John Leeming

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) and Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

John ‘Larry’ Leeming

Many rowers take up rowing due to bad hand eye co-ordination. Larry was not in this category - he wanted to play cricket. However being a tiny year 7 boy, the Newington College sports master dictated that he would be a cox. So sixty years ago in February 1966, Larry went down to the boatshed for the first time.

However, Larry did share a common issue with other well-known Mercantile coxswains like Martin Owen and David Colvin, whose talents were not fully recognised at school and so did much coxing at club level whilst at school. His first championship win came in year 11 when at the last moment he took over the reigns from Kevin Hollingworth, who was struck down with illness at the 1970 National Championships. His Sydney Rowing Club crew won the Australian Lightweight Eight Championships narrowly by 0.2 seconds.

In year 12 Larry undertook more coxing for clubs than Newington College. He was taken under the wing of the great cox Alan Grover who mentored him well. John is deeply appreciative of his assistance and holds him in the highest regard. Another person who took him under his wing was Brian Denny who was sadly electrocuted whilst preparing for 1972 Olympic Games. John credits Brian with keeping him in the sport and being an “amazing guy”.

Whilst Larry won many championships, he does not dwell on them and is reluctant to discuss them. He would rather speak of the relationships created through rowing and the people he has met. Whilst competitive, he is not driven by championships. He wants to assist people and be part of their success rather than create his own. He has been very generous with his time over the years coaching and coxing.

When asked about his rowing highlights, John mentions the chats he has had with rowers at critical times in their rowing journeys which have helped them on their way and remain in the sport. They range from the Club’s very best to the less so. Championships have no part in his ‘highlights package’.

John coxing the NSW Penrith Cup crew in 1973

Back to the facts and figures.

Whilst his coxing was based from Sydney Rowing Club, he has spread his favours across many clubs. Before work took him to Melbourne in 1981, he was drawn to Drummoyne Rowing Club where the great coach Rusty Robinson was employed. He was a great fan of Rusty and learned much from his him. Fortunately, this mentoring was restricted to coaching and not drinking. Rusty had a prodigious thirst!

In 1981, he had moved to Melbourne for work and whilst wavering on which club to join, Noel Donaldson persuaded him to come to Mercantile. Within months, he was the cox of the Victorian King’s Cup crew. Thereafter he did a lot of coxing and coaching of lightweights, including me.

At the same time, some 45 years ago, he joined the Mercs coaching team.

In 1994 he served as club secretary for two years before going overseas in 1996 to the UK for a year. He fondly recalls his time coaching at Imperial College in 1996 where his Mercantile pedigree opened doors. He coached under 23 men and so had some of his squad racing against Mercantile members such as Simon Gadsen, Bill Tait and Rob Douglas at the Nations Cup at Hazelwinkel that year. John fondly followed the rowers careers of those he coached at Imperial including athletes who have made UK teams and won at Henley.

Upon his return, it was back into coaching. By 2008 he had branched out into school coaching , first at Scotch College, then a long stint at Genazzano and then St Catherines.

John loves the Club and has become a generous donor to the Club’s Foundation as well as being one of its bequestors. Great work John.

We have all heard the wise saying that it takes a village to raise a child. The same is true with rowers and John is pleased to be a part of the creation of many a rower. You would be surprised how many people he has assisted in the sport. Understand his view that it is all about relationships and the people involved and you understand John.

Incomplete rowing record

1970 – National Championships, Men’s Lightweight Eight (Sydney), cox – First

1971 – NSW Championships, Sydney Rowing Club, cox

1972 – University Championships, Men’s Eight, cox (SUBC) – Second

1973 – Victorian Championships, Men’s Four (Sydney), cox – First

1973 – Interstate Championships, Penrith Cup (NSW), cox – Fourth

1973 – Henley Royal Regatta, Prince Phillip Challenge, cox – Second round

1974 – Interstate Championships, Victoria Cup (NSW), cox - First

1974 – National Championships, Men’s Lightweight Eight, cox (Drummoyne) - Second

1974 – National Championships, Men’s Junior Eight, cox (Drummoyne) – Fourth

1975 – National Championships, Men’s Four, cox – Second

1975 – National Championships, Under 19 Four, cox - First

1975 – University Championships, Men’s Lightweight Four, cox (SUBC) – Fourth

1976 – Interstate Championships, Wilkinson Cup (NSW), cox – Third

1977 – National Championships, Men’s Lightweight Eight, cox (Haberfield) – Fifth

1977 – National Championships, Men’s Junior Four, cox (Sydney) – Third

1978 – Interstate Championships, Men’s Youth Eight (NSW) - Fourth

1980 – National Championships, Men’s Coxed Pair (Drummoyne), cox – Sixth

1980 – National Championships, Junior Four (Drummoyne) cox – Sixth

1981-82 – Mercantile Rowing Club Committee member

1981 – Interstate Championships, King’s Cup (VIC), cox – Second

1981-82 – Mercantile coaching team

1982-83 - Mercantile lightweight coaching team

1984 – Victorian Championships, Men’s Lightweight Eight, cox – First

1984 – National Championships, Men’s Four, cox – Sixth

1984 – National Championships, Men’s Lightweight Eight, cox - Second

1986-87 – Mercantile coaching team

1988 – National Championships, Men’s Lightweight Eight, cox - Second

1994-96 – Mercantile Rowing Club Hon. Secretary

1996-97 – Imperial College – under 23 coach.

2001 to present – Mercantile coaching team

2002 – Victorian Championships, Men’s Eight, co-coach – First

2002– Victorian Championships, Men’s Intermediate Scull, co-coach – First

2004 – Victorian Championships. Men’s Scull, co-coach – First

2008 – Interstate Championships, President’s Cup, coach - Fourth

2008-2014 – Genazzano coaching

2005-06 – Scotch College coaching

2016 - St Catherines coaching and coach mentoring

2018 – Mercantile RC, Vice-President

Andrew Guerin April 2026

Sources

This website for results
Conversation with John in April 2026