Australians at 1976 Henley Royal Regatta

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - Edward O Hale
Haberfield Rowing Club (NSW) - Richard Reddel

Australian Olympic sculler Ted Hale won this event without significant resistance in all his races. All were won with the margin stated as easily. In his first round, he won over I Lloyd of the Marlow Rowing Club. In the next round he dispatched G A Mulcahy of the Quintin Boat Club, although not without a fight in the early stages. Mulcahy challenged at the Barrier and led briefly. Mulcahy fell back and the final result was again easily. In his semi-final, he came up against fellow Australian Richard Reddel of Haberfield and Hale again won easily. The final was against lightweight P Zeun of the Peterborough City Rowing Club. Zeun led early but did not have the power to match Hale's sculling. Hale took the lead just before the Barrier and had three lengths by Fawley. Zeun came to a standstill at the beginning of the enclosure but managed to reach the finish.

Ted Hale in 1976

Sydney University Boat Club (NSW) - Bow: Ian F Luxford, Str: Christopher D Shinners

 The Henley Regatta Record commented on the race as follows. 

The standard of the crews and the quality of the racing were poor. By far the best, and indeed the only good pair, were the Australian Olympic pair, Luxford and Shinners, who won all their races easily, and lowered the record in the final. Selected in the draw, and with a bye through the first round, Luxford and Shinners won both their heats without ever being extended. Lecky and Brooker, of Canada, also selected, won their heats almost as easily, helped by the fact that their first opponents, Gritten and Harpum, hit the booms at the top of Temple Island. 

In the final Luxford and Shinners hit the buoys soon after the start, which gave Lecky and Crooker a lead of half a length at the quarter mile. Luxford and Shinners were level at the Barrier, and then drew ahead steadily over the whole distance, despite the fact that they also hit a boom which had come adrift, near the mile signal. Although they had the race well in hand after the half mile they kept up a rating of 36, going to 39 at the finish, and lowered the record to Fawley and the finish. 

The remaining competitors were all more or less outclassed, and there were no other races of any significance.

Shinners & Luxford in 1976