1940 Ballarat Head of the Lake
This race was conducted on Lake Wendouree on Saturday April 27, with the Thirds and fourths regatta held on April 24.
The SPCB Annual 1940-41, pages 75 and 76 reported on the event as follows;
The day of the boatrace was excellent for rowing, and with the south station we (St.Pat’s ) had everything in our favour. The start was good, but Grammar, striking fast, soon drew away to a lead of about a length, with College another length away in third place. Grammar maintained their lead, which varied from ¾ of a length to 1 ½ lengths throughout. At the Point we (St.Pat’s) were rowing on strongly and appeared to have a chance, but we were unable to make any impression on Grammar and the judge gave them the verdict by a length.
The Seconds race was disappointing. They never really got going in the race and neither our crew or that of Grammar made any impression on College.
The Thirds and Fourths races were rowed on the Wednesday preceding, and we secured a first and a second. The Thirds rowed particularly well. They got away to a good start and did not look like losing the race at any stage. The fourths were beaten fairly easily by College with Grammar filling third position.
After the Head of the Lake the gathering converged on the Ballarat club boathouse for the official presentation of the Tom Dowling Cup. Mr. R.E.Thwaites, principal of Ballarat College asked those assembled to observe a minutes silence in honour of that great sportsman, Graeme Dowling, who passed away earlier this year.
Graeme Dowling, of the Dowling Cup fame, passed away on Friday January 19. An article in the Border Mail (Albury) Saturday January 20 stated:
Mr. Graeme Dowling, aged 59 years of “Cooroona” Gregory Street, Ballarat, died suddenly at his home early yesterday morning. Mr. Dowling who was a member of the firm Crawford and Dowling Ptd Ltd stock and station agents was a brother of Mr. Barclay Dowling, Albury and Mrs. J.Wallace, Kingsford (NSW)…… He was prominent in the sporting and stock world of Ballarat ……….. .
Organising Committee and Officials
Regatta Committee: Ballarat Public Schools' Association
Organising Committee and Officials: Ballarat Rowing Association
Head of the Lake
Time: 6:18
Margin:1 length
1st Grammar School - Bow: C Worrall, 2: L Read, 3: J Ellis, Str: J Lines, Cox: P McDonald, Cch: Mr A Wilton
2nd St Patrick’s College - Bow: J E Munro, 2: F J Foster, 3: L F Dunne, Str: J V Knowles, Cox: L G Pring, Cch: Mr Fred Luke
3rd Ballarat College - Bow: W E Opie, 2: B A McDonald, 3: H B G Leckie, Str: N G Goon, Cox: W L Jenkins, Cch: Mr A Heighway
Second Fours
Time: Not known
Margin: Not known
1st Ballarat College - Bow: R W Lloyd, 2: J H Netherway, 3: L J Coburn, Str: J C Higginbotham, Cox: R W Whiteside, Cch: Mr K Baird
2nd Grammar School - Bow: L Craig-Brown, 2: K Kemp, 3: A Gibbs, Str: H Craig-Brown, Cox: B Cook, Cch: Mr L Augustine
3rd St Patrick’s College - Bow: E W G Wilkinson, 2: J F Eckel, 3: F W Hunter, Str: R A Todd, Cox: D J Cook, Cch: Mr A C Wilson
Old Collegians Fours
Time: Not known
Margin:1 length
1st Ballarat College
2nd Grammar School
3rd St Patrick’s College
Third Fours
Time: Not known
Margin: Not known
1st St Patrick’s College - Bow: J F Toohey, 2: A W Begg, 3: B P Scally, Str: V I Mishkinis, Cox: A J Davis, Cch: Mr H J Reilly
2nd Grammar School - Bow: A Wigmore, 2: W Nash, 3: D Gluth, Str: J Smith, Cox: J Seabrook, Cch: Mr R C T Denmead
3rd Ballarat College - Bow: E W Goon, 2: M Hodgetts, 3: G S Wells, Str: I F Tweedie, Cox: C S Reid, Cch: Mr B Goon
Fourth Fours
Time: Not known
Margin: Not known
1st Ballarat College - Bow: A C McDonald, 2: D T Coburn, 3: N E Hewitt, Str: P J McKenzie, Cox: W Humphreys, Cch: Mr B Goon
2nd St Patrick’s College - Bow: R F Webster, 2: J P Hill, 3: L Baker, Str: C Feery, Cox: J D O’Hagan, Cch: Mr H J Reilly.
3rd Grammar School - Bow: J Missen, 2: R Ford, 3: M Bray, Str: W Bach, Cox: D Breeze, Cch: Mr R C T Denmead
Sources:
- Ballarat Courier 100 years Head of the Lake Supplement
- The SPCB Annual 1940-41, pages 75 and 76