Heads of the River

HEADS OF THE RIVER AT THE AT 1875 –2017 1901 – 1947 FEDERATION, EIGHTS ON THE WATER This era not only introduced the Commonwealth, but also saw the advent of the eight-oared sliding seat clinker boats. Before race commentary was introduced, red, white and blue flags indicated the position of each crew and a coloured disc was raised at the finish. Geelong Grammar School moved to Corio in 1914 and sheds were built on Limeburners Bay (known as ‘the Lagoon’) where the majority of rowing took place. Initially this was thought to be good water, although salty. However, as the bay silted and more water was exposed to the wind, it often became The victorious 1914 Boys’ 1st VIII unmanageable in the afternoons. 1870 – 1900 Olympians: OUTRIGGED FOUR-OARED ROWING John Campbell (Gl’09) Antwerp It would have been difficult to However, as a result of the Great 1920, Thomas Cree ((M’33) for Great imagine what was to come when, in Flood of 1880, it floated downstream Britain) Berlin 1936, Samuel Wood 1870, the first boys rowed in scratch with the loss of all but three boats. (Cu’34) Berlin 1936 crews with the Barwon Rowing Undeterred by this blow, funds were Club. Four years later, the Boat quickly raised for a new boat shed 1948 – 2000 Club was founded with James Lister and the School crew rowed to victory Cuthbertson as Master in Charge at the Head of the River in 1882. GIRLS JOIN THE PUBLIC of Rowing and Charles Fairbairn SCHOOLS ROWING ON THE as Captain of the Boats. Geelong From 1868 to 1897, races were BARWON IN 1981 rowed in string-test gigs, with fixed Grammar School first entered the In the 1920s, the crowds drawn to seats. However, best fours, with Head of the River in 1875, winning watch the rowing had grown from sliding seats, were used from 1898 in 1878 with a crew containing 10,000 to 100,000 and the APS to 1900. GGS crews often rowed Charles’s brother Steve Fairbairn, Heads were concerned with the the 38 miles from their boatshed to who would go on to become one of publicity the race attracted. Thus, in Barwon Heads – where a small shed the world’s most influential rowing the post-war years, the race settled was built in 1911 – and back; a much coaches and founder of the Head in Geelong away from the persuasive relished activity during this time. of the River Race on the River crowds of the Yarra. In the 1960s, Arguably, rowing over such long Thames. In 1877, the first rowing the Club was relying on seven distances was one of the reasons shed was built on the Barwon, very eights, built between 1929 and 1938, why the School won a run of six close to the original location of the requiring continuous maintenance Head of the River titles from 1885 to School in Geelong prior to its move even to be kept afloat. out to Corio. 1890; a feat more recently emulated by the GGS Girls’ 1st VIII. The all-conquering 2015 Girls’ 1st VIII won the Head of the River, Head of the Schoolgirls, National Schoolgirls and National U19 titles: Bow: Kirstie Green (A’15), 2.Tara O’Reilly (Cl’15), 3. Sarah Harte (A’16), 4. Bridgette Hardy (Cl’15), 5. Maddison Brown (EM’15), 6. Isabelle Cameron (Cl’15), 7. Sasha Culley (Cl’16), Stroke: Xenia Brookes (Cl’15), Cox: India Rofe (Cl’15), Coaches: Rob England, Debbie Clingeleffer- Woodford Photo credit: Richard Kumnick (M’68), Photo Play In 1964, a twelve-oared barge ‘The 2001 – 2017 Corio’ was built to help address the FRESH FIELDS AND pressures of an ageing fleet. The HEADS OF THE PASTURES NEW WH Pincott Club was founded by RIVER WINS: Hubert Ward in 1963 and, by 1965, To achieve the best conditions began its practical help to the Boat possible and to row the desired Boys Girls Club in the form of woodworking 2,000 metres, the race was moved to 1878 1985 machinery and a boat trailer. The Nagambie Lakes in 2001. The School 1880 1986 Pincott Club has since provided over had to meet new circumstances – 1882 1988 60 boats (many either built or fitted no longer were the crews sleeping in 1885 1990 out by the boatman, Greg Earl, or their own beds the night before the 1886 1991 his predecessors, Don Cameron and race and able to lift their boats off 1887 1993 Jimmy Goucher), equipment and the rack on to the course. The boats 1888 1994 every form of support to enable the now have to be ferried for two-and- School to remain at the forefront of a-half hours to be offloaded and 1889 1995 school rowing. rigged, while crews have to be up 1890 1996 early to reach the course. However, 1893 1997 From the time the first girls began the opportunity for students, parents 1894 1998 rowing at GGS in 1972, numbers and supporters to gather in one rapidly increased, and girls’ crews 1895 2000 area was seen as a progressive eventually formed in 1976. This 1898 2007 move. The GGS Girls have revelled, matched the general trend in other 1914 2008 if not dominated, during this time, APS schools who had also moved to 1917 2009 winning eight Heads of the River co-education. races from 2007-17 as well as State 1920 2010 1922 2014 Bill Searle, a respected coach for 45 and National titles. This success years, hung up his megaphone in has resulted in increasing numbers 1924 2015 1995. of girls wanting to row, resulting in 1934 2016 mounting pressure on boat storage 1935 2017 Olympians: and facilities. 1943 Colin Douglas-Smith (Ge’37) London 1950 1948, Brian Dawes (P’48) Melbourne Olympian: 1953 1956, Garth Manton (P’48) Charlotte Sutherland (Cl’09) 1954 Melbourne 1956, Adrian Monger Rio 2016 1971 (FB’51) Melbourne 1956, Peter Evatt 1974 (M’39) Melbourne 1956, James 1975 Jelbart (P’51) Rome 1960, James Lowe (M’74) Moscow 1980, Los 1986 Angeles 1984, Tim Young (FB’74) 1987 Moscow 1980, Simon Spriggs 1988 (FB’86) Barcelona 1992, Kate Slatter 1989 (Cl’88) Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1991 1996, Sydney 2000, Angela Holbeck 1994 (Ga’92) Atlanta 1996, Rebecca Joyce (Ga’88) Atlanta 1996.

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