1952 SATIS Head of the River
Saturday, April 26 - Tamar River
First Four:
6 crews raced for the Golden Fleece Cup in 1952 on the 1⅛ mile course on the Tamar River:
- The Friends’ School
- Hutchins School
- Launceston Church Grammar School
- Scotch College
- St. Patrick’s College, and
- St. Virgil’s College
The Mercury described that Launceston Church Grammar got ahead early in the race and gradually increased its lead as the race progressed. Launceston Church Grammar took out the win by a length over the 1951 winners, St. Virgil’s College. It was their first win in the title race since 1947, where they dominated the event for the best part of a decade.
Second Four:
6 crews represented from the aforementioned schools competed in the junior category, who raced over ½ mile:
- The Friends’ School
- Hutchins School
- Launceston Church Grammar School
- Scotch College
- St. Patrick’s College, and
- St. Virgil’s College
The Mercury wrote that The Friends’ School managed a one-length win over Scotch with St. Virgil’s in third.
Third Four:
There were 5 entrants in the third’s category, with Scotch College not fielding a crew:
- The Friends’ School
- Hutchins School
- Launceston Church Grammar School
- St. Patrick’s College, and
- St. Virgil’s College
The Mercury wrote that Launceston Church Grammar took out a closely contested ½ mile race with a half-length win over Friends’.
First Four:
The Mercury published the following report of Launceston Church Grammar regaining the title race:
“After getting to the front, Grammar began to increase its lead gradually. It held off a determined bid by Scotch College just after passing the half mile and opened up a lead of a length over St. Virgil's. Hutchins and Scotch College fought out a desperate finish for third position, which went to Hutchins by half a canvas.”
Launceston Church Grammar (left) winning the 1952 Head of the River
(Source: The Mercury, 28 April 1952)
Second Four:
The Mercury wrote that The Friends' School won by a length over Scotch College with St. Virgil's College in third.
Third Four:
The Mercury noted that Launceston Church Grammar took out this race by a half-length over The Friends' School.
Organising Committee:
Tasmanian Rowing Association
Officials:
(Unknown)
First Four
Golden Fleece Cup
1⅛ miles
No Time Taken
Margins: 1, ½ lengths
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: D. J. Rose, 2: J. C. Edis, 3: M. J. Fisher, Str: W. R. Chamberlain, Cox: B. G. Henry
2nd St. Virgil’s College – Bow: J. R. Sullivan, 2: R. J. Smart, 3: G. P. Pullen, Str: J. F. Wilmshurst, Cox: G. Griffiths
3rd Hutchins School – Bow: N. Levis, 2: B. Butler, 3: R. Terry, Str: J. Millington, Cox: M. Darcey
4th Scotch College – Bow: J. McKenzie, 2: A. B. Brown, 3: R. Stewart, Str: R. B. Cullen, Cox: R. D. Macarthur
5th St. Patrick’s College – (crew unknown)
6th The Friends’ School – (crew unknown)
Second Four
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: 1 length, 1 canvas
1st The Friends’ School – Bow: C. Wright, 2: C. Campbell, 3: J. Newton, Str: G. Dudgeon, Cox: D. Rattray-Smith
2nd Scotch College – Bow: H. G. Christie-Johnson, 2: R. F. Yates, 3: O. F. Davis, Str: T. G. Bird, Cox: G. W. Thorne
3rd St. Virgil’s College – Bow: G. M. Howard, 2: P. D. Lambert, 3: J. E. Shirley, Str: W. T. Egan, Cox: G. P. Harrington
4th St. Patrick’s College – (crew unknown)
5th Launceston Church Grammar – (crew unknown)
6th Hutchins School – Bow: Foster, 2: Brewster, 3: Boyes, Str: Purdon, Cox: Page
Third Four
½ mile
No Time Taken
Margins: ½, ½ length
1st Launceston Church Grammar – Bow: J. Grove, 2: M. A. Fitzgerald, 3: B. W. Eldridge, Str: W. C. Holyman, Cox: E. R. Charlton
2nd The Friends’ School – Bow: L. Fowler, 2: I. Rumney, 3: J. Rowntree, Str: R. McCullock, Cox: H. Wilkinson
3rd St. Virgil’s College – Bow: D. L. Harvey, 2: J. E. Delves, 3: G. F. Wells, Str: P. B. Youl, Cox: M. Counsel
4th St. Patrick’s College – (crew unknown)
5th Hutchins School – Bow: W. Ferusson, 2: Rankin, 3: Lindsay, Str: J. Fergusson, Cox: Calvert
Sources
Boat Race Win To Grammar (1952, 28 April), The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: 1860 – 1954), p. 16, Retrieved 5 June 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27069054
FINISH OF TITLE RACE (1952, 28 April), The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: 1860 – 1954), p. 16, Retrieved 5 June 2020, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27069052
Hutchins School Magazine, December 1952