History of AAGPS Head of the River Rowing Regatta

1966 NSW AAGPS Head of the River

3ft win to Newington (Rod Humphries, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 Apr 1966)

The powerful Newington College eight, with history on its side, yesterday won a thrilling Head of the River.

Newington, the unbeaten G.P.S. crew this season, held off a strong late challenge from last year’s winner, Scots, to win by only a yard. Grammar and Shore, together all the way over the 1 ½ mile course, dead-heated for third, half a length behind Scots.

History certainly repeated itself in more ways than one when Newington crossed the finishing line yesterday. Scots has won the Head of the River only three times, and each year afterwards Newington got up to win.

It is coincidental, or history repeating itself again, that the boat which won yesterday was named after the coach of Newington’s last winning crew, Mr Tom Chessell. Though history was on Newington’s side yesterday, it still took a strong, well-conditioned ad well-disciplined eight to “pip” Scots in a gruelling race.

Th win for the conventional-style Newington crew halted the two-year success of crews rowing with the revolutionary European style. The victory by the favourite could also mean a reorganization of thinking on the part of schools which have been so quick to switch to the revolutionary style.

Senior 1st Eight

Major Rennie Trophy

8:05.60

3ft

½ length

Dead heat

1^st Newington – Bow: J. Cooper, 2: D. Gay, 3: P. Purcell, 4: K. Postlethwaite, 5: W. Bradley, 6: K. Mackney, 7: G. Hartmax, Str: J. May, Cox: K. Amos

2^nd Scots College

3^rd Shore

3^rd Grammar

Senior 1st Four

Yaralla Cup

5:53.00

4 lengths

1 length

1^st St. Joseph’s College – Bow: R. Munro, 2: S. Perkowicz, 3: R. Beaton, Str: J. Nicoll, Cox: J. Stanton

2^nd The King’s School

3^rd Riverview

Senior 2nd Four

5:56.00

3 lengths

¾ length

1^st The King’s School – Bow: D. Glasson, 2: A. Reynolds, 3: P. Basche, Str: D. Simmonds, Cox: J. Fielder

2^nd Riverview

3^rd St. Joseph’s College

Senior 3rd Four

6:03.50

1 length

1^st Newington – Bow: R. Burrell, 2: M. Chapman, 3: S. Tremaln, Str: L. Cornell, Cox: P. Stenner

2^nd High

3^rd Riverview

Senior 4th Four

6:05.00

1 length

Canvas

1^st Grammar – Bow: E. Gardner, 2: M. Champion, 3: D. Stewart, Str: J. Turner, Cox: G. Downes

2^nd Riverview

3^rd High

< previous 1965

> next 1967

top of page

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.

1966 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