History of Cardross Rowing Club 1947-52

Chapter 2 - Racing

Cardross entered their first regatta on April 6 entering a Novice four at Mildura Henley using a borrowed boat. In “brilliant sunshine the 1947 Henley-on-Murray ..was witnessed by a crowd of about 5000.”

The crew of Bruce Midgley (bow), D. Gilham (2), Jack Harris (3) and Don Mackay (stroke) finished third in their heat behind Wentworth and Mildura. Wentworth went on to finish second in the final to Port Adelaide Rowing Club in the final.

The following day, April 7, at Henley on the Darling, the club had its second race in Novice fours. They raced the Port Adelaide crew in their heat and came second. The Port Adelaide crew went on to win the final in a time of 5.36 from the winners of the first heat Wentworth RC.

Original Henley on the Darling program,1947. A. (Albie) McGuire raced in Event 4 for Ballarat City RC in the Maiden pairs event which he won and went on to win the final. Cardross raced in Event 6, which was won by Port Adelaide. Albie recorded the winners and place getters in his program.
From Kate Elliott collection.

Between February and August,1947 the club not only got busy training and racing but organised working bees every weekend in June and July, at which they erected a boatshed with racks for boats and installed a landing stage and ordered a new boat.  The boatshed was finished on August 24 and the first boat, a practice four was launched on the lake. Further works planned included the planting of trees and shrubs and a lawn.

It is a testament to the hard work of this small group and the support of the community, that in 6 months the club went from formation relying on Mildura Rowing Club for assistance, to being independently operating out of a new shed. They still only had one boat which somewhat restricted their activities, but they were taking action to obtain more boats.

< previous Chapter 1

> next Chapter 3