Received 13th June 2005
An explanation of how the 8+ crashing into a post on video happened, from one of my Australian correspondents.
"Yes I can assure you it's genuine. This was the St Ignatius College, Riverview Schoolboy Eight, rowing in one of four heats of the 2005 Riverview Gold Cup.
This race is run on a "one mile" course on the Lane Cove River in Sydney, usually a week before the Sydney Schoolboy Head of the River at the International Course at Penrith. The course has a staggered start and runs straight crossing the river from the Hunter's Hill bank on the south side towards the Lane Cove bank on the north. After about 3/4 of a mile, where the course meets the northern bank crews have to execute a 40 degree turn into the final straight with the finish line at the Riverview Wharf.
The major turn is marked by "the leaning pile" ( a channel marker about two thirds across from the southern bank). The pile did "lean" back in my competitive days but sometime in the 80's some unthinking bureaucrats replaced it with a new straight pile. There is another pile almost directly in line about 200 metres past the turn pile and this crew having rounded the leaning pile safely began to drift towards the south. Despite entreaties from the race announcer and the umpire the coxen did not notice. It was with great relief to many of us watching that the boat did not hit head on and that no one was badly injured.
I understand that there has been some controversy at St Ignatius over a decision to show this video at the school assembly and it has subsequently done the rounds of the internet. I received it from one of our Club's alumni who works in London.
While the event can be of variable standard it has always attracted a huge amount of interest and for many Sydney based rowers it remains a favoured event to win. The 2005 Gold Cup went to Sydney University."