1932 Ballarat Head of the Lake

This race was conducted on Lake Wendouree on Saturday 7th May 1932. The third and fourth crews raced a two days earlier on 5th May 1932. The Argus reported on Saturday 30th April that the regatta had created great interest amongst ex-students of the colleges and with Ballarat College Old Collegians Association planning a dinner on the evening of the race. An old boys race was also conducted. Ballarat Grammar won from St Patrick's College and Ballarat College who finished in a dead heat for second.

1932 was the first year that the Dowling Cup was presented. The Must Cup which had been presented to the winning crew since 1926 had been won three times by Ballarat Grammar and they achieved this in 1931 thus gaining possession of the cup in perpetuity.

The Age reported on Monday 9th May 1932 as follows:

Victory for Ballarat College

The annual Head of the Lake Public Schools boat race attracted a large crowd to Lake Wendouree this afternoon, when the event was rowed under the auspices of the Ballarat Rowing Association. Ballarat College secured its first win for four years and its success was very popular. St. Patrick’s College won the race for second fours, and Grammar School won the Old Boys race in a close finish, with the two other crews dead heating for second. Events previously decided were the races for third crews in which St. Patrick’s won from Grammar School and Ballarat College and the fourth crews, in which Grammar School was first and St. Patrick’s College second and Ballarat College third. The regatta for the thirds and fourths had a large attendance of supporters and there were nearly as many people on View Point as there was for Head of the Lake day!