1928 Head of the River

1st Xavier College - Bow: Carl L Wraith, 2: Jim W Andre, 3: Tom J Kelly, 4: Jack E Dowling, 5: Norman G Whitehead, 6: Paul E Whitehead, 7: Alan F Redding, Str: William M Ryan, Cox: Eddie A Fakhry, Cch: Mark Shea
2nd Scotch College - Bow: Newall F Laidlaw, 2: Thomas Mitchell, 3: William V Stephen, 4: William J M McAuley, 5: Archibald J R Glenn, 6: R Athol D Hill, 7: Ian G Forbes, Str: Ivor K Whittaker, Cox: John S Legge, Cch: Dr Charles W B Littlejohn
3rd Wesley College - Bow: J K Livingston, 2: B E Coombes, 3: R A Greenham, 4: A J Campbell, 5: E E Hammond, 6: W G Rolfe, 7: S W Belcher, Str: K W Hecht, Cox: E H Marks, Cch: Charles Donald

The victorious Xavier College crew

Scotch College first crew

Wesley College first crew

The Age reported on the final as follows

The three crews jumped away smartly at the gun on the third occasion. Scotch for the first ¼ minute rowed 11 strokes and Wesley and Xavier rowed 10 strokes. At the bridge Scotch were leading by half a length from Xavier, with Wesley ¾ of a length further back, Scotch accomplishing the distance in 57 sec., Xavier 60 sec, and Wesley 65 sec. It was particularly smart rowing, and a fast run under the conditions. On the stretch to the corner, Xavier, using their bid bodies to the fullest advantage were gradually reducing the leeway, and before the boats commenced to turn were only 1/3 of a length behind. Scotch were also rowing finely, but were encountering much rough water. Wesley at the stage had dropped back over a length, and the race now resolved itself into a contest between two crews. Coming round the corner, Xavier, with a well timed effort, was slowly reducing Scotch’s lead, and when the boats had straightened up the two crews were fighting on level terms. Then Xavier, who were at that stage rowing at its top, commenced stroke by stroke to forge ahead, and at Brander’s held a commanding lead of half a length. Scotch were still not to be denied. Making a great effort passing the booms, they were overhauling their opponents, when Xavier replied and staved off the attack. A great struggle then ensued to the finish, but Xavier, rowing strongly passed the judge with half a length to spare, after one of the best races ever seen for the head of the river. Wesley were three lengths further astern. Time 5 min 59 sec.

Other crews competing were:
Geelong Grammar - Bow: N B Welsh, 2: V C Fairfax, 3: T C McKellar, 4: J C Guest, 5: D M Pittendrigh, 6: L M Smith, 7: W R Pincott, Str: R G McFarlane, Cox: G N McMicking, Cch: William H Pincott
Geelong College - Bow: R W Gough, 2: R J Hennings, 3: A R Pyle, 4: A D Matheson, 5: J B Waugh, 6: M J Lamont, 7: G S Red, Str: J R Adam, Cox: C Fallow, Cch: C Collyer
Melbourne Grammar- Bow: W A Sambell, 2: W H Stimson, 3: A R Pitts, 4: J A Wilmoth, 5: R B Courtney, 6: A Parish, 7: L L O Bevan, Str: L Luxton, Cox: A J King, Cch: C R Franklin

E1: 1st XC, 2nd MGS, Margin: 1/2 length, Time: 5:30.6
E2: 1st SC, 2nd GGS, Margin: 2 1/2 lengths, Time: 5:49.2
E3: 1st WC, 2nd GC, Margin: 1/2 length, Time 5:35.0

The Argus described the heats as follows:

First Heat - Xavier v MGS

Both crews went away together, Melbourne Grammar striking at 42, Xavier 40. Xavier led to the bridge by ¾ of a length, taking 55 secs., while Melbourne Grammar took the full minute. Melbourne commenced to improve its position passing the big drain, and was only half a length away at the corner. If the coxswain had taken his crew farther on the north station both crews would probably have been level at this point. Xavier now settled down, and was rowing at 36, with Melbourne a trifle slower. Melbourne was only a ¼ of a length behind at Brander’s, where both crews were striking at 34. At the east end of the wall the positions were the same, and again at the city end of the wall Xavier was only a ¼ of a length in front. Both crews spurted at the drain, but Melbourne could not retain its fine effort, and Xavier passed the line with half a length’s advantage in 5 min 30 3-5th sec.

Second Heat - Scotch College v Geelong Grammar

Both crews went off together, Scotch College rowing at the fast rate of 44 to the minute, whilst Geelong stuck at 40. Both crews reached the Anderson street bridge together in 60 seconds, and passed under it on even terms, Scotch rowing at 38, and Geelong Grammar 36. At the corner Scotch, which was too far out, had an advantage of a third of a length. Coming into the straight, Scotch had settled down to 35 against the win, when Geelong had a bad “flop”, which cost them over half a length. At the wall, Scotch were more than a length in front, rowing at 36, and passing down the side of the wall, gradually drew away, and were two lengths in front at the city end of the staging. Geelong made an effort, but it was hopeless, as Scotch had the race well in hand, and won with two and a half lengths to spare in 5 min 49 1-5th sec.

Third Heat - Wesley College v Geelong College
..the crews were soon sent away, Geelong College going at 40, and Wesley College striking 38. At the bridge Geelong was a canvas in front, having reached there in 0.58. Wesley, on the north station, was very well steered, but it was remarked that the rowing of the Geelong crew from the bridge to the corner was the best seen during the afternoon. Wesley by its steering, was able to come round the corner on equal terms. Both crews were striking 36, and Wesley, who was now showing its form, had a ¼ of a length advantage at Brander’s. Coming to the wall Wesley had increased its lead, but the Geelong boys were not to be beaten, and quickened up their work, coming down the wall with the result that Wesley was only half a length in front at the city end of the wall. In a great race home, in which the light Wesley crew showed excellent rowing, they passed the line with half a length’s advantage in 5 min 35 sec.

