Harry Lindgren
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC) and late in his career from 1909, Albert Park Rowing Club (VIC)
Died very young in 1914-15 season of a heart attack.
The Observer in Adelaide recorded the following obituary.
"Melbourne Rowing Man's Death.
"Rowing men were grieved to hear of the sudden death of Mr. Harry Lindgren, due to heart failure, which occurred recently. Mr. Lindgren's career as an oarsman was remarkable, and In his day he was probably the most successful man who handled an oar. As far back as the year 1892 he won his first race—a maiden eight—at Bairnsdale. rowing No.5 in a Mercantile crew, with which club he rowed until the year 1909, when he left that club and joined the Albert Park Rowing Club.
"He actively identified himself with the sport long after the average man has riven it up; and even after he had passed his fortieth year of age he won, among other races, fire senior eights at Henley regattas, four at Geelong, and one at Ballarat and also three championship eights. It was however, mainly with the Mercantile Club, that he achieved, his chief successes, rowing mostly immediately behind Mr. A. B. Sloan, in the stroke seat.
"It was probably in the years 1894-5-6 that he was in his prime, rowing at No, 3 in the Mercantile Club's four, stroked by H. Davis, with A. B. Sloan at No. 2 and H E. Dawson at bow. This crew won the Senior Fours at Upper Yarra Regatta in 1894, the Senior Fours at Ballarat and Geelong. and the Champion Fours in 1895: and the Senior Fours at the V.R.A. Regatta in 1896. As an instance of the pace this crew used to get out of their boat, it is related that every evening, when training, they used to race and beat a junior eight of the Yarra Yarra Club over the full course.
"As an interstate oarsman he rowed in the successful eights of 1894, 5, and 6, and the fours of 1896. He also met with a fair amount of success as a sculler, winning his maiden race in 1895 at the VRA Regatta.
"Although leaving the Mercantile Club six years ago, he was familiar with every rowing man on the river, and up till last year he rowed regularly in the Morell combination eight. Mr. Lindgren's personality and genial manner made him a great favourite wherever he went, and his presence will be greatly missed, not only at regattas and other rowing gatherings, but at all manly sports and pastimes."
A champion oarsman of his Club and State and a prolific race winner for twenty years.
1895 Victorian Intercolonial Eight - Lindgren seat second from the left
Some details:
1892 - Bairnsdale Regatta, men's Maiden Eight, five seat - First
1892 - Colac Regatta, Men's Maiden Pair, bow - First
1892 - Warrnambool Regatta, Men's Maiden Pair, bow - first
1892 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Men's Maiden Four, three seat - First
1893 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Junior Eight, five seat - First
1893 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1894 - Bairnsdale Regatta, Men's Senior Pair, stroke - First
1894 - Richmond and South Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1894 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1894 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1894 - Interstate Men's Eight Championships, five seat - first
1895 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1895 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1895 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Pair, bow- First
1895 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1895 - Interstate Men's Eight Championships, seven seat - first
1895 - Victorian Men's Four Championship, three seat - First
1896 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1896 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Pair, bow - First
1896 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Four, three seat - First
1896 - Victorian Men's Four Championship, three seat - First
1896 - Victorian Men's Eight Championship, seven seat - First
1896 - Interstate Men's Four Championships, three seat - first
1897 - Interstate Men's Sculling Championship - Third
1906 - Victorian Men's Four Championship, three seat - First
1907 - Henley on Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1907 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, seven seat - First
1907 - Victorian Men's Four Championship, three seat - First
1908 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, seven seat - First
1908 - Henley on Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1908 - Victorian Men's Eight Championship, seven seat - First
1909 - Henley on Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1910 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1910 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1910 - Victorian Men's Eight Championship, three seat - First
1911 - Henley on Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1911 - Victorian Men's Eight Championship, three seat - First
1912 - Henley on Yarra Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, three seat - First
1912 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, four seat - First
1912 - Victorian Men's Eight Championship, three seat - First
1913 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, two seat - First
Andrew Guerin
August 2021
Sources:
- Mercantile Rowing Club annual reports
- The Victorian Oarsman by John Lang, Massina & Co, 1919
- "ROWING." Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931) 6 March 1915: 16. Web. 8 Aug 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163150464>.