1939 PSA Head of the River
The 1939 PSA Head of the River was conducted on Monday 1 May 1939, over the mile course finishing at the Narrows (Mill Point).
The West Australian reported on 2nd May 1939 as follows.
In the most evenly-contested race for years. Hale School won the public schools' annual head-of-the-river rowing event on the Swan River yesterday morning by a canvas (about ten feet) in record time. Aquinas College finished second, half a length ahead of Guildford Grammar School, while Scotch College was last although barely a length behind the winning crew. The time for the race (a mile) was 5min. 20sec, which seldom, if ever, has been equalled by senior crews in club events.
A warm sun and a very light north west breeze, which ruffled the water only here and there, made weather conditions ideal for both crews and spectators. Thousands of people chose the slopes of King's Park from which to watch the race, while thousands more lined the river banks and others were accommodated on launches on the river itself.
Head of the River - Eights
Challenge Cup
One Mile
5 Mins, 20 Secs (record)
Canvas
1/2 length
1/2 length
1st Hale School - Bow: C F Veryard, 2: Bryne F Tuckey, 3: K H Jackson, 4: P Forbes, 5: J H Baird, 6: K Roberts, 7: J Homewood, Str: L E Fethers, Cox: A H Vivian, Coach: GE Rogers
2nd Aquinas College - Bow: JB O'Brien, 2: B Ferres, 3: PJ Bonomi, 4: WB Gibson, 5: GT Halpin, 6: GD Herbert, 7: GA McKay, Str: HS Donaldson, Cox: R Eastcott, Coach: CJ Wroblewski
3rd Guildford Grammar School - Bow: RD Wray, 2: RG Aitken, 3: GD Baily, 4: L Gillam, 5: MA Kelly, 6: KE Watts, 7: D Drake-Brockman, Str: AL Arcus, Cox: CE Barns, Coaches: Dr E Kyle & Mr E Freeth
4th Scotch College - Bow: AM Smith, 2: J Richardson, 3: W Anderson, 4: SG Forte, 5: KW Sounness, 6: KR Vale, 7: WO Gaze, Str: GE Kilpatrick, Cox: JW Bowman, Coach: WA Goland
The winning Hale School crew had two last minute changes. The West Australian reported on 2nd May 1939 as follows: During the week-end No. 7 (V. Bogle) and No. 4 (E. McLarty) became victims of mumps and it was obvious that by no means would they be in a position to row yesterday. They were replaced by J. Homewood, an original member of the crew who had not been able to row for a fortnight owing to an injured hand, and P. Forbes, stroke of the second crew.
That report further stated:
All crews got away to a good start when the starter sounded his gun at the Quarries (near Crawley) and they remained close together throughout the race. Two hundred yards from the finishing line in the Narrows, off Point Lewis, Aquinas College led, but all crews still had a chance of winning if good enough. Then the stroke of Hale School lying third, just ahead of scotch College, called on his crew for a supreme effort and it responded well. One hundred and fifty yards from the line, Hale School drew level with Aquinas College and then commenced a gruelling battle between the two crews for ascendancy. For another hundred yards, amid terrific barracking from the spectators, the lead see-sawed until Hale School finally gained an advantage of a foot and a great finish in creased it to a canvas, with both Guildford Grammar School and Scotch College a creditable third and fourth, respectively.
1939 Head of the River winning oar
Oar and image of it from the Kim Roberts collection - descendant of the six man.
Of interest is that Bryne Foster TUCKEY (1938 - 1941) from the winning Hale crew raced in four (4) Head of River 1st eight crews, 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941. It is highly likely that he is the only rower in history of the PSA to do this.
Second Crews - Fours
Half Mile
2 Mins, 54 Secs
2 1/2 Lengths
1 length
1 1/2 lengths
1st Scotch College - Bow: MD Gaston, 2: CD Symes, 3: AH Mellows, Str: O Rees, Cox: HWB George, Coach: WA Goland
2nd Aquinas College - Bow: G Prendiville, 2: R Pittensrey, 3: M Johnston, Str: E Sherwood, Cox: W Kynaston, Coach: RAJ Hannah
3rd Guildford Grammar School - Bow: WW Ball, 2: GJ Della Bosca, 3: DE Warren, Str: CN Abernethy, Cox: R Dempster, Coach: J Wickham
4th Hale School - Bow: NG Rowe, 2: L Brine, 3: W Forrest, Str: R Ellis, Cox: A Dowling, Coach: GE Rogers
Third Fours
Old Boys' Race
Half Mile
No Times or Margins Recorded
1st Guildford Grammar School - Bow: D Farras, 2: D Gill, 3: E Freeth, 4: J Wickham, 5: J Gillam, 6: AG Goldsmith, 7: J Manford, Str: J Townshend, Cox: L Craddock
2nd Scotch College - Bow: K Properjohn, 2: K Clowes, 3: R Thompson, 4: D Stewart, 5: I Metcalf, 6: T Hill, 7: D Barratt-Hill, Str: G Barratt-Hill, Cox: S Shepherd
3rd Aquinas College - Bow: C Gelle, 2: R Gelle, 3: B Bellanger, 4: T Staunton, 5: L Tate, 6: J Bayly, 7: B Bayly, Str: R Hannah, Cox: K Davies
4th Hale School - Bow: R Burnett, 2: G Raphael, 3: W Reay, 4: T Davy, 5: R Filmer, 6: W Humphries, 7: M Hollingsworth, Str: W Mortimer, Cox: E Arney
Sources
1939 'HEAD OF THE RIVER.', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 2 May, p. 20. , viewed 12 Dec 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46386787
Email from Kim Roberts 12th December 20205 with further details