Interstate Women's Four/Eight Championship

Rowers compete for the Queen Elizabeth II Trophy, formerly known as the ULVA Trophy

The commencement of Interstate Women's competition is unclear but is thought to have started in 1912. However the first recognized championships occurred in 1920 when the Interstate Women's Four Championship was conducted in conjunction with the Interstate Men's Championships.

The Australian Women's Rowing Council was also established at these Championships. It is worth noting that the Australian Amateur Rowing Council was not formed until 1927.

The most prolific winner of this event is Lucy Stephan who won the race for the 10th time in 2023.

ULVA Trophy

The 1920 Interstate Women's Four Championship was won by South Australia represented by a Mannum Rowing Club crew stroked by Dorothy Arnold. The United Licensed Victuallers Association (ULVA) of Queensland presented to the Australian Women's Rowing Council this unique sterling silver trophy. The trophy was crafted by London silversmiths to depict Dorothy Arnold, the petite girl from Mannum who stroked the winning crew. She is holding her oar and dressed in the rowing garb of her time, namely a floppy hat, sailor top and billowing bloomers. The trophy is inscribed with the following words: Interstate Ladies Four-Oared Championship Trophy Presented by Queensland Licensed Victuallers Association E H Ruddle Esq. President 1920.

ULVA trophy

The trophy is affectionately known to Australian oarswomen as Bertha. (Your author believes that this came from the stroke's middle name, Dorothy Bertha Arnold.) However in 1941, on the motion of NSW, the Australian Womens Rowing Council resolved to drop the name Bertha and that it be officially known as the ULVA Trophy. This change occurred only officially with the name "Bertha" still used by oarswomen.

In 1958, there was a brief discussion at the Australian Womens Rowing Council about the outmoded appearance of the trophy. Fortunately the majority of members disapproved of any alteration to moderise the dress of the model of the trophy.

In 2003, the trophy became officially known as the Queen Elizabeth II Trophy, or the Queens Cup. The original ULVA trophy remains the perpetual trophy.

There was an interesting lead up to the allocation of Queens Cup to the women's eight oared Championship with the Queens Cup originally being destined for an international schoolboy regatta. In 1993, Brisbane Boys' College raced Eton in the final of the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley and won. This was the first time that an Australian Schoolboy Crew had won this prestigious event.

Dorothy Arnold Ekins

Dorothy Ekins (nee Arnold), on the 50th anniversary of the first race, holding the trophy and congratulatory telegrams received back in 1920 upon winning the Championship

In 1997 Simon Newcomb approached Dr Steve Hinchy (President of Rowing Australia) and asked for permission to approach Buckingham Palace and the Queen's Private Secretary Sir Robert Fellowes as to whether Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll would be prepared to provide a trophy to be known as the Queen's Cup for an annual International Schoolboy Race. The first race should take place to coincide with the centenary of Brisbane Boy's College in 2002.

Simon Newcomb of Brisbane continued to correspond with the Queen's Private Secretary Sir Robert Fellowes, Buckingham Palace, Rowing Australia, Government House in Brisbane and also in Canberra. On 26th November 1999, the following response was received from Kevin Davidson, Senior Adviser to the Governor General:

Dear Dr Hinchy [then President of Rowing Australia],
I refer to your letter of 19th April 1999 to the official Secretary requesting Her Majesty The Queen's consent to donate a perpetual trophy for an annual International schoolboy rowing event to be held in Australia. The Official Secretary has recently received formal advice that her majesty has consented to a Royal trophy to be called 'The Queen Elizabeth Cup' to be raced for in Australia by schoolboy crews from all over the world on an annual basis. Her Majesty is content for the first event to be held in Brisbane to coincide with the centenary celebrations of the Brisbane Boys' College in 2002.

Rowing Australia subsequently determined that the trophy would be best allocated to the women's eight event to provide some equity of regal trophies for men's and women's interstate eight oared championships and thus provide synergy with the Kings Cup.

In early 2001 approaches were made by Rowing Australia to the Governor General to have the trophy changed from an International Schoolboy Race to the Women's Interstate Eight Oared Championship. The Queen provided her consent to this change which occurred in 2003.

Summary of Women's Four/Eight (ULVA/Queen Elizabeth II Trophy) Race Results

DNF = Did not finish. DISQ = Disqualified. NTT = No time taken.

