1930 NSW AAGPS Head of the River
Great controversy surrounded this race. High dead heated with Shore in the heat, the first time this had occurred. There was nearly a dead heat in the other heat with the judges just able to separate St Josephs and Newington with St Josephs getting through.
High triumphed in the final in very rough conditions. In a sensational decision, both High and Grammar were disqualified. However some months later, the AAGPS declared the event a no race and the title lapsed for the year. However as High was the current winners from 1929, the Major Rennie trophy remained in their possession. The justification for the decision remains obscure.
However there were comments that crews were spending too much time on rowing and insufficient time on studies. The headmasters were not pleased.
Index to Results:
Organising Committee and Officials
Organising Committee: AAGPS
Time: 10 mins 20 secs
Margin: 0.5 length
Declared a no race well after the regatta. However the race results were:
1st Sydney High School - Bow: J Mewton, 2: H Clay, 3: A Brown, 4: J Boughton, 5: T Pauling, 6: D Ferguson, 7: L Brennan, Str: J Budge, Cox: V Dearman, Cch: George Hancock
2nd St Josephs College
3rd Sydney Church of England Grammar School
4th Newington College
Known heats results:
E1: Equal 1st: SHS and SCEGS
E2: 1st SJC, 2nd NC, 3rd SIC
Sydney High School VIII
Time: 7 Mins 27.5 secs
1st St Josephs College
2nd Scot's College
3rd Sydney High School - Bow: G MacDougal, 2: B Kreuiter, 3: M MacDougal, Str: J Hanney, Cox: F Henderson
4th The King's School
Heats:
E1: 1st Scots College, 2nd Sydney High School, 3rd St Ignatius College
Sydney High School First Four
Time: 7 mins 36.5 secs
1st St Joseph's College
2nd Sydney High School - Bow: V Barnes, 2: H Willis, 3: R Spinks, Str: G Hancock, Cox: A O'Connor
3rd St Ignatius College
4th Scot's College
Heats:
1st St Josephs College, 2nd Sydney High School, 3rd St Ignatius College
Sydney High School Second Four
Sources include:
- The Record, Sydney High School, Vol XXII No 1, 1930