Australians at 1952 Henley Royal Regatta

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW)

Bow: Robert N Tinning (NSW)
2: Ernest W Chapman (NSW)
3: Nimrod Greenwood (NSW)
4: David R Anderson (NSW)
5: Geoff Williamson (NSW)
6: Mervyn D Finlay (NSW)
7: Edward O G Pain (NSW)
Str: Phillip A Cayzer (NSW)
Cox: Thomas E M Chessell (NSW)

This crew was the Australian Olympic crew and was a NSW composite crew which raced under Sydney colours.

R D Burnell in his 1957 history of the regatta reported as follows - Both won their heats very easily, Leander beating London R.C., and Sydney beating Thames R.C. Leander clocked 3 min. 11 sec. to Fawley, which was two seconds inside the record, and equalled the record of 6 min. 44 sec. all over. Sydney were two seconds slower to Fawley, and one second slower to the finish. 

In spite of these well-matched times, Leander went down to the final as firm favourites. Starting at forty and a half to Sydney's forty-one, they led at once, and were just about clear at the Bar­rier, reached in I min. 53 sec. What is more, they continued to gain, and led by one and a quarter lengths at the half-mile signal, striking thirty-three to the Australians' thirty-seven. Most people thought that the race was over. But Sydney started to attack fiercely, and came back to Leander very rapidly. At Fawley they were led by three-quarters of a length, and at the mile, where Leander were up to thirty-seven again, by only a third of a length. There was a breath-taking struggle up the Enclosures, and Leander came home winners by half a length, their time- 3 min. II sec. to Fawley, and 6 min. 38 sec. to the finish-no less than five seconds faster than the course record.

It is an interesting postscript to this race that the two crews went on to Helsinki, where the Australians beat the Englishmen, thus reversing the story of 1912, when Sydney R.C. beat Leander in the Grand, and were beaten by them in the Stockholm Olympics. On that occasion, however, they finished first and second. In 1952 they finished third and fourth, behind the United States and the U.S.S.R. 

Leander defeating Sydney in the final of the Grand

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - Mervyn T Wood

Round 1 -Defeated Lutz from Crowland Rowing Cub easily.

Round 2 - Easily defeated Egyptian Alfy from the Royal Rowing Club of Cairo.

Semi-final - Defeated Rand of Thames Rowing Club by 4 lengths.

Final - Defeated T A Fox of London Rowing Club by 2 1/2 lengths and led all the way.

R D Burnell in his 1957 history of the regatta reported - In the Diamonds, M. T. Wood, over from Australia for the Olympics, was in a class alone. T. A. Fox, the holder, made him work for his final victory-the time was 8 min. 12 sec., with Fox finishing two and a half lengths behind. But of all the others, only one newcomer, S. C. Rand, showed any promise of class. 

Merv Wood approaches the finish of the final of the Diamonds

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - Bow: John Rodgers, Str: Murray Riley

Round 1 - Sydney defeated Canadian combination from Winnipeg Rowing Club of Riley & Williams by 1 length.

Semi-final - Sydney defeated Blackwell & Hadfield from Trinity & Brasenose Colleges by 4 lengths.

Final - The Australians started uncharacteristically slowly and were already 3/4 length down by the 1/4 mile. They were never in the race thereafter. The winning crew came from Belgium, R George and J van Stichel.