The Murray Bridge crew of B. Jaensch. F.A. Atkinson. E. Thomas. E. Higgs. S.Harris (cox) competed in the Shearer fours and the Senior Fours at the Mannum Regatta, January 1912.
During this time the repuation of the country rowers was growing and there were many theories in rowing circles about why the “men from the Murray” who defied traditional knowledge about rowing style, moved their boats so well.
Racing began at 11am at Mannum, when the surface of the water was smooth as glass. Just before the opening of the regatta, Mr RJ Shearers motor launch “The Dawn” arrived with the Bridge crew and about thirty supporters. Their strikingly designed double blue flag hoistered from the bows and were cheered by those already there. Captain Crane’s “Nellie” was the flagship and from her upper decks a good view could be obtained of the straight one mile course.
The Murray Bridge crew competed in three of the six events:
Shearer Fours (1st Place), Senior-Junior Fours (1st Place), Senior Fours (2nd Place)
1913
Certificate awarded to the Murray Bridge Crew from after winning the 1913 Australian Championship Eight Oared Race
1914
Crew: Bow. G.A. Oliver. 2. A.D. Scott. 3. W.E. Jarvis. Stroke W. Piper. Cox. G. Fitzgerald.
The crew won both the Webb Memorial Cup and the Ladies Challenge Shield at the Henley on Torrens Regatta.
1915
1916
1919
A.I.F. crew 1919
This regatta was the first on the Thames since 1914. The attendance was the largest ever seen at Marlow. A special list of events to suit the altered conditions brought about by war, with service crews from Australia, New Zealand and the United States competing. Australia won two events in clinker boats:
Clinker Fours – T Roderick, S.T. Bennett, W.E.H. Jarvis, G.E.Rogers, Grimshaw *cox
Clinker Eights – T. Roderick, H.P. Keatings, F.H. Hurst, S.T. Bennett, W.E.H. Jarvis, E.S. Evans, H.H. Sharp, G.E.Rogers, Grimshaw *cox
Australia came second to New Zealand with the crew of G.W. Mettam, G.M. Penny, E.J. Harrison, A.V. Scott, W.A. Audsley, McGill, H.R. Newall, A.F. Smedley *cox in the Allied Forces Eight race.
