History of AAGPS Head of the River Rowing Regatta

1948 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

High Carried Cargo of Bricks (Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Apr 1948).

Sydney High School crew, which won the G.P.S. Head of the River eights on the Nepean River on Saturday, had bricks in its boat to make up weight got cox G.L. Ferris.

Ferris was entered as weighing eight-stone, but on the morning of the race weighed only 7st 3 ½ lb. When Ferris was tossed into the river by his crew after the race, the bricks were thrown with him.

The win was High School’s first since 1929, and its fifth since the race was first rowed in 1893. High won narrowly from Newington, in the record time of 7m 52 1-5s. Shore was third.

About 15,000 people saw the race. A pre-race survey of the course revealed it to be 147 yards short, and the starting line was adjusted. Officials said yesterday that a change had been made late last week in the rating of High School’s fours.

Coaches found that the fourth four was setting better times in training than the third crew, and a switch was made.

Senior 1st Eight

Major Rennie Trophy

7:52.20

½ length

1^st Sydney High School – Bow: J. Clelland, 2: S. Sherritt, 3: J. Bos, 4: B. Downie, 5: B. Soane, 6: D. Anderson, 7: B. Hopkins, Str: W. Mahoney, Cox: G. Ferris, Cch: F.M. Nicholls

2^nd Newington – Bow: L. Blackman, 2: I.W. Abbott, 3: G. Nicholls, 4: R. Handley, 5: R. Lester, 6: D. Stanley, 7: L. Notaras, Str: J. Allanson, Cox: L. Leonard, Cch: C.C. Davies

3^rd Shore – Bow: E. Perdriau, 2: J.D. Webster, 3: D.L. Hudson, 4: T.I. Baillieu, 5: I.A. Carlewis, 6: V.F. Arnold, 7: A.W. McAuley, Str: E. Cowdery, Cox: D.K. Budd, Cch: L.C. Robson

4^th St. Joseph’s College

5^th Sydney Grammar

6^th Scots College

7^th The King’s School

8^th St. Ignatius’ College

Senior 1st Four

Yaralla Cup

5:48.60

¼ length

1 length

1^st Sydney High – Bow: K.J. Paul, 2: J.L. Kerr, 3: J.G. Harris, Str: J.H. Adair, Cox: A.C. Pearce, Cch: Major D.J. Duffy

2^nd Newington

3^rd Scots College

Senior 2nd Four

No time

½ length

2 lengths

1^st Sydney High

2^nd Newington

3^rd Sydney Grammar

Senior 3rd Four

No time

½ length

¼ length

1^st Sydney High

2^nd Shore

3^rd St. Joseph’s College

Senior 4th Four

No time

Canvas

4ft

1^st Shore

2^nd Scots College

3^rd Newington

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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
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.

1948 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

Senior 1st Eight

Senior 1st Four

Senior 2nd Four

Senior 3rd Four

Senior 4th Four

NSW AAGPS Head of River

Summaries