1954 Australian University Championships— Swan River Perth WA
The Sixtieth Championships were conducted over a two mile course on the Swan River on 5th June 1954.
Sydney University won the sculls with Melbourne University winning the Oxford and Cambridge Cup.
A full copy of the programme can be accessed through this link.
Full definition images from this regatta can be found on the Australian Rowing Images website.
Host
Western Australia University Boat Club. President: Dr G Barratt-Hill, Captain: E N Maslen, Hon Secretary: C N Cuthbert
Jury
George Mettam - Starter, F W Humphreys - Umpire, H V Reily - Judge, J H Reynolds - Assistant Judge, J Rogers - Marshalling Steward, Dr H H R Nash, R T Gard and R J Williams - Timekeepers
Men's Scull
Time: Unknown
Margins: 5 lengths
& 15 lengths
1st Sydney University - B D Adams
2nd University of Western Australia - Eddie N Maslen
3rd Melbourne University - Hugh F Smith
Men's Eight
Time: 11 mins 38 secs
Margins: 1 1/3 length, 1 length & 4 lengths
2 miles
1st Melbourne University - Bow: Mac D G Murray, 2: Ian E Douglas, 3: John R Colville, 4: W Michael Somerville, 5: John A Hunt, 6: Stuart N Johns, 7: Adrian C Monger, Str: Clive J Smith, Cox: Richard G Hyett, Cch: David R Salmon
2nd University of Western Australia - Bow: J Hanrahan, 2: Jerry Collis-Bird, 3: Barry Ninham, 4: Terry Davies, 5: Barry Purser, 6: R Pearse, 7: Mick Carrigg, Str: Richard H Kernot, Cox: R Walters, Cch: Dr Gordon Barrett-Hill
3rd Sydney University - Bow: B Sundstrup, 2: A Davis, 3: B Shepherd, 4: D Wilson, 5: C Lees, 6: J Warden, 7: D Johnston, Str: James Kennaway, Cox: J Wilcox, Cch: Frank Nichols
4th Adelaide University - Bow: Christopher John Cooper, 2: Philip Llewelllyn, Nash, 3: Graeme Sorby Adams, 4: John Francis Maclure Lea, 5: Jonathan Yeatman Hancock, 6: Michael Sydney Talbot Hobbs, 7: Peter James Stedman Burns, Str: John Salisbury Jose, Cox: Robert "Bob" Ley Hodge, Emerg: Geoff Morley, Cch: Jock G Gosse.
The West Australian attributed the win to the weight advantage of the Melbourne University crew. The paper reported that: "The heavier Melbourne crew had enough stamina to hold off a strong challenge from the WA crew in the closing stages of the two mile race." Steering errors 3/4 mile out from the start also hampered the WA crew when they were in the lead.
It was reported that the Adelaide crew's coxswain had lost his voice and so communicated with the crew via a bell.
1954 Melbourne University Crew
Back row: I E Douglas (2), W M Somerville (4), R G Hyett (cox), J R Colville (3), M D G Murray (bow). Front row: S N Johns (6), C J Smith (str), D R Salmon (cch), A C Monger (7), J A Hunt (5)
WA crew as printed in the programme
Sydney crew as printed in the programme
Adelaide crew as printed in the programme
Sources
- 1954 program from the Graham Coldwell collection
- Results from subsequent regatta programs and newspaper reports
- Melbourne's Heavy Crew Fights Back (1954, June 7). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 26. Retrieved January 21, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52947392