Australians at 1959 Henley Royal Regatta
Diamond Challenge Sculls
Champion
Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - Stuart Mackenzie
In true Mackenzie style, he again drew the wrath of the Henley crowd by slowing down to a paddle after seeing that he had beaten American Harry Parker.
Harry Gordon in his essay on Mackenzie in his book Young Men in a Hurry reported on Mackenzie in 1959 as follows. By now this most unquiet Australian had become a legend of sorts. In the exclusive Leander Rowing Club he made a habit of calling a viscount fellow-member "cobber", and was heard more than once to bellow encouragingly, "Good on yer, Dig" to an earnest earl. The Daily Express rowing writer was moved to describe him as "the most infuriating ... most inspiring competitor ever to reduce England to boy-size", and he noted that Mackenzie had begun to conform with tradition ... "with amused tolerance". "Today he finds us quaint, and rather endearing, like an eccentric aunt", the writer observed. The Daily Mail, dubbing him Henley's outstanding personality, had this to say: "His critics brand him 'no gentleman'-but his supporters regard him as a breath of fresh air at too-stuffy Henley, a gay personality, an entertainer."
However Stuart did what no other sculler had done by winning both the Diamonds and the Double Sculls Challenge Cup at the same regatta. He teamed up with Oxford Blue Christopher Davidge in the double.
Mackenzie defeats R A Willis of Thames Rowing Club in the heat
Sources
Young Men in a Hurry by Harry Gordon published by Landsdowne Press in 1961