Australians at 2004 Henley Royal Regatta

Melbourne University, with University of Queensland - Karsten P. Fosterling (b), Ben R. McGeachie, Cam J. McKenzie-McHarg, Sam M. Conrad (s, steers), 

The Australian crew contained four rowers who missed out on Olympic selection but who were of a very high standard. The Australians defeated Cambridge University in the preliminary round  by 1/2 length in an excellent race. In the final, they met the UK Olympic four which went onto take gold at the Olympic Games later that year. The British crew were too good for them in the final going down by 2 lengths. The report in the Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 was as follows.

There were three entries. The two composite crews were selected. 

Saturday provided one of the most exciting races of the Regatta between the Australian crew, from Melbourne University and University of Queensland, and Cambridge University. Both crews rowed 11, 21 and 40 strokes in the first quarter, half and full minutes with the Australians leading by a length at the quarter mile. Striking 36 to 35 by Cambridge University they led by three-quarters of a length at the Barrier. An excellent spurt by Cambridge at the half-mile took them into the lead and they held a half length lead to the mile. They still led at the mile and an eighth but only by a foot. Their steering was poor and when the Australians mounted their final challenge passing the Stewards' Enclosure Cambridge could not hold off Melbourne and Queensland who passed them to win by half a length. 

Due to a serious illness with one of their crew, only diagnosed on the Friday of the Regatta, the Leander Club and Imperial College crew were racing in their new order for the first time. They dominated the final leading by one and a half lengths at the Barrier. They had the race well under control and rowing with great skill and power won by two lengths. This crew then went on to the Olympic Games in Athens to win the Gold Medal in a most famous and memorable race. 

Drummoyne Rowing Club (NSW) - S. A. Coleman (b), T. H. Wilcox, R. J. J. Andrews, C. R. Dinnie (s, steers), 

With 53 entries, the event was going to be tough. The Drummoyne crew had no easy heats winning the first round by 1 1/2 lengths, the second by 1/2 length and the quarter final by 6 feet. They met the Army crew in the semi-final and Drummoyne briefly led them along the island before the Army crew strode out to take a length and a half by the Barrier. The Army crew extended their lead and never let the Drummoyne into the race.

Mosman Rowing Club (NSW) - M. A. Driscoll (b) T. P. Rogers, Daniel J. Noonan, M. R. Irvine (s)

 The Mosman crew raced the first part of the race well but the reining champions from Ireland slowly edged out. In the second half of the race, the Mosman crew found it more difficult to cope with the strong, gusting head wind with Commercial Rowing Club taking the advantage winning by 2 1/2 lengths.

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - T. M. Perry (s), J. B. Scharfegger, D. R. Neuhaus, A. J. Cahill (s)

The Sydney crew performed excellently and were unlucky not to win. It was a cracking final. The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported as follows. The final was a superb race. Sydney sculled 12, 22 and 42 in the first quarter, half and full minutes to 11, 22 and 41 by Marlow Rowing Club and The Tideway Scullers' School. The quads were level at the first signal with Sydney leading by a quarter of a length at the Barrier. The quads were level again at Fawley, at the three-quarter mile signal and at the mile. Approaching the last signal Marlow Rowing Club and The Tideway Scullers' School managed to take a lead of a canvas and, despite continued pressure from Sydney, held on to win an outstanding and memorable race by half a length. 

Brisbane Boys' College with Brisbane Grammar School (QLD) - T. M. Gethin-Jones (b), K. Pattison, C. Y. Ohtomo, C. C. Short (s)

The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported in their semi-final as follows. In the semi-finals there was an all-Australian race between Sydney Rowing Club and the composite from Brisbane Boys' College and Brisbane Grammar School. Sydney sculled into an early lead and then dominated the race holding off continued challenges from the Brisbane composite to record their second victory over a selected quad. 

St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace with The Southport School (QLD) - A. K. T. Saunders (b), M. K. Smith, L. Joplin, H. W. B. Bryan (s), 

The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported on their last race as follows. The Southport School and St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Australia led off the start in their race against Marlow Rowing Club and The Tideway Scullers' School and were leading by three-quarters of a length at the Barrier and by half a length at Fawley. At Remenharn Club Marlow and The Tideway Scullers' School mounted a well-timed spurt and sculled straight through the Australians. They were leading by a quarter of a length at the mile and by three-quarters of a length at the last signal, winning by a length and a half. 

Canberra Rowing Club with Kingston Rowing Club - C. E. Hewitt, Kerry J. Knowler, L. J. Rowbotham, Diana E. Egerton Warburton (s), 

 Their race in the first round was the closest of all races in this event. It is recorded in the Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 as follows. The only close race was in the first round between University of London and the composite from Canberra Rowing Club, Australia and Kingston Rowing Club. The quads were level at the first signal but the composite crew led by half a length at the Barrier. They led by a canvas at Fawley, two feet at the three-quarter mile and by only a foot at the mile. The quads were level again at the last signal but University of London then sculled through and clear, winning an exciting race by a length and a quarter. 

Drummoyne Rowing Club (NSW) - A. J. Butler (b) and D. A. Taylor (s)

 Their round two race produced the following report in the Henley Regatta Records 2000-04.The closest race was on Friday between Butler and Taylor, Drummoyne Rowing Club, Australia and Graves and Graves, Bantam Boat Club, United States of America. The Australians were quicker off the start and led by a foot at the first signal. The Graves then settled well and led by a quarter of a length at the Barrier. They increased this to a length and a quarter at Fawley and to a length and a half at the last signal. Butler and Taylor then mounted a sustained attack closing to two feet at the finish. 

Canberra Rowing Club (ACT) - Kerry J Knowler

Only four of the scullers were required for the first round and so Kerry's first race was in round 2. There she faced the American sculler C S Bishop who became the eventual winner. Bishop was clearly the best sculler that year and won easily over Knowler.

Canberra Rowing Club (ACT) - Diana E. Egerton-Warburton

Dianna was also exempted from round one but was defeated easily by L D Norris of Mortlake Anglican and Alpha Rowing Club in the second round.