PUBLIC SCHOOL ROWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 9

PUBLIC SCHOOL ROWERS

EXCITEMENT TN SYDNEY HEAD OF RIVER RACE GRAMMAR CREWS VICTORY By Telegraph—Fress Association— Copyright (Received April 2:2. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 22 The rowing contest for the head of the river supremacy among the great public schools resulted yesterday in a victory for Sydney Grammar School, with Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) second in a gruelling race. The weather was brilliantly fine but a chilly westerly wind blowing against the tide ms.de the water rough and every boat shipped some. The scene was one of tiie greatest excitement. There were 70,000 spectators on the shore and on hundreds of craft of all descriptions, and they urged their favourites on to greater efforts. Early results were: —

Second Fours, one mile. —Shore Grammar, 1; Scots College, 2; Sydney High School, 3. Won by five lengths. Time, 6m Is. First Crew Fours. —Grammar, 1; Sydney High School, 2; Scots, 3; St. Ignatius, 4. Won by half a length. Time, 6m its. Schools 'Championship, eights (head of the rivi?r); one mile and a-half.— Sydney Grammar School (Player, bow, McDonald, Bodham-Whetham, Muller, Arnold, Close, Kearney and Finlav, stroke; Crichton-Brown, cox), 1; Sydney Church of England Grammar School—Shore (Sevier, bow, Creagh, Seagoe, Middleton, Marshall, Baggett, Thomas and 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 kept the lead on the lighter crew, who found the rough water troublesome. The concluding stage saw a dogged struggle out of which Grammar emerged victors by the clever use of what smooth patches were offered and by rowing in their practice boat instead of their racer.

Shore rowed superbly but the weight of their opponents told and they finished two lengths behind. They ended with a man short as No. 7 lost his oar over the last half mile. High School were two lengths away third. Time, 7m 38Js —a record for the race.

LAUNCH ACCIDENT FOUFI WOMEN INJURED SEVERAL MINOR CASUALTIES (Received April 22, 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 22 An accident occurred during the head of the river race yesterday. Numerous people crowded the upper deck of a launch near the finishing line and caused the craft to capsize. The occupants were thrown into the water. Four women were injured when the deck collapsed and were admitted to hospital. Twenty others were treated for shock and thes effects of immersion.