1912 Programme Cover
Regatta Committee: A C Manuelle & C H Lamb
Starter: C P Dimond
Umpire: C Baxter Cox
Judges: Felix J Whitwell & A G Jenkins
1st VIC - Bow: Paul M Wade, 2: Mark F Shea, 3: A A Brown, 4: H S Dickinson, 5: William S Needham, 6: Roy Jenkins, 7: Len Sydney Davis,
Str: C G Davies, Cox: S A Jerram, Emerg: S Pettitt, Cch: Arthur J Shepherd, Selectors: Arthur J Shepherd, Arch L Dobbie & Thomas Crosthwaite
2nd TAS - Bow E A Coverdale, 2: H K Goyen, 3: Allan A Pitt, 4: H M Quinn, 5: T V Farr, 6: Dan Munro, 7: Jack Woodhouse, Str:
C Arthur "Buff" Watts, Cox: Claude Coogan, Cch: W Mangan
3rd SA - Bow: J B Courtney, 2: W G Wigg, 3: J A Begg, 4: G Alex Lawton, 5: J H Vollprecht, 6: Wylie Nation, 7: P W Kennedy,
Str: F A Easton, Cox: W S Webb, Emerg: E M Luxmoore, Cch: Sid T Stenning, Mgr: J J Sharp
4th NSW - Bow: J Robinson, 2: A Bryan, 3: Michael Ernest Chapman, 4: T C Elliott, 5: Patrick Ryan, 6: J Holley, 7: Sydney
Grant, Str: H Grandin, Cox: Oswald J Wood, Cchs: N J McDonald & Oswald J Wood, Mgr: T R Macnee
5th WA - Bow: W G Taylor, 2: D S Aarons, 3: R T Browne, 4: J T Prince, 5: Ralph (Pop) S Jeffreys, 6: James Child, 7:
E G Long, Str: Sydney G Mews, Cox: Roy Elsegood, Cch: Frank E Shaw
With the key members of the NSW crew in the 1912 Olympic eight, the NSW crew was based upon the Balmain crew with representatives from Leichhardt and Enterprise. The race was rowed in some 24 seconds faster than the previous race six years ago and perhaps showed the improvements in rowing during that period. Victoria and Tasmania led out from the field but after the first mile, Victoria had gained the lead. They maintained the lead until the finish with a margin of two lengths. The Western Australian crew was swamped during the race.
Of note, the Victorian four man Needham raced for Tasmania in both the 1911 and 1913 championships. He had settled in Melbourne in 1912 but returned permanently to Tasmania in time for 1913.
The following story appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser on 6th April 1951 about the sea journey over to Perth. It was a story attributed to the Victorian seven man Lyn Davis:
We had a fellow with us, Roy Jenkins, champion wrestler of Australia. After leaving Melbourne we arranged with the captain of the ship to go on the top deck to push round. Roy could do all that. When we reached Port Adelaide, a couple of SA policemen, members of the SA crew, Kennedy and Nation, came up and watched us. They did not know Jenkins's form, and Kennedy asked for a push. Roy stuck his head down and Kennedy put the headlock on him. Nation called to his mate, "That's a good hold, stick to him." I can see Roy's face getting white instead of red. At last he picked Kennedy up and planted him on the deck. He asked, "Would you like another push?" Replied Kennedy, "No thanks.''
1912 Victorian Crew
1912 Victorian crew celebrates at the finish line
1st NSW - Henry Green
2nd WA - George E Rogers
TAS did not finish - Fred Coverdale (Coverdale capsized soon after the start.)
VIC - Horace E Stevens selected but unable to travel
In the sculling race, Cloverdale of Tasmania capsized soon after the start. Victoria selected H E Stevens but he was unable to make the trip. It was the first time since 1902 that Victoria was not represented.
1st QLD (Brisbane Ladies' Rowing Club)- Bow: Violet Grose, 2: Hilda Burston, 3: Winifred Lea, Str: Isabel Roberts, Cox: Mr E Butler, Emerg: Irene Walker
2nd VIC (Albert Park Ladies Rowing Club) - Bow: Josie Geary, 2: Edie O'Connor, 3: May Nagel, Str: Elsie Crippen, Cox: Charlie Short, Cch: L Croft, Emergs: D Griffiths, F Jose, E Zittenger, L Giffiths
3rd Warrnambool Rowing Club (VIC) - Bow: N McKee, 2: D Ive, 3: M Day, Str: Vera Newman
The Queensland crew were all from the Brisbane Ladies' Rowing Club and raced a Victorian crew from Albert Park Ladies' Rowing Club. It was a stirring race with Queensland winning by two feet. The Warrnambool crew retired about half way. The race was rowed in clinker outriggers with sliding seats.