Year	Venue	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	Distance	Time
1920	Brisbane River QLD	SA	QLD	NSW					3/4 mile	4:55.2
1921	Tamar River TAS	SA	QLD	TAS					3/4 mile	4:56.0
1922	Parramatta River NSW	TAS	SA	QLD	NSW				1/2 mile	NTT
1923	Swan River WA	SA	TAS	VIC					1/2 mile	NTT
1924	Port River SA	SA	VIC	WA	QLD	NSW			1/2 mile	NTT
1925	Albert Park Lake VIC	SA	VIC	NSW	WA				1/2 mile	NTT
1926	Brisbane River QLD	SA	QLD						1/2 mile	NTT
1927	Tamar River TAS	SA	TAS	QLD					1/2 mile	NTT
1928	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	SA	QLD	VIC				1/2 mile	3:33.2
1929	Swan River WA	VIC	NSW	SA	WA				1/2 mile	NTT
1930	Mannum SA	NSW	VIC	SA					1/2 mile	2:59.0
1931	Albert Park Lake VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	VIC				1/2 mile	3:42.5
1932	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	QLD tied	SA tied	VIC				1/2 mile	2:51.0
1933	Derwent River TAS	VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	TAS			1/2 mile	3:35.0
1934	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	QLD	SA	VIC	TAS			1/2 mile	3:10.0
1935	Port River SA	NSW	QLD	VIC	TAS	SA			1/2 mile	3:16.0
1936	Yarra River VIC	VIC	TAS	QLD	SA	NSW			1/2 mile	3:32.2
1937	Brisbane River QLD	TAS	QLD	VIC	NSW	SA			1/2 mile	3:13.8
1938	Parramatta River NSW	TAS 1	SA	QLD	NSW	VIC			3/4 mile	6:01.0
1939	Derwent River TAS	VIC	TAS	QLD	NSW	SA			3/4 mile	5:53.0
1940	Port River SA	TAS	QLD	NSW	VIC	SA DNF			3/4 mile	5:52.0
1941	Yarra River VIC	VIC	NSW	QLD					3/4 mile	5:48.5
1942-48	World War II – no races conducted
1949	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	QLS	VIC					3/4 mile	5:13.0
1950	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	VIC	QLD					3/4 mile	5:05.0
1951	Yarra River VIC	NSW	VIC	QLD					3/4 mile	4:48.6
1952	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	QLD	VIC					3/4 mile	4:47.0
1953	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	QLD	VIC					3/4 mile	NTT
1954	Yarra River VIC	QLD	NSW	VIC					3/4 mile	4:45.4
1955	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	VIC	QLD					3/4 mile	4:00.0
1956	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	QLD	SA					3/4 mile	3:48.0
1957	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	VIC	QLD					3/4 mile	4:35.0
1958	Yarra River VIC	NSW	QLD	VIC					3/4 mile	4:52.5
1959	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	VIC	QLD					3/4 mile	4:47.4
1960	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	QLD	VIC					1000m	4:31.0
1961	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	VIC	QLD					1000m	4:15.4
1962	Albert Park Lake VIC	NSW	VIC	QLD					1000m	4:08.4
1963	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	QLD	VIC					1000m	4:14.0
1964	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	QLD	VIC					1000m	4:08.0
1965	Albert Park Lake VIC	NSW	VIC	QLD	ACT	SA			1000m	3:26.0
1966	Port River SA	VIC 2	NSW	ACT	SA				1000m	3:44.0
1967	Parramatta River NSW	NSW	VIC	QLD					1000m	4:18.6
1968	Yarra River VIC	NSW	VIC	QLD					1000m	3:50.6
1969	Port River SA	VIC	NSW	QLD					1000m	3:35.5
1970	Brisbane River QLD	NSW	VIC	QLD					1000m	3:27.5
1971	Nepean River NSW	NSW	VIC	QLD	SA				1000m	4:10.2
1972	Lake Burley Griffin ACT	VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	ACT			1000m	3:56.1
1973	Barwon River VIC	NSW	VIC	NZL	QLD				1000m	3:58.8
1974	Port River SA	NSW	VIC	WA	SA				1000m	3:51.2
1975	Canning River WA	VIC	NSW						1000m	3:38.1
1976	Penrith River NSW	TAS	NSW	WA	VIC 3				1000m	3:37.0
1977	Canning River WA	NSW	WA	SA	VIC	TAS			1000m	3:58.4
1978	Huon River TAS	VIC	WA	NSW	SA	QLD			1000m	3:31.21
1979	West Lakes SA	VIC	NSW	WA	QLD	SA	TAS		1000m	3:28.00
