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Rusty Robertson MBE

Omaru Rowing Club (NZ) then Drummoyne Rowing Club (NSW)

1962 - Commonwealth Games Men's Coxed Four coach - Gold

1968 - Olympic Games - Men's Coxed Four coach - Gold

1970 - World Championships Men's Eight coach - Bronze

1971 - World Championships Men's Eight coach - Gold

1972 - Olympic Games Men's Coxless Pair coach - Silver

1972 - Olympic Games - Men's Eight coach - Gold

1973 - Eurpoean Championships men's Coxed Pair coach - Bronze

1974 - World Championships Men's Eight coach - Bronze

1974 - World Championships Men's Pair coach - Silver

1975 - World Championships Men's Eight coach - Bronze

1976 - Olympic Games Men's Eight coach - Bronze

1979 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship coach - Third

1979 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Four coach - Sixth

1980 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Four coach - Gold

1981 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Four coach - Gold

1981 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Double Scull coach - Eleventh

1981 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Scull coach - Eleventh

1983 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship coach - Third

1983 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Eight coach - Silver

1984 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship coach - First

1984 - Olympic Games - Men's Quad Scull coach - Silver

1985 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship coach - Third

1985 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Single Scull coach - Ninth

1985 - World Championships - Men's Quad coach - Eighth

1986 - Interstate Men's Sculling Championship coach - Fourth

1987 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship coach - Second

1987 - Interstate Women's Sculling Championship coach - Second

1987 - Interstate Women's Lightweight Four Championship co-coach - Second

1987 - World Championships - Men's Lightweight Eight coach - Eighth

1988 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship coach - Third

Rusty commenced rowing at the age of 16 at the Oamaru Rowing Club in New Zealand. A serious car accident which broke his back force a premature retirement from rowing and an early start to coaching. He coach Oamaru crews for many years and was Club Captain for a decade. His Oamaru coxed four won the New Zealand Championships and was selected for the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth. His international career started with Gold at this regatta. By 1967 he was a National selector and coaching New Zealand crews internationally. His 1968 Olympic coxed four won gold and Rusty was one of the most respected coaches in the land and one of the world's foremost rowing coaches. He was a successful New Zealand coach before being lured to Australia in 1976. He coached gold, silver and bronze medal winning New Zealand crews at World Championships and Olympic Championships in the coxed four in 1968 and the eight in 1972. He was truly great coach.

He died in 1990. The annual Trans Tasman Series trophy between the two countries in named in his honour.

The Rusty Robertson Trophy

Andrew Guerin 2004

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The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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