Rhubarb 2024

DRPETER THOMAS (Apsley, 1958-1963) GBROWING 1968 OLYMPICS In 1968 I rowed for the University of London and our eight was selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games held in Mexico that year.The rowing events, like most of the sports,

PATRICK DELAFIELD

(Apsley, 1959-1964) GB SCULLING 1972 OLYMPICS My most vivid memory is actually selection for the 1972 Munich Olympics with Radleian,Tim Crooks in the double scull, following the hardest season of training ever undertaken by GB rowers. Previous Olympians were undoubtedly talented and dedicated but spent far

took place at 8,000 feet above sea level but the endurance competitors were only allowed to train and acclimatise at altitude for four weeks before racing. 18 rowers collapsed on the first day of racing and had to be carried out of their boats, including one of our crew. We eventually finished 10th with a substitute oarsman. It was not a happy experience for us and I vowed to try and help avoid such a situation from happening again. At that time as a medical student, we were not taught exercise physiology nor how to treat sports injuries. After I qualified, I joined the British Association of Sports Medicine and was subsequently appointed British Rowing team doctor, a position I held for 14 years. I became a member of World Rowing’s Medical Commission and served until I retired 20 years later. I was awarded the Roger Bannister medal for services to Sports Medicine and in the same year became President of the British Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine. However, looking back, the thing that has inspired me about the Olympics, and I’ve been to six Games in an official capacity, is the camaraderie of the competitors, despite their own governments not always seeing eye to eye!

INTERVIEW

less time than we did to achieve the qualifying time for selection. Of course, modern day athletes are training full time but they are not attempting to hold down paid employment to fund their ambitions, let alone support a wife and daughter! Our unprecedented success on the European regatta circuit gave us optimism for the final, lining up with only one crew that we had not previously beaten. Alas, drawn in lane 5 with a massive grandstand and a fierce cross-head wind sheltering lanes 1 to 3 in the final 250m, our race lead at 1250m counted for little.The public apology about the unfairness of the course from FISA’s Tomi Keller did little to overcome the bitter taste of fifth place. My employers, the utterly splendid Guinness Brewers, having provided three months of paid leave, were fully supportive of me continuing on to Montreal but said,‘please would I consider working for somebody else’. Rowing has continued to be a part of my life. I was elected as a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta in 1977 and served for five years as President of the Leander Club from2003.

Patrick Delafield with Tim (Patrick is at the bow) on Lake Silvaplana. Patrick profile above, with Teddies photographs in the background.

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