Australians at 1973 Henley Royal Regatta
For the first time, an Australian rowing club took such a large number of rowers to Henley Royal Regatta. It was also a first time for an Australian crew to enter the following events, the Thames, Stewards and Wyfold Challenge Cups. For Sydney Rowing Club, this tour was to became an annual event some years later. The Sydney Rowing Club team manager was Joe Fazio who is understood to be the prime instigator of this tour.
The 1972-73 Sydney Rowing Club annual report recorded as follows.
After 18 months of planning and hard work our team is due to leave on Friday 22nd June, 1973 to compete at the [inaugural] Nottingham International Regatta, Royal Henley and Lucerne Switzerland, International Regatta.
The purpose of the Tour is to give some of our Oarsmen, such as lightweights and juniors, the opportunity to compete overseas at regattas previously reserved for a privileged few. It will also give our up and coming oarsmen a taste for international representation and competition to stimulate ambition for future Olympic selection. Our object is to demonstrate that what one club can achieve in the direction of sending a team overseas in non-Olympic Years, could be much easier accomplished by the united efforts of a number of Clubs. Racing success on this tour is only a secondary consideration, we are endeavouring to focus the attention of sport administrators that what New Zealand did, in pre-Olympic tours and fund raising, as an individual sport, is quite within our own national capacity. If one small group from within one club can send a team of 25 enthusiasts of different gradings to Europe, a national campaign with many clubs behind it, would confound the knockers, who throw up their hands in despair and are not even prepared to face the starter.
We therefore hope that from this small seed an ultimate harvest will be reaped, and when this tour ends plans should be put in hand for another, and yet another, to follow.
Thames Challenge Cup
Round 1
Sydney Rowing Club, Alan R. Phillips (b), Alan W. Armstrong, John P. Wright, C. Robert Allen, Terry D. Phillips, David B. Simmons, Robert L. Tierney, John A. Nicholl (s), Aaron. P. Agnew (c), Cch; Bob Stone
Sydney were unfortunately defeated by City Orient R. C. by ½ length in Round 1 of 4. It was a tightly fought contest. This crew was largely comprised of lightweight rowers, many of who were to become leaders in our sport.
Sydney in foreground in their heat of the Thames Challenge Cup
Stewards' Challenge Cup
Round 1
Sydney Rowing Club, R. A. Curtin (b), R. D. Paver, Michael D. Morgan, Bryan F. Curtin (s)
In their heat, Leander and Kingston led off the start, but hit the buoys after half a minute. Sydney Rowing Club then held an advantage of half to three quarters of a length until Leander and Kingston challenged at the enclosures, when Sydney steered into their water, and were also disqualified.
Prince Philip Challenge Cup
Second round
Sydney Rowing Club, G. G. Clubb (b), S. G. Yorke, J. D. Dwyer, F. C. Curtin (s), John Leeming (c)
Sydney met Groton School in their heat and Sydney won easily. In the second round, they came up against Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA who defeated Sydney easily.
Wyfold Challenge Cup
First round
Sydney Rowing Club, C. D. King (b – steers), J. H. Diserens, G. W. Hartman, Ian F. Luxford (s)
Sydney were defeated by St Paul's School, Concord, USA by 4 lengths in their heat.
Diamond Challenge Sculls
Lee - semi-finalist
Hale - semi finalist
Glebe Rowing Club (NSW) - Islay R Lee
Lee was to meet the renown American sculler J W Dietz in the first round but Dietz withdrew. Lee met the eventual winner Sean Drea in the semi-final and Drea won easily.
Lindisfarne Rowing Club (TAS) - Edward O Hale
Hale defeated A C D Wiggin of the Llandaff Rowing Club in the first round by 3 1/2 lengths. In the semi-final, Hale was defeated by T J Crooks of Leander by 2 3/4 lengths.
Sources
- Henley Regatta Records 1969-74
- Sydney Rowing Club annual report 1972-73
- Image from Terry Phillips