Boys Ballarat Head of the Lake - Summary of Results

The Tom Dowling Challenge Cup

However, it was not always the trophy for this event.

WOOLCOTT CUP. First presented 1921

In 1920 there was an appeal put out to the Ballarat community for a cup that could be awarded annually to the winners of the Head of the Lake by the Ballarat Public Schools' Association. In his annual report, presented at the prize-giving of the Grammar School, the headmaster appealed for such a cup. He suggested that it should be like the Fairbairn Cup and competed for by the public schools in Melbourne and Geelong. 

In December 1920, Mrs. Mary Woolcott offered a cup in memory of her husband James Dyer Woolcott JP who died in November 1918. The Woolcott Cup was to be won three times, not necessarily in succession, to be retained in perpetuity.

J.P. Woolcott was a well-known member of the Melbourne and Ballarat Stock Exchanges. He was born in Somerset, England and migrated to New Zealand and was a pastoralist for eight years before coming to Australia and running sheep in Queensland. He subsequently moved to Ballarat. He was a trustee of the Commercial Club and ex-president of the City Free Library and one of the founders of the Wendouree Recreation Club. He was a Vice-President of the Wendouree Rowing Club. For a short period he also served on the Ballarat City Council. He had a daughter Mary and a son, George Griffith who served in WW1. George was also coxswain of the Ballarat Grammar crew in 1913 and 1914.

1921  Ballarat Grammar School won the Head of the Lake and were presented with the Woolcott Cup. The cup was presented by Miss Woolcott on behalf of her mother to the stroke of the winning crew F.N. Eyres

Ballarat Grammar also won in 1922 and 1924 thus taking possession of the cup. Apparently the cup stood in the Dining Hall for many years, with other sports trophies. Current whereabouts unknown.

R.A and N.P. MUST CUP. First presented 1926

The R.A. and N.P. Must Cup was first presented in 1926. It was offered by Mrs Norman Must after the Woolcott Cup became the property of the Ballarat Grammar School in 1926 after three wins in the Head of the Lake. 

Ballarat Grammar won the Head of the Lake for the third time in 1931, also claiming the Must Cup in perpetuity. The record time of 5mins 45secs bettered the earlier record set by a Grammar Crew in 1926, by one second. Both St. Patrick's and Grammar had two legs in for the R.A. and N.P. Must Cup, a trophy which the family presented five years ago, and Ballarat College won once. The holders in 1930 were St Patrick's. Current whereabouts unknown.