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australian rowers profiles and history

Lionel P Robberds AM QC

Leichhardt Rowing Club (NSW)

Born 2 April 1939. Schooled at Sydney Boys High and then at Sydney University. Admitted as a Barrister in NSW in 1966 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1982. He remains a prominent Sydney QC.

Typical of a great sportsman, he was not just a good cox; he could row both sides, at a time when it was an unusual achievement, and he was also a very handy sculler. Outside rowing. he was a member of the Australian Squash Team which won the World Men's Team Championship governed by the World Squash Federation. A leader in both sports.

Lionel has maintained his interest in rowing throughout his life.

1951 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First

1952 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First

1953 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First

1954 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – Second

1954 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Coxed Four cox – Gold

1955 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First

1955 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Third

1955 - NSW Three Mile Champion Eight cox 

1955 - NSW 2000m Champion Eight cox - First

1955 – Interstate Men’s Coxed Pair Championships cox – Second

1956  - NSW 2000m Champion Four cox - First

1956 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First

1956 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Second

1957 - North Shore Regatta Lightweight Novice Pair (bow)

1957 - NSW 2000m Champion Four cox - First

1957 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox & coach – First

1957 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Second

1957 -   NSW 2000m Champion Junior Four cox/coach - First

1957 -   NSW 2000m Champion Four cox/coach - Second 

1958 - Drummoyne Regatta Lightweight Senior Single Scull - Second

1958 - NSW Three Mile Champion Eight cox - First

1958 - NSWRA Regatta Maiden Single Scull - Third

1958 - Hawkesbury Regatta Maiden Eight, bow - First 

1958 - Balmain Regatta Maiden Eight, bow - Third 

1958 - Leichhardt Regatta Maiden Eight, bow - Third  

1958 - Metropolitan Regatta Lightweight Senior Double Scull, bow - Third  

1958 - Marlow (England) Regatta - Grand Challenge Eight cox - First

1958 – Henley Royal Grand Challenge Eight cox - Second   (The Henley Regatta was on before the Games).

1958 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Eight cox – Silver

1958 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Coxed Four cox – Silver

1959 - Haberfield Regatta - NSW Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow - First  

1959 - Metropolitan Regatta Lightweight Senior Double Scull, bow - Third

1959 - Leichhardt Regatta - Lightweight Senior Double Scull, bow - First  

1959 - NSW Three Mile Champion Eight cox - Second

1959 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – First

1959 - St.George Regatta  Lightweight Maiden Four, stroke - Third

1960 - Hawkesbury Regatta Lightweight Maiden Eight, three - Second

1960 - Drummoyne Regatta Lightweight Senior Eight, four - Third 

1960 - Drummoyne Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, bow - First 

1960 - Balmain Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, bow - First

1960 - Haberfield Regatta Lightweight Senior Single Scull - Third

1960 - Haberfield Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, bow - Third

1960 - Metropolitan Regatta Maiden Pair, bow - Second

1960 - Riverview Regatta Lightweight Senior Eight, four - Second 

1960 - Riverview Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, stroke - Second 

1960 - Leichhardt Regatta Maiden Single Scull - Second

1960 - Leichhardt Regatta Maiden Pair, bow - First

1960 - NSWRA Regatta Maiden Single Scull - Third

1960 – Olympic Games – Men’s Coxed Four cox – Fifth

1962 - National Men's Lightweight Coxed Pair Championship, cox and coach -Fifth

1962 - National Men's Lightweight Eight Championship, cox and coach - Third

1964 - National Men's Coxed Four Championship, cox - Second

1964 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Second 


1955 Victorious NSW Women's Four

1964 Olympic Coxed Four

Lionel's Wikipedia entry extracted on 27th June 2021 also describes another aspect to his sporting life: 

Robberds took up squash in 1963. By 1970 he was the fifth ranked player in New South Wales and at that year's Australian Championships he beat Cam Nancarrow the Australian #2 seed. Along with his brother Greg, Lionel Robberds made the New South Wales men's team and he was a part of their legacy when between 1958 and 1973 members of that team won 78 consecutive matches at Australian carnivals. Nancarrow, Ken Hiscoe, Ted Hamilton and others participated in that time in the four men squad. The unbeaten run ended with a loss to Queensland in 1974. In 1973 Robberds was selected in the Australian national men's team which competed and won the World Men's Team Championship governed by the World Squash Federation. The next men's world championships were held in England in 1976 and again Robberds was selected in the Australian team who competed and placed third overall.


Andrew Guerin and Steve Roll
June 2021 (updated December 2021)

Sources:

  1. Regatta programs
  2. Leichhardt Rowing Club records
  3. Wikipedia

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