1956 Rowing Victoria State Championships

The championships were conducted at various courses and on various dates as noted below.

Given the impending Olympic Games, which were to be conducted over 2000m, all Championships were conducted over that distance or the shorter 1 mile depending on the restrictions of the course.

Mercantile easily won the eight as expected and Don Dudgeon of Richmond won the scull. South Melbourne won all the lightweight races showing their dominance in this division.

The women's championships are still being researched.

Race Results

Click on the race of interest and the results will appear below the buttons:

M8+
M4+
M2+
M1X
M1X 2km
MJ8+
MJ4+
MJ2+
MLW8+
MLW4+
MLW2+

Victorian Eight-Oared Championship

2000m

Time: 6:47.2

Margin: Four lengths

1st Mercantile - Bow: Hubert R Frederico, 2: Warwick O Granowski, 3: John Foley, 4: C Brian Dawes, 5: Garth O V Manton, 6: David H Boykett, 7: Jack Morganti, Str: Brian J Doyle, Cox: H Neil Hewitt, Coach: Robert R Aitken

2nd Melbourne University

3rd Composite Crew

Raced at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat on the 11th of February 1956. Crews raced for the Norwich Shield and the Sir Thomas Nettlefold Medallions.

Victorian Four-Oared Championship

2000m

Time: 7:42.8

Margin: ½ length

1st Mercantile - Bow: Hubert R Frederico, 2: C Brian Dawes, 3: John A Hunt, Str: Roland H Richardson, Cox: H Neil Hewitt, Coach: Norman W Cairnes

2nd Albert Park

3rd Corio Bay

Holders: Albert Park Rowing Club. Rowed on the Lower Yarra on the 21st of April 1956.

Victorian Pair-Oared Championship

1 mile

No Times Taken

Margin: 3 ½ lengths

1st Albert Park - Bow: R B Duncan, Str: B D Dickson, Cox: J Cockbill, Coach: H R Duncan

2nd Lake Colac

3rd Essendon

Other competing crews:

Banks/Albert Park

Mercantile

Rowed on Lake Nagambie over 1 mile on the 26th of December 1955.

Victorian Sculling Championship

2000m

Time: 9:21.2

1st Richmond - Don Dudgeon

2nd Melbourne - G Barker

3rd Melbourne University - John Hunt

Other competing crews:

Yarra Yarra - P Begelhole

Essendon - D Brooke

Melbourne - B Bacash

Rowed on Lake Wendouree, Ballarat on the 11th of February 1956.

Victorian 2,000 Metres Sculling Championship

2000m

Refer to Champion Scull which was raced over 2000m

Victorian Junior Eight-Oared Championship

2000m

Time: 7:07.2

Margin: ½ length

1st Scotch College - Bow: Andrew S Peacock, 2: M J Errington, 3: A S Olsson, 4: C C Grant, 5: J P Rowland, 6: A R Frater, 7: Robert E Lee, Str: N C Courtney, Cox: F P Newman, Coach: L H Christie

2nd Trinity College

3rd Extra Collegiate

Other competing crews:

Mercantile

Ormond College

Banks

Albert Park

Rowed on the Lower Yarra over 2000 metres on the 21st of April 1956.

Victorian Junior Four-Oared Championship

2000m

Time: 7:58.00

Margin: 1 length

1st Albert Park - Bow: E Stranger, 2: Kevin McMahon, 3: R Libbis, Str: F Jacobs, Cox: N Treslso, Coach: Fred Easton

2nd Mercantile

3rd Banks

Other competing crews:

Richmond

Rowed on the Lower Yarra over 2000 metres on the 17th of December 1955.

Victorian Junior Pair-Oared Championship

1 mile

No time taken

1st Albert Park - Bow: B Libbis, Str: F Jacobs, Cox: N Wright, Coach: F Easton

2nd Preston

3rd Essendon

Other starters:

Mercantile

Yea

Footscray City

Rowed on Lake Nagambie over 1 mile on the 26th December 1955.

Victorian Lightweight Eight-Oared Championship

2000m

Time: 7:34.8

Margin: 1 canvas

1st South Melbourne - Bow: T Summers, 2: E Jackson, 3: R Gallery, 4: R Jones, 5: Leigh Gallagher, 6: W Stevens, 7: G Taylor, Stroke: R Tanner, Cox: A Campbell, Coach: W Graham

2nd Mercantile

Rowed on the Lower Yarra over 2000 metres on the 21st of April 1956.

Victorian Lightweight Four-Oared Championship

2000m

Time: 8:06.2

Margin: 1 length

1st South Melbourne - Bow: T Summers, 2: L Gallagher, 3: G Taylor, Str: R Tanner, Cox: A Campbell, Coach: J Webster

2nd Yarra Yarra

3rd Mercantile

Rowed on the Lower Yarra on the 17th December 1955.

Victorian Lightweight Pair-Oared Championship

1 mile

No time taken

Margin: 2 lengths

1st South Melbourne - Bow: T Summers, Str: G Taylor, Cox: A Campbell, Coach: J Webster

2nd Richmond

3rd Rutherglen Lake

Other Starters:

Mercantile

Hawthorn

Ballarat City

Yarra Yarra

Albert Park

Rowed on Lake Nagambie on the 26th December 1955.

Sources

Victorian Rowing Association, Reports 1942 - 1975.

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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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