Australians at 1939 Henley Royal Regatta

Herbert Turner (NSW)

Turner of the Police Rowing Club was eliminated by Verey of Poland in his heat, with Joe Burk of the USA defeating Verey in the final. Turner started at 35, to Verey's 30, and led by 1 1/4 lengths at the 1/4 mile, but Verey was nearly up level at the Barrier. Verey was a length ahead at Fawley, and thereafter continued to gain. The final margin was 3 lengths.

A scene from the 1939 Henley Royal Regatta

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - Bow: Brin P Jay, 2: James Barnes, 3: E P Trebeck, 4: G D Macpherson, 5: William J Dixon, 6: F Spencer Grace, 7: Edward R Bromley, Str: John R Burrell, Cox: Tom E M Chessell

Whilst racing under Sydney colours, the crew comprised Bill Dixon, Brin Jay, James Barnes and Tom Chessell (cox) of Sydney Rowing Club, G D Macpherson, E P Trebeck and Spencer Grace of North Shore Rowing Club, and Ted Bromley, John Burrell and T Gordon-Glassford (emergency) of Mosman Rowing Club.

Alan May in Sydney Rows published in 1970 reported: [Sid] Raper was appointed to select both the Royal Henley and the King's Cup crews. Fourteen oarsmen offered to subscribe ₤50 each to help meet the heavy Henley expenses and the crew finally selected included Bill Dixon, Brin Jay, James Barnes and Tom Chessell (cox) of Sydney, Macpherson, Trebeck and Grace of North Shore, and Bromley, Burrell and Gordon-Glassford (emergency) of Mosman. John Rook was appointed manager while Julius Beresford and his son Jack agreed to coach the crew in England. (There was some criticism of the crew as lacking rowing experience in some seats: Jay, for example, was a member of Shore's 1938 eight and had done no club rowing.)

All non-SRC members of the crew were made honorary members and the eight competed at Henley as Sydney Rowing Club once again. In the heat of the big event, the crew recorded a narrow win over Kingston, but they were beaten by 3 lengths by Argonaut in the semi-final. In the final, Harvard University scored an easy win over the Canadians.

Sydney met Kingston Rowing Club in the first round and narrowly won. Sydney got the better of Kingston in the first part of the race but the crews were level at the mile and an eighth mark. The race to the end was close with Sydney narrowly winning.

Sydney met the Canadian Argonauts in the semi-final and led through to Fawley when Argonauts drew level. Thereafter the Canadian rowed steadily away to win by 3 lengths.

Argonauts defeat Sydney in the semi-final of the Grand