HEAD OF THE RIVER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 April 1934, Page 5

HEAD OF THE RIVER

VICTORY FOR SYDNEY GRAMMAR

A GRUELLING RACE WITNESSED BY HUGE CROWD (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ■SYDNEY, 22ml April. The contest for the Head of the River among the great public schools resulted in a victory for Sydney Grammar School, with Church of England Grammar School (Shore) second in' a gruelling race. The weather wajs brilliantly fine, but a chilly westerly wind blowing against the tide made the water rough, every boat shipping some. Tno scene was one of greatest excitement, 70,0CX) onlookers ashore and on hundreds of craft of all descriptions urging their several favourites on to greater efforts. Shore finished a man short, No. 7 having lost his oar over the last halfmile. Results were:— Second fours, one mile—Shore 1; Grammar 2; Scots 3; Sydney High L Won by five lengths. Time, 6.1. First Pours—Grammar 1 ; High 2; Scots 3; St.. Ignatius 4. Won by half a. length. Time, 6.3. Schools championship eights (Head -f the River), one mile and a half—Sydnev Grammar (Player, bow, McDonald. Bod. ham-Whetiiam, Muller, Arnold, Close Kearney, Finlay, stroke, C'riclitonBrown, cox), 1; Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Sevier, bow, Creech, Seagoe. Middleton. Marshall. Baggett Thomas,' Burrell. stroke. Broadbent, cox), 2; Sydney High School 3; Scots College 4. It was a great race between Grammar and Shore, which were together all the way, Grammar just keeping a lead on tno lighter crew, who found the rough water troublesome. The concluding stage saw a dogged struggle, out ot which Grammar emerged the victors by the clever use of what smooth patches offered, and by rowing in the practice boat instead of a racer. Shore rowed , superbly, but the Sveigbt of their opponents told, and they finished two lengths behind. High were a similar distance away. Time, 7.38 J), a record for the race. Pyople crowding the upper deck oi a launch near the finishing line caused the craft to capsize. The occupants were thrown into the water. Four women injured when the deck collapsed, were admitted to hospital, and a score of others were treated for shoex from immersion.