1944 SATIS Northern & Southern Head of the River
Wednesday, April 5 - Tamar River &
Saturday, April 1 - Derwent River:
First Four - North:
The 1944 Northern Regatta was held on a Wednesday for the first time. It was raced over one-mile on the Tamar, starting at the cattle jetty and finishing at Royal Park. The 3 local crews were:
- Launceston Church Grammar School,
- Scotch College, and
- St. Patrick’s College
The Examiner described conditions on the day were decent for racing, however, the presence of a southerly breeze meant that it was a headwind for the rowers. Launceston Church Grammar won the seniors race by an amazing 10 lengths over Scotch College.
First Four - South:
Four local crews raced over one-mile on the Derwent River in the 1944 Southern Regatta:
- Clemes College,
- The Friends’ School,
- Hutchins School, and
- St. Virgil’s College
The Mercury recounted that in the race, Hutchins and Friends’ were tussling for the lead for the first half of the race. However, Hutchins drew away in the last half-mile to win by 1½ lengths.
Second Four - North:
The Second Four raced over ½ mile which involved the same 3 crews:
- Launceston Church Grammar School,
- Scotch College, and
- St. Patrick’s College
Once again, as reported by The Examiner, Launceston Grammar won by a convincing 8 lengths.
Second Four - South:
Clemes College did not enter the seconds race, so only 3 crews contested this:
- The Friends’ School,
- Hutchins School, and
- St. Virgil’s College
The Mercury stated that Hutchins won by 1 length.
Third Four - South:Given the gradual increase in crews in the junior race, exemplified with 9 entrants in the juniors (seconds) race last year, a thirds race was introduced for the first time in 1944. 3 crews started in the inaugural race:
- The Friends’ School, and
- Hutchins School 1 & 2
The Mercury recalled that Hutchins #1 won by 1½ lengths from their #2 crew.
First Four - North:
The Examiner reported that Launceston Church Grammar won the seniors race by an amazing 10 lengths over Scotch College, and, that it was their third year in-a-row winning the Northern regatta.
First Four - South:
The Mercury wrote that Hutchins’ win by 1½ lengths over The Friends' School resulted in their third win in as many years in the split format of the regatta.
Winners of the 1944 First Four at the Southern Head of the River - Hutchins School
(Source: Hutchins School Magazine, June 1944)
Second Four - North:
The Examiner reported that Launceston Church Grammar also dominated the seconds race by 8 lengths. It was a hat-trick of wins in both the First Four and Second Four for Launceston Church Grammar in the Northern Head of the River (1942-1943-1944).
Second Four - South:
The Mercury commented that although the distance was only ½ a mile, crews attempted to sprint rather than settling to a mid-race rhythm. Hutchins, however, were able to row with more length and ratio to win by one length.
Third Four - South:
The Mercury wrote that in this inaugural race, Hutchins #1 won by 1½ lengths from their #2 crew, with Friends a further 2 lengths back in third.Organising Committee:
Tasmanian Rowing Association
Officials:
Northern Head of the River:
Starter: Senator B. Sampson
Umpire: Mr. A. Brewer
Judge: Mr. J. E. Heritage
Southern Head of the River:
(unknown)***
Saturday, April 15 - Derwent River (North vs. South):The 1944 Northern Head of the River winners (Launceston Church Grammar School) travelled down to the Derwent to face the 1944 Southern Head of the River winners (Hutchins School) to race each other both in the First Four and Second Four.
First Four - North vs. South:
Over one-mile, Launceston Church Grammar defeated Hutchins School by an impressive 5 lengths.
The Examiner wrote:
“The race was over a mile. Grammar got a fast start and rowed with a short, weighty catch, while Hutchins settled into a long stroke. Grammar soon pained the lead and held it all the way. About half-way Grammar drew further ahead, and with a beautiful burst swept past the line five lengths ahead of Hutchins.”
Second Four - North vs. South:Over ½ mile, The Examiner wrote that Launceston Church Grammar won by 1½ lengths over Hutchins School.
