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The 1930's

Great Britain Coxless Four, 1932 Olympic Games, Los Angeles

R.D. George (bow), J. Beresford Jnr, H.R.A. Edwards, J.C. Badcock (stroke)

The Olympic Regatta was held at Long Beach, California, against a backdrop of oil derricks. The British crews had travelled by sea to Canada, where they had spent four days in Toronto as guests of the Argonaut RC before travelling on to California. Then bad luck hit the Thames four when the unfortunate Tig Tyler fell ill with influenza and could not row. 'It's a hell of a long way to go to catch flu,' commented the unhappy Tig to Dick Phelps who, in his first year with Thames, had been chosen as boatman for the Olympic team. Jumbo Edwards from the pair was brought in at three to replace him, George moving to bow, and Jack to two. There is little doubt, however, that this combination were faster than the original crew.

For Thames, and especially for Jumbo, the 1932 Olympics were a triumph. The coxless pair won their event and the four scored a resounding 2 1/2 length victory in their final over Germany, Italy and the USA, giving Jumbo his second gold medal in one day. It was also a personal triumph for Jack Beresford, bringing him a second Olympic gold to add to his two silvers. Tig Tyler wept unashamedly in the grandstand.