History of Cardross Rowing Club 1947-52

Chapter 4 - 1948-49 Season 

The first regatta of the season was Dimboola. It was the 64th annual Dimboola Regatta held on November 6. The club entered three crews. In the first heat of the Open Champion fours, Mildura beat Cardross. In the first heat of the Maiden fours Dimboola won with Cardross second and in the Open Novice fours Dimboola were winners over Cardross.

The next regatta attended was on Saturday November 13, when Cardross attended and contested their first regatta on the Yarra River at VRA Melbourne regatta. They were competing in Junior fours. They were beaten in their heat by a strong crew from Waygunyah.

VRA Melbourne Regatta Program, 13 November 1948 and the entry for the third heat of the Junior fours
Kate Elliott collection

Just one week later, on November 20, Cardross entered Henley on the Yarra and scored their most significant win in the prestigious Elswick Challenge Cup for Junior fours. They won their heat by four lengths from Ballarat City RC with Barwon third. Wahgunyah won heat 1 from Sale Rowing Club and in heat 2, the Yarra Yarra crew were first across the line but they were disqualified and Richmond declared the winners. Cardross won the final by two lengths from Wahgunyah and Richmond in third place. The crew was Bruce Midgeley (bow), Peter Stubbings (2), Jack Harris (3), Don W. Mackay (stroke) and C. Ryan, cox.  

The article reporting their win (Sunraysia Daily 22 November 1948, page 3) also mentions that Henley on Yarra was “stripped back” from its usual glamour with no houseboats or decorated canoes lining the course. The crowd was also considerably reduced from more than 20,000 to about 5,000. While this downturn was attributed to reconstruction work on the Swan Street Bridge, this year marked a turning point in Henley Regatta which had ranked up with the Melbourne Cup and the VFL Grand final in popularity in sporting events in Melbourne.

The Elswick Challenge Cup.

After their triumph at Henley, the club entered the Berri Regatta on December 27 and Renmark Regatta on December 28. There is no record of their performance at Berri. At Renmark Regatta they entered two crews - a maiden four of R. Simpson, A. Skipsey, A. O’Connor and B. Stewart which won their heat from Berri Rowing Club by 5 lengths. In the final they were unlucky to suffer equipment failure halfway down the course allowing Mannum to win easily.

Murray Pioneer December 30, 1948

The club also entered a crew in the Tub slides which would have been the equivalent of a Novice four. This crew was training at Geelong College and I assume they were students from Cardross who were boarding at The school. (Murray Pioneer December 30 1948.) 

The crew from Cardross was beaten in the second heat by Berri Rowing Club by 5 lengths. Cardross were second and Mercantile, third. The Berri crew went on to win the final from Mannum Rowing Club by 2 lengths.

Between 500 and 600 people attended Renmark Rowing Regatta

The next regatta the club appears to have entered was on April 16, 1949, Henley on the Murray, saw a record crowd of 7000 people in attendance for the Silver Jubilee of the regatta. Mercantile RC were out in force and won 4 events. Cardross had a Novice eight and a Novice four entered. The Novice eight placed third in the final. The Novice four of W. Skipsey, Jim Simpson, Bill Mackay and B. Jeffreys won their heat and came second in the final to Wentworth RC.

At Henley on the Darling April 18, Mercantile RC continued their domination and took out six events. Cardross had its biggest number of entries yet, with entries in Maiden fours, women’s Novice fours, Novice eights, Junior four and Open fours. The Maiden four won their heat then finished second to Berri RC in the final. All the other crews placed second in their heats. The women’s four was the first race for the women of the club.

During May,1949 the club decided to again send crews to the VRA and Henley Regattas. It was proposed to send a Maiden eight. Don Mackay was to coach the crew. The club ordered three more boats at a cost of 500 pounds and a Grand Ball was held at the Cardross Hall to raise the funds to pay for them.

At the Annual Meeting in July 1949 the Sunraysia Daily lists the office bearers for the 1949-50 season. Interestingly Mrs. S. Webb is recorded as the President! Vice-presidents Mr. R. Harris and Mr. E. Fisher; secretary, Mr. A. O’Connor, assistant secretary, Mr. B. Stewart; crew captain, Mr. Don Mackay; vice-captain, Mr. Bruce Midgley and treasurer, Mr. Peter Subbings.

 Sunraysia Daily, July 15,1949, page 8.

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