Organising Committee:
Tasmanian Rowing Association
Officials:
(unknown)
First Four - North
1 mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 10 lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: T. Seddon, 2: A. Russell, 3: C. Harvey, Str: F. McGhie, Cox: N. Heyward
2nd Scotch College – Bow: J. Finlay, 2: R. Southam, 3: M. Potts, Str: B. Cairns, Cox: A. McDonald
3rd St. Patrick’s College – Bow: F. Leslie, 2: W. Lapthorne, 3: C. Lamp, Str: D. Walton, Cox: J. Tabart
First Four - South
1 mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 1½, 1, 3 lengths
1st Hutchins School – Bow: R. S. McIntyre, 2: M. Jack, 3: R. S. Hay, Str: C. M. Shugg, Cox: I. N. Hawker
2nd The Friends’ School – Bow: A. Stokes, 2: R. Dunbabin, 3: H. Wells, Str: N. McCormick, Cox: D. McRae
3rd St. Virgil’s College – Bow: P. Murray, 2: P. Bryan, 3: M. Maloney, Str: A. Cunningham, Cox: G. Waters
4th Clemes College – Bow: M. Forster, 2: J. Allwright, 3: G. Suter, Str: G. Howell, Cox: D. Archer
Second Four - North
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 8 lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: J. Youl, 2: M. Trethewie, 3: K. Trundle, Str: D. Gilmour, Cox: R. Taylor
2nd Scotch College – Bow: D. Nicholson, 2: T. Walduck, 3: J. Squires, Str: H. Connell, Cox: A. Johnstone
3rd St. Patrick’s College – Bow: P. Richardson, 2: J. Bourke, 3: B. Stuart, Str: B. Brown, Cox: J. Greig
Second Four - South
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 1, 1 length
1st Hutchins School – Bow: J. Collier, 2: R. Baker, 3: R. Brown, Str: G. Ellis, Cox: P. Seaton
2nd The Friends’ School – Bow: B. Hean, 2: C. Fitzgerald, 3: C. Gunn, Str: J. Miller, Cox: D. Edwards
3rd St. Virgil’s College – Bow: K. Manning, 2: A. Lyden, 3: B. Fisher, Str: D. Miles, Cox: J. Kingston
Third Four - South
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 1½, 2 lengths
1st Hutchins School 1 – Bow: D. Hodgson, 2: D. Clark, 3: S. Hodgson, Str: K. Duncan, Cox: P. Brothers
2nd Hutchins School 2 – Bow: D. Burton, 2: J. Hughes, 3: P. Croft, Str: K. Kile, Cox: I. Crisp
3rd The Friends’ School – Bow: D. McDougall, 2: J. Muir, 3: M. Lester, Str: B. Clennett, Cox: K. Perkins
First Four - North Vs. South
1 mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 5 lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: T. Seddon, 2: A. Russell, 3: C. Harvey, Str: F. McGhie, Cox: N. Heyward
2nd Hutchins School – Bow: R. S. McIntyre, 2: M. Jack, 3: R. S. Hay, Str: C. M. Shugg, Cox: I. N. Hawker
Second Four - North Vs. South
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 1½ lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: J. Youl, 2: M. Trethewie, 3: K. Trundle, Str: D. Gilmour, Cox: R. Taylor
2nd Hutchins School – Bow: J. Collier, 2: R. Baker, 3: R. Brown, Str: G. Ellis, Cox: P. Seaton
Sources
Head-of-River Races to Grammar (1944, 6 April), Examiner (Launceston, Tas.: 1900 – 1954), p. 6, Retrieved 31 May 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/91392783
Hutchins School Magazine, June 1944
ROWING HEAD-OF-RIVER (1944, April 3), The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: 1860 – 1954), p. 10, Retrieved 2 June 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26012218
Rowing HEAD-OF-RIVER TO GRAMMAR (1944, 17 April), Examiner (Launceston, Tas.: 1900 – 1954), p. 4, Retrieved 2 June 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/91400862