Australians at 1912 Henley Royal Regatta

Sydney Rowing Club

Bow: John Ryrie (NSW)
2: Simon Fraser (VIC)
3: Keith Heritage (NSW)
4: Thomas Parker (NSW)
5: Henry Hauenstein (NSW)
6: Sidney Middleton (NSW)
7: Harry Ross-Soden (VIC)
Str: Roger Fitzhardinge (NSW)
Cox: Robert Waley (NSW)
Coach: Bill Middleton (NSW)

Reserves: Stuart Amess (NSW) and Roy Barker (NSW)

Presentation of the Grand Challenge Cup by the Queen in 1912

As Rowing Australia Inc was not yet formed, this was a joint arrangement between the New South Wales and Victorian Rowing Associations. The selection committee for the eight comprised Alex Thompson (NSW) who assisted with the management of the eight, C S Cunningham (VIC) who travelled with the team and the coach Bill Middleton. The cost of the trip was estimated at £2,000 with about £600 expected to come from Victoria, principally from the wealthy Melbourne Amateur Regatta Association, the organisers of the Melbourne Henley Regatta.

In the end, £500 came from the Melbourne Amateur Regatta Association plus substantial donations from the families of the Victorian members, the Victorian Rowing Association President H Gyles Turner and the Athenaeum Club, totally in all £713.

It is interesting to note that alternative trips were considered such as a race against the English on the Zambesi. In the end, the long awaited opportunity to test the Australian skill, stamina and strength against the best from England the Americas and Europe swayed the decision to attend the Olympic Games. It is clear from the materials at the time that racing at the Henley Royal Regatta was highly regarded, perhaps more so that competing at the Olympic Games.

The crew was based around the winning 1911 NSW Interstate crew. The Victorian crew members joined Sydney Rowing Club for the purposes of the tour.

Cecil McVilly was the winning Interstate Championships sculler in 1911 and also selected in the Diamond Sculls.

Cecil McVilly, Derwent Rowing Club

McVilly at Henley in 1912