1897-1898 Intercolonial Championships - Australian Rowing History

Guerin-Foster History of Australian Rowing

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Australian Intercolonial Championships — 1897-1898


8 May 1897 Yarra River VIC

21st Men’s Intercolonial Eight Oared Championship
Distance:3 mile 100 yds Time: 17.10 Margins: 1 1/2 lengths and 12 lengths	1st VIC – Bow: G M McKenzie, 2: B G Connor, 3: T Davies, 4: H J Hughes, 5: Alex Chamley, 6: J R Strong, 7: Harold Irving, Str: Alex B Sloan, Cox: Victor Jones. Average weight 11st 13lb. 2nd WA – Bow: J Harris, 2: J Porteous, 3: J B Lockington, 4: J H Hurst, 5: J Middleton, 6: J A Horsburgh, 7: Paddy Ryan, Str: James Donald, cox: J Counihan. Average weight 11st 4lb. 3rd QLD – Bow: W A Douglas, 2: O Agar, 3: F B Whitman, 4: A Burton, 5: M Foley, 6: W Bryce, 7: S B Bollen, Str; J B Arthur, Cox: R Burton. Average weight 11st 5lb. This was the first appearance of WA in the Intercolonial Championships. The report of this race in the 1906 Interstate Championship programme (hosted by WA) claimed that but for erratic steering by the Western Australians, they would have won the race. It is interesting to note that the great Victorian stroke Jim Donald stroked the WA crew and many other crew members originated from Victoria but settled in WA. NSW declined to participate for the first time. It appears that the background to this decision was again the question of the amateur definition. The Victorians decided to row again under the old definition and the NSW Rowing Association did not accept this position. At the intercolonial conference held at these championships, Queensland and WA agreed to abide by any arrangement agreed to between NSW and VIC. It is difficult to ascertain exactly whether this was a situation where NSWRA could not agree with the other Associations or whether it was intransigence on the part of the VRA to again race under it's old defivition. The core of the issue appears to be that some Victorian oarsmen had raced for cash prizes in other sports and so would not fit within the amateur definition of NSW. NSW took the view that anyone who raced against a professional lost their amateur status. However it was clear that there were a number of factors in consideration. The NSW crew, which had already commenced preparations, was disbanded.	top
Men’s Intercolonial Sculling Championship
Distance: 3 miles 100 yds No time taken Margin easily	1st WA – E Powell 2nd QLD – A Dennis 3rd VIC – Harold Lindgren In the sculling race, Powell, now racing for WA, led from the start and won easily.	top


19 Nov 1898 Bulimba Reach Brisbane River QLD

22nd Men’s Intercolonial Eight Oared Championship
Distance: 2.75 mile Time: 16.01 Margin: 1/2 length	1st VIC – Bow: J Blackburn, 2: C H Powell, 3: J L Nolan, 4: W Herbert T Davies, 5: H J Hughes, 6: William Potter, 7; J R Strong, Str: Alex B Sloan, Cox, J H Counihan. Average weight 11st 10lb. 2nd QLD – Bow: J A Cullinane, 2: F H Cameron, 3: A Young, 4: O Agar, 5: N H Drury, 6: T J Lyons, 7: S B Boland, Str: J B Arthur, Cox: R Burton. Average weight 11st 1lb. The change in date to November was iniated by Queensland and agreed to by Victoria, the only other colony to participate. NSW could not agree to participate under rules other than the 1896 conference terms and again refused to particicpate. Victoria proposed a new clause whereby those who had raced for cash prizes in other sports before 1897 would not be caught by the new rule. The race was intended to be raced on the Hamilton Reach but was deemed unrowable. Queensland led from the start but was overhauled by Victoria who won by half a length.	top
Men’s Intercolonial Sculling Championship
Distance:2.75 Miles Time: 22.02.0 Margin: 6 lengths	1st QLD no 1 – A Dennis 2nd QLD no 2 – M J Slack The change in dates obviously did not suit the scullers with only Queensland scullers competing. Dennis led at the start and maintained this until 1/2 mile from the finish when he opened up the lead to 6 lengths. Slack was not satisfied with the result against Dennis and challenged him to a race which he won on 25th March 1899.	top

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The ideas and format for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin has developed and extended the histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and 2005 and acknowledges the ongoing assistance of Margot Foster.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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