1980	Lake Wendouree VIC	VIC	SA	WA	NSW	TAS	QLD		1000m	3:45.75
1981	Hinze Dam QLD	VIC	NSW	WA	SA	TAS			1000m	3:38.00
1982	Nepean River NSW	VIC	NSW	SA	TAS	WA			1000m	3:51.10
1983	Canning River WA	VIC	SA	NSW	WA	TAS			1000m	3:24.35
1984	Lake Barrington TAS	VIC	SA	WA	TAS				1000m	3:26.3
1985	Lake Wendouree VIC	VIC	WA	NSW					2000m	7:30.50
1986	West Lakes SA	VIC	NSW	WA					2000m	7:14.64
1987	Lake Barrington TAS	VIC	SA	NSW	WA	QLD			2000m	7:32.51
1988	Nepean River VIC	VIC	QLD	SA	NSW	WA			2000m	6:45.81
1989	Wellington Dam WA – cyclone – no races conducted								2000m
1990	Lake Barrington TAS	QLD	VIC	NSW					2000m	9:00.83
1991	West Lakes SA	NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	SA			2000m	6:55.80
1992	Carrum VIC	NSW	SA	VIC	WA	QLD			2000m	8:20.87
1993	Lake Wivenhoe QLD	VIC	NSW	SA					2000m	6:41.80
1994	Lake Barrington TAS	SA	NSW	VIC	WA				2000m	7:48.10
1995	Wellington Dam WA	VIC	SA	NSW	WA				2000m	6:50.27
1996	Penrith Lakes NSW	SA	VIC	NSW	ACT	QLD	TAS		2000m	7:51.02
1997	Lake Barrington TAS	VIC	ACT	SA	NSW	WA	TAS		2000m	7:27.98
1998	Nagambie Lakes VIC	VIC	SA	ACT	NSW	TAS			2000m	6:59.06
Changed to Eight Oared Championship
1999	West Lakes SA	VIC	NSW	SA	ACT	QLD			2000m	6:16.88
2000	Penrith Lakes NSW	VIC	SA	NSW	ACT				2000m	6:20.25
2001	Lake Wivenhoe QLD	VIC	NSW	ACT	WA	SA	QLD		2000m	6:08.47
2002	Nagambie Lakes VIC	NSW	VIC	WA	ACT	SA			2000m	6:17.84
2003	Lake Barrington TAS	NSW	VIC	WA	TAS	ACT			2000m	6:17.42
2004	Nagambie Lakes VIC	NSW	WA	VIC	ACT	TAS			2000m	6:32.96
2005	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	NSW	WA	TAS	ACT	QLD		2000m	6:12.93
2006	Lake Barrington TAS	VIC	WA	TAS	NSW	ACT	QLD		2000m	6:03.48
2007	Nagambie Lakes VIC	VIC	NSW	WA	QLD	TAS	ACT		2000m	6:43.36
2008	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	WA	QLD	NSW	TAS	ACT	SA	2000m	6:09.58
2009	Lake Barrington TAS	VIC	QLD	WA	NSW				2000m	6:17.24
2010	Nagambie Lakes VIC	VIC	QLD	WA	SA	NSW	ACT		2000m	6:17.61
2011	West Lakes SA	VIC	QLD	WA	NSW				2000m	6:10.72
2012	Champion Lakes WA	VIC	QLD	WA	NSW				2000m	6:41.56
2013	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	SA	NSW	TAS	ACT	2000m	6:25.83
2014	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	SA	QLD	WA	TAS	NSW		2000m	6:18.60
2015	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	QLD	SA	NSW	TAS	WA		2000m	6:09.34
2016	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	QLD	NSW	SA	WA			2000m	6:07.90
2017	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	WA			2000m	6:08.40
2018	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	VIC	NSW	QLD	WA	SA			2000m	6:15.69
2019	Sydney International Regatta Centre NSW	NSW	VIC	WA	QLD	SA	TAS		2000m	6:25.75
2020	Regatta cancelled due to pandemic								2000m
2021	Lake Barrington, TAS	VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	TAS	WA		2000m	6:28.01
2022	Nagambie Lakes, TAS	VIC	NSW	WA	QLD	TAS			2000m	6:26.13
2023	Champion Lakes, WA	VIC	NSW	QLD	WA	SA	ACT		2000m	6:14.30

Summary of Results
State	Number of times won
Victoria	44
New South Wales	35
South Australia	9
Tasmania	5
Queensland	2
Total	95

DNF = Did not finish. DISQ = Disqualified. NTT = No time taken.

Footnotes

1 Great Britain won the 1938 race but was rowing by invitation so the title went to Tasmania.

2 New Zealand won the 1966 race but was rowing by invitation and so the title went to Victoria.

3 The Victorian crew was withdrawn from racing in 1976 by the Victorian Ladies' Rowing Association.

Sources

Other pages on this site
Images from the Guerin collection
Simon Newcomb records

< previous Interstate Men's Youth Eight (Noel F Wilkinson Trophy)

> next Interstate Women's Sculling (Nell Slatter Trophy)