Guerin-Foster History of Australian Rowing

 

Australian Interstate Championships —
26 Apr 1924 Port River SA

Photo Gallery Photos
1924 programme
 

Index to Results



Regatta Officials

Starter: John H Hill
Umpire: Collier R Cudmore
Judges: F Willoughby & A E Broadbent
C T Madigan, A L Kennedy, R F Matheson & H Everett




43rd Men's Interstate Eight-Oared Championship — The King's Cup

Distance: 3 miles
Time: 18.11.6
Margins: 5 feet with SA a half length further back third.
 

1st QLD – Bow: S E Axlesen, 2: O E Lohse, 3: P J Finney, 4: R S Goodwin, 5: V Sullivan, 6: A Clark, 7: L B Raffin, Str: H N Goodwin, Cox: D Castle, Emerg: R Cozens, Cch: D McDowell, Manager: D Roche
2nd NSW - Bow: Cyril B Callaghan, 2: H Les Callaghan, 3: A Cumming, 4: J B Evans, 5: A N Hasemer, 6: Charles (Chic) W Hurley, 7: Angus (Gus) Pfaffin, Str: Harold (Harry) Tancred, Joe T Vindin, Cox: W J Maling, Cch: Oswald J Wood, Mgr: Harold G Alderson,
3rd SA – Bow: C F Kretschmer, 2: T Tabe, 3: A Kretschmer, 4: A Elix, 5: A Tabe, 6: J A Ledo, 7: A A Loxton, Str: A Hoffmann, Cox: Ian A Hamilton, Cch: A E Schuetze, Mgr: C A M West
4th WA - Bow: Richard (Dick) Gard, 2: Vic Human, 3: J Cooke, 4: R Browne, 5: W J Kirkby, 6: A Wilson, 7: Raymons (Ray) Donohoe, Str: Francis (Frank) Powell, Cox: Francis (Frank) Rankine, Emerg: H Kirkby, Mgr: F L O’Halloran, Cch: Paddy Ryan
(NB: this is not the same crew which raced the Olympic test race in March in Adelaide, namely: – Bow: Perc Ffarrington, 2: Arthur L Sadler, 3: George Orgill, 4: S Hooper, 5: William (Bill) A Browne, 6: A G (Gra) Rosser, 7: James (Jim) Gordon, Str: George Rogers, Cox: Owen Carrick, Cch: Carl During, Mgr: M Buttfield.)
6th TAS (A crew from Old Launcestonians raced in the Olympic test race in March in Adelaide.)
VIC did not finish – Bow: F Walshe, 2: R Merriman, 3: H Inglis, 4: O A Hall, 5: F Yates, 6: J G Hutchens, 7: Ray W B Todd, Str: J R Jopling, Cox: D O’Keane, Cch: A Hall, Mgr: J P Rorke (NB: this is not the same crew which raced the Olympic test race in Adelaide.  A crew from Melbourne Rowing Club raced in March in Adelaide.)

The eights race was regarded as one of the best seen since 1914. This is interesting because in many cases the crews were not perhaps the best crews from each State. This arose because of the Olympic test race in Adelaide in March 1924, a month before the Championships, when the Murray Bridge crew gained selection for the 1924 Olympic Games. They did not represent South Australia at these Championships. Furthermore, it is clear that some other rowers preferred the test race to the Championships bringing in other rowers for State representation being unable to attend both events. This is evidenced by the larger number of new names present than normal and the presence of key rowers in the test race crews.

Despite a false start and delays, the race had action and a tight finish. Tasmania and Victoria led off the start but were rowed through by Queensland after only half a mile. Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia had to negotiate a beacon and themselves which kept them busy and tested their coxswains. New South Wales took the lead at the mile and Queensland fought back by the half way mark. South Australia used the inside lane to perfection and took the lead but were out rowed over the last half mile by both Queensland and New South Wales. The tussle to the line was immense and Queensland passed the line just in front of New South Wales.

The winners hailed from the Wide Bay Club, the South Australians from the Mannum Club and the Victorians from the Wendouree Club. The Victorians suffered on four fronts. They broke a rigger pin, were swamped and their bow man received a very nasty injury through being struck by the propeller of a launch. It was later reported in the VRA Annual Report that he fully recovered. Finally before the race, the three man of the Victorian crew R Pierce was unable to row and was replaced by H Inglis of the Ballarat Rowing Club. The NSW coach and manager wanted to drop Hurley from the crew and replace him with F J Hasemer originally from Mosman but then a resident of SA. The South Australians threatened to disqualify them if they did. The coach was reprimanded upon his return to Sydney for this attempted action. However the manager Alderson stated: “There is no doubt that the New South Wales eight would have won the interstate race but for the attitude of the South Australian Rowing Association regarding the use of an emergency. As it was we competed with one member of our crew unfit to row, and were then beaten by only five feet.”

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Men's Interstate Sculling Championship — The President's Cup

Time: 18.19.5
Distance: 2 1/2 miles
Margin: 2 1/2 lengths
 

1st VIC – Jas Barton
2nd WA – G E Rogers
3rd NSW – W C Lorimer
4th SA – R L Naylor
5th TAS – Les C Nimmo

The sculling race also had its incidents with the Tasmanian sculler Nimmo capsizing half way down the course whilst leading. James Barton of Victoria went on to win by 2 1⁄2 lengths. The regatta committee met to consider this matter and came to the conclusion that Nimmo could have negotiated the wash – a decision which would not be accepted today.

After the last two Port River Interstate Championships having been affected by the weather and boats, there were calls for the South Australians to host the event at Murray Bridge in future.

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Women's Interstate Four-Oared Championship — The ULVA Trophy

Distance: 1/2 Mile
No time taken
Margin: 1 1/2 lengths
 

1st SA – Bow: M E O’Donnell, 2: A Hill, 3: M Thomas, Str: J Thomas, Cox: J J Foody
2nd VIC – Bow: J Hesse, 2: N Oldfield, 3: T Walker, Str: J Weibgen, Cox: H Burge
3rd WA – Bow: D Kean, 2: K Nelson, 3: Dorothy Payne, Str: L Orme, Emerg: M Sherrell
4th QLD – Bow: E Palmer, 2: L Palmer, 3: E Parker, Str: C Buzacott, Cox: F Foubister
5th NSW -

The women’s fours race saw a near full field but South Australia was dominant from the start again.

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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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Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.