Melbourne Grammar First Crew

reproduced with permission of MGS archives
Back row (from left): R.B. Courtney, J.A. Wilmoth, A.R. Pitts and W.A. Sambell. Seated: L. Luxton, A. Parish, C.R. Franklin Esq., W.H. Stimson (captain) and L.L.O. Bevan. Out front: A.J. King (cox)

Metropolitan schools on the Upper Yarra
1st Scotch College - Bow: G G Powell, 2: W K Chisholm, 3: K H Vial, 4: C F Adam, 5: K H Bertram, 6: C S Donald, 7: N P Carroll, Str: Charles O A Wilson, Cch: Mt Tomlinson
2nd Melbourne Grammar - Bow: D H Thompson, 2: R T Morell, 3: R Yuncken, 4: K G Thompson, 5: K S Wragge, 6: F S Delbridge, 7: D Carnegie, Str: P M Hudson, Cox: S Mather
3rd Wesley College - Bow: A Lee, 2: F Watkins, 3: J Girdwood, 4: J Templeton, 5: H Vale, 6: A Mitchell, 7: R Walduck, Str: M Carroll, Cox: E Marks, Cch: Mr A Greenham
4th Xavier College - Bow: R Flanagan, 2: J Liston, 3: H Kenna, 4: J Ryan, 5: J McCombe, 6: D Flynn, 7: J Ryland, Str: J Cass, Cox: R Duffy, Cch: Mr J Batchelor

Mebourne Grammar School Second Crew

Reproduced with permission from MGS archives

The 1928 Head of the River program describes the race as such:
A very large crowd assembled to witness the regatta last Saturday afternoon over the last half mile of the Henley course. Judging by the enthusiasm one would have thought that it was "Head of the River" day, and the racing was worthy of the patronage accorded it.

This proved a great "go" between the first two crews, who, early in the race broke away from Wesley and Xavier. Scotch got the better of the start and gained an early lead of half a length. This they maintained to the Henley wall, where Grammar challenged them, and a neck and neck struggle ensued from then to the finish, Scotch just getting home after a thrilling finish by one third of a length. Wesley 1 1/2 lengths behind, filled third place and Xavier, a similar distance behind Wesley, was fourth.

Geelong schools on the Barwon
1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: R Andrew, 2: N Green, 3: P Thornley, 4: J Hardy, 5: O Falkiner, 6: B Plante, 7: F Taylor, Str: G White, Cox: L Green
2nd Geelong College - Bow: N Wettenhall, 2: S McDonald, 3: G Wood, 4: J Proud, 5: P McPherson, 6: J Reid, 7: M Hirst, Str: J Nimmo, Cox: C McFarlane

Geelong Grammar won easily by two lengths.

Metropolitan schools on the Upper Yarra
1st Melbourne Grammar- Bow: D Morell, 2: R Graham, 3: K Hill, 4: A Mein, 5: N Plunkett, 6: J Smith, 7: E Cairns, Str: T Luxton, Cox J Crombie
2nd Scotch College - Bow: Stewart, 2: Webb, 3: Pethard, 4: Bayley, 5: Green, 6: Forster, 7: Robinson, Str: Smith, Cch: Mr McKay
3rd Wesley College - Bow: R Hunter, 2: H Beckett, 3: T Walker, 4: H Rankine, 5: L Stone, 6: J Habusberger, 7: M Woodruff, Str: H Millikan, Cox: J Horsfall, Cch: Mr R Turnbull
4th Xavier College - Bow: E Morris, 2: J Stewart, 3: J Hartung, 4: S Methven, 5: P Kearney, 6: J Bourke, 7: J Loughran, Str: J Simpson, Cox: J McCrohan, Cch: Rev J Healey

The 1928 Head of the River program describes the race as such:
Melbourne early obtained a lead, and, breaking away from Scotch at the Henley Wall, won by a length and a quarter. Wesley were a length behind Scotch and Xavier fourth.

Geelong schools on the Barwon
1st Geelong Grammar - Bow: W Hope, 2: C Maxwell, 3: A Pringle, 4: G Bright, 5: J Fagan, 6: A Cartwright, 7: H Dobson, Str: C Jermyn, Cox: F Speed
2nd Geelong College - Bow: J Coto, 2: I Hood, 3: K McLellan, 4: J Stoker, 5: P Grimwade, 6: D Reid, 7: W Gillespie, Str: A Hinchcliffe, Cox: A Peel

The 1928 Head of the River program describes the race as such:
This proved a remarkable race, for after a third of the distance had been rowed, the stroke of the GGS boat broke his rigger. He held his oar above the water and No. 7 stroked the boat. Grammar won by a canvas.

1st Melbourne Grammar - Bow: B Lavcock, 2: J Willis, 3: D Wilson, 4: S Barlow, 5: F Loxton, 6: A Bennett, 7: J Gribbins, Str: C West, Cox: J Green
2nd Scotch College - Bow: G Ghirkell, 2: J Ross, 3: G Drummond, 4: O Davis, 5: T Jackson, 6: J Barrow, 7: T Aitchinson, Str: W Refshcrique, Cox: J Rose, Cchs: Messrs Coogan & Adams

Melbourne led throughout the race for a comfortable win.