Officials

George Upward - Umpire

1st NSW – Bow: S C Jones, 2: W W Martin, 3: John R Ryrie, 4: Jack H D Goldie, 5: Harry Hauenstein, 6: K B Gaden, 7: O A Ireland, Str: Roger B Fitzhardinge, Cox: R G Ken Waley, Cch: William J Middleton, Mgr: P D Kirby
2nd VIC – Bow: G Ferguson, 2: William Potter, 3: V H Gard, 4: D McNaughton, 5: H J Whiting, 6: Charles Donald, 7: M G Scott, Str: Jas Donald, Cox: B Arnold, Emerg: W Anketell, Cch: Jas Macfarlane, Selectors: Arthur J Shepherd, Alf R Moses & coach
3rd TAS – Bow: H T Smith, 2: T T Scarborough, 3: H Henley, 4: T H Stephens, 5: J Woodhouse, 6: V P Lithgow, 7: D Munro, Str: W Robinson, Cox: C Coogan, Cch: James Coogan, Emergs: J Artis & A Forsythe
4th SA – Bow: J F Osbourne, 2: F R Peterson, 3: G A Lawton, 4: W Nation, 5: W G Wigg, 6: C T Lawton, 7: E L Sanders, Str: T A Whyte, Cox: W S Webb, Emerg: E T Peterson, Cch: J H Clouston, Mgr: T A T Heward
5th WA – Bow: T Mackie, 2: George Rogers, 3: A A Strickland, 4: E C Kempsted, 5: A H Carlisle, 6: A Fearby, 7: R E (Bob) Joyce, Str: H H Sadler, Cox: L Allwinton, Emergs: C W Horsburgh & W Goss, Cch & Mgr: C W Horsburgh
6th QLD – Bow: A Swensson, 2: M Byrne, 3: J F Donovan, 4: W P Watts, 5: A Dennis, 6: J Ferguson, 7: H A Montefiore, Str: J H Williams, Cox: Win Fowles, Emerg: W Mellish, Cch: A A Watson, Mgr: J N Devoy

This was the first NSW win for 15 years. SA got the best of the start with NSW taking the lead with only a mile to go. Victoria and Tasmania overtook SA and finished with Victoria 1 1⁄4 lengths behind the winners and Tasmania a further 3 lengths further behind. The arrangements for the race met with everyone’s approval with numerous civic functions and the Harbour Trust providing use of their steamer “Osprey” for the day.

1908 New South Wales Eight

Back row - Martin (2), Hauenstein (5), Gaden (6), Ryrie (3)and Middleton (Cch)
Front row: Waley (Cox), Ireland (7), Fitzhardinge (Str), Goldie (4) and Jones (Bow)

1st VIC – H D Brasch (replaced P C Ivens who was unwell)
2nd NSW – John R Towns
3rd QLD – W M Callaghan
TAS disqualified – E Jack (Jack was first past the winning post but was disqualified for failing the amateur status definition.)

The sculling race had many changes. Brasch led out from the start from Towns. By the mile mark Towns had gained the ascendancy and Callagahn of Queensland had withdrawn. By the two mile mark, Jack passed Brasch and Towns stopped rowing. Jack went on to cross the line three lengths in front of Brasch, then the off water clash began. The dispute over the eligibility of the Tasmanian sculler was resolved well after the event with all States except Tasmania accepting that he was ineligible. He “was employed in or about boats for wages” being the son of a boat builder which was contrary to the amateur definition at the time.