1944 Ballarat Head of the Lake
The 32nd race was conducted on Lake Wendouree on Saturday 29th April 1944.
Ballarat High School joined the Association on 20 July 1943. Without a shed or equipment, Ballarat Rowing Club assisted the High School in participating in the regatta. The school had first had rowing as a sport in 1912 when as the Agricultural High School, they had rowed from the Ballarat City Rowing Club. They were not invited to competing until 1944.
Thank you to Kate Elliott for the research on this page.
Organising Committee and Officials
Organising Committee: Ballarat Public Schools' Association
Officials: Starter: Mr Alex Hall, Assistant Starter: Mr G McIlvena, Umpire: Mr Charles Bunce, Judges: Mr Fritz Marsen and Ted Edwards, Timekeeper: Mr H Marks and Clerk of Scales: Mr G Hager.
Head of the Lake
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 5:38 (record)
Margins: 3 lengths and 1.5 lengths
1st Grammar School - Bow: W J Gallagher, 2: K N Thomson, 3: T A Reeby, Str: J B Meredith, Cox: P R Webster, Cch: Otto Hauser
2nd St Patrick’s College - Bow: P J Raphael, 2: B M Leonard, 3: J G Crameri, str: M G Caine, Cox: J M Quinlan, Cch: W Donnelly
3rd Ballarat High School - Bow: G MacDonald, 2: V Allen, 3: J Vawdrey, Str: G Cooper, Cox: G Cunningham, Cch: Mr F Luke
4th Ballarat College - Bow: F T Davies, 2: J M Salmon, 3: K C Hofmaier, Str: F Ritchie, Cox: D L K Hobson, Cch: A W W Lynch
From right to left; Otto Hauser, coach winning 1944 Head of the Lake crew, Ballarat Grammar shaking hands with stroke of the crew on Ballarat City jetty.
Collage of Ballarat High School crews from 1944 - from Row Up, High School
From the SPC College Chronicle June 1944 pg 32-33.
On the afternoon of the big day, the weather was perfect, scarcely a ripple ruffled the surface of the Lake. The first event, the Thirds race, started punctually, all crews getting away to a good start. At the Point however, College led by a length and maintained this led to the finishing line.
The Head of the Lake race was a little late in starting. All crews moved away to a good start, with Grammar taking a short lead from St.Pat’s. The Grammar crew, using a long slow stroke were held by St.Pat’s, who were stroking more quickly, for the first half-mile. At the College boatshed, Grammar forged ahead, increased their lead and won by three lengths from St. Pat’s with High School one and a half lengths further back, third. Grammar established a new race record of 5 minutes and 38 seconds.
Second Fours
Distance: 0.5 mile
Time: 3 mins 14 secs
Margins:1.25 lengths and 3 feet
1st St. Patrick’s College - Bow: B Scally, 2: W Davies, 3: B Fitzgerald, Str: N Stafford, Cox: W Harte, Coach: Mr Eric Laughton
2nd Ballarat College - Bow: L May, 2: A Hyett, 3: W Meinhardt. Str: I Longden, Cox: F Whiteside
3rd Grammar School - Bow: M Lanchashire, 2: B Stewart, 3: G Lines, Str: W Treloar, Cox: K Wilkinson
4th Ballarat High School - Bow: I Hall, 2: N Edwards, 3: R Walsh, Str: N Frenchman, Cox: E Tippett, Coach: Mr Fred Luke
The start of the Seconds was a little delayed owing to a mishap to St. Pat’s boat. From the start the St. Pat’s crew jumped to the front, and keeping perfect rowing form increased the early lead to win by a length from College.
Third Fours
Distance: 0.5 mile
Time: 3 mins 16 secs
Margins:1 length and 3 lengths
1st Ballarat College - Bow: A Golder, 2: J Mark, 3: Robert Lemke, Str: J Rowe, Cox: A McDonald, Coach: Mr D Coburn
2nd St. Patrick’s - Bow: B O’Sullivan, 2: L Hennessy, 3: J Dowie, Str: J McCarthy, Cox: D Holmes, Coach: Mr W Blackie.
3rd Grammar - Bow: A Meredith, 2: R Chrystal, 3: C Louis, Str: P Smallwood, Cox: P James
4th Ballarat High School - Bow: T Atkinson, 2: R Wheeler, 3: G Ferguson, Str: W White, S: J Tippett, Coach: Mr Fred Luke
Sources:
- 1944 regatta program
- Ballarat Courier 100 years Head of the Lake Supplement
- Row Up, High School, Celebrating Ballarat High School Rowing 1910-2019 by Barry Ryan and Robert Simmonds, Published by Ballarat High School 2020