mr. C. R. Penny, who trained them assiduously, generously takes all the blame for their failure. They had rowed brilliantly against two Swan River Club fours on the previous Saturday, and he is afraid that he overwound them. Certainly, the position nearest the bank was not the choice of place.