Regatta A Heady Mix Of Wars, Oars And Boors
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 3, 1992
Today's Head of the River marks the centenary year of the GPS regatta, an event that has secured a place in the nation's social and sporting fabric through links with the American Civil War, the development of the nation, the highest ideals of unselfish mateship and the heady mixture of healthy young men and women, alcohol and a river bank.
About 15,000 spectators are expected to watch the regatta on the Nepean, with Newington College favoured to win the main event, the eights.
It will be the last time that the eight school crews, each of eight rowers, will contest the race together. From next year, the regatta will be held over two weekends, with heats leading to a final between the top four schools. Organisers believe this will be fairer because the river offers an advantage to crews drawn near the middle in an eight-crew race.
Channel 9 will screen some of the race in the Wide World of Sports program, perhaps a sign of renewed interest in what used to be one of the central events in Sydney's sporting calendar.
The race was rowed on the Parramatta River until 1935, and Mr A. J. Moyes, former rowing master at Shore, said yesterday that up to a quarter of a million people would line the banks.
An estimated 45,000 people watched Shore win on the Nepean in 1961 and 40,000, including the Governor-General, Lord de L'Isle, with his movie camera, saw Riverview win in 1964.
Television stations competed for rights to show the race live and, as recently as 1970, The Sun newspaper carried a four-page liftout on the day.
This was about the time when the sport on the river seemed to matter less than the sport on the banks.
In 1972, police warned: "We will have drug and breath analysis squads in the area." In 1973, they appealed to drivers not to carry passengers on car roofs or bonnets. The estimated crowd that year was only 4,000.
In 1979, Mr Peter Anderson, then Penrith's deputy mayor and now a State Opposition MP, said loutish behaviour meant that rowing supporters might have to find themselves another river.
In 1980, the timing of the regatta was brought forward because of concern over crowd behaviour.
Mr Moyes said: "It was - and is - a great occasion but some people went wild, drinking and throwing themselves into the water."
Police have been so satisfied with behaviour in recent years that they suggested to the regatta's convener, Mr Greg Moore, that the races could return to their old times. Mr Moore declined and the main event begins today at 1.10 pm.
The trophy awarded to the winner of today's eights was donated by Major Zennas C. Rennie, who fought for the Union at Baton Rouge in 1862 and came to Australia in 1887 as manager of an insurance company.
In the same year, H. E. Searle, of Grafton, became the world champion sculler. Edward Trickett had become Australia's first world champion in any sport in 1876, beating Englishman J. H. Sadler on the Thames.
Between the gold rushes of the 1850s and Federation in 1901, Australian rowers and cricketers did more than anyone else to foster the idea of nationhood. The oarsmen of the private schools helped keep rowing at the front of Sydney's consciousness.
Official GPS rowing records start with the 1893 race won by Shore, although races in fours between Grammar and the long-gone Royston College at Darlinghurst were held as far back as 1881.
In 1930, Sydney High beat St Joseph's, only to have the title taken away after allegations that the crew had trained when they should have been in classes. For years afterwards, Sydney High rowers had to sign on and off from school during the rowing season.
Now crews go into a camp at the end of Christmas holidays and again a week before the Head of the River.
The crews get bigger every year - average weight about 88 kilograms and nearly two metres tall. The boats get lighter - down to 98 kilograms - and more expensive. The high-technology eights cost more than $30,000 and the carbon-fibre oars $200 each.
The boats, however, count less than the young men in them.
"It is the ultimate team sport," said Mr Moyes. "It requires total unselfishness. The school will not succeed unless everyone gives his all."
Shore has won the race 27 times, Grammar 18, Kings 12, Newington 10, St Ignatius and Sydney High eight each, St Joseph's seven and Scots three.
© 1992 Sydney Morning Herald
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