1926 NSW AAGPS Head of the River
Sydney High School won again in their second start at 34th annual GRP regatta. This was the second school to do achieve such a feat. St Ignatius was struck down with illness in both the eight and the fours. They even questioned whether to row. Sydney Grammar also suffered from the effects of influenza. Of note was that the bow of the Sydney Grammar School First VIII was future Prime Minister William McMahon. His coach described his rowing as follows: He had a free movement, with a good length of body swing. The hands were smart and the blade work clean. Although on the small side he rowed a powerful blade. He raced weighing only 9st 13lb.
Also worth noting that St Ignatius was another small school with only 40 boys in the senior school at that stage. It explains the lack of success during this period.
Index to Results:
Organising Committee and Officials
Organising Committee: AAGPS
Time: 8 mins 38.5 secs
Margin: 2 feet and 3 feet
1st Sydney High School - Bow: B McMillan, 2: E P Field, 3: A R Broadhurst, 4: G Reddish, 5: D M Cook, 6: L Bagbie, 7: K Hardy,
Str: K C Robinson, Cox: R M Mainwaring, Cch: George Hancock
2nd St Josephs College
3rd Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore)
4th Newington College
Other crews
St Ignatius College - Str: Kevin Fagan
The King's School
Sydney Grammar School - Bow: William D. McMahon, 2: J. G. Gourlay, 3: B. V. Kenny, 4: F. G. Dundas, 5: A. B. Gould, 6: E. A. Bright, 7: F. A. Russell, Str: W. J. Phipps, Cox: S. H. Gowing, Coach: George MacKenzie
E1: 1st SCEGC, 2nd NC, 3rd SC, 4th SIC Time, 8min 40.2 secs
E2: 1st SHS, 2nd SJC, 3rd SGS, 4th TKS Time, 8mins 43.6 secs
Sydney High School VIII
Time: 6 mins 17secs
Margin: 2 lengths
1st The King's School
2nd Newington College
3rd St Joseph’s College
4th Sydney Church of England Grammar School
Other crews:
Sydney High School
Scots College
Sydney Grammar School - Bow: R. B. Campbell, 2: W. H. Hemingway, 3: N D Wheeler, Str: D. F. Stewart, Cox: S. W. McMahon
Sydney High School Four
E1: 1st NC, 2nd SCEGS, 3rd SHS, 4th SIC Time, 6 mins 32.4 secsE2: 1st TKS, 2nd SJC, 3rd SGS, 4th SC Time; 6 mins 33 secs
Time: 6 mins 9.5 secs
Margin: 0.5 length
1st The King's School2nd Sydney Grammar School - Bow: L. Mowle, 2: W. S. Brown, 3: J Slack-Smith, Str: J. C. Loxton, Cox: A. W. Clough
3rd Sydney High School - Bow: A Crowther, 3: H Peach, Str: L Hopper, Cox: H Walker, Cch: G Smith
4th Sydney Church of England Grammar School;
Other crews
Newington College
St Ignatius College
E1: 1st TKS, 2nd SHS, 3rd SC, 4th SIC Time 6 mins 8.5 secs
E2: 1st SCEGS, 2nd SGS, 3rd SJC, 4th NC Time, 6 mins 21.4 secs
Sydney High School
Sources
- Sydney High School centenary history published in 1988
- The Record, Sydney High School, Vol XVII No 3 June 1926
- The Sydneian, No 261, August 1926 for Sydney Grammar School crew names