THE BIRTH OF CLASSICAL TECHNIQUE Waterman legs first, back second sequentiality. And Lehmann’s observations only came decades later, probably with the benefit of hindsight. An anthropometrist once measured Hanlan’s body, searching for the secret. “In rowing, the back takes the greatest portion of the strain. . . . A long stroke being desirable, the advantage of a long body . . . becomes apparent, while the short thigh and upper arm, as compared with the lower leg and forearm, is of service; when otherwise, a greater reach is obtained, without losing any mechanical advantage. “These facts are better illustrated in Hanlan, the professional oarsman. . . . His total height entitles him to a place in the 65% class, and his sitting height in the 90% class, while the height of knee remains with the 30%, and the pubic arch with the 25% class, the most surprising difference being in the relative length of the upper arm and forearm. 80% of all those examined surpassed this man in length of upper arm, and only 25% surpassed him in length of forearm. In view of Hanlan’s style of rowing, these measurements are suggestive.”628 In His Own Words After his retirement in 1897, Hanlan wrote and answered questions about his approach to the sport. Hanlan: “The science of sculling is a most difficult one to master and requires a number of years’ experience, combined with a steady application and constant thought to arrive at any degree of perfection. . . . “Those who aspire to prominence and fame in this great branch of sport place too much reliance on their physical strength, 628 Sargent, p. 554 allowing the scientific principles to escape them to a large extent. “An experience of twenty-four years devoted to the study of rowing has taught me that mere endurance and brute strength do not make the successful oarsman. The man who would lead in this sport must apply himself diligently and assiduously to a study of the finer points of the game . . . “A strong arm and a stout frame are essentials to success, but with the brain work lacking, they are almost worthless. In other words, the man must use his head as well as his physical gifts.”629 Ned Hanlan had learned to row almost as early as he had learned to walk. Cosentino: “One of his favorite toys was a plank, five centimeters thick, with tapered ends [and] fitted with a seat and outriggers, upon which rested two weather- beaten oars. In this contraption, Hanlan could pretend to race the many [boats] which were rowed between the Island and the mainland.”630 It was even reported at the time that little Ned Hanlan had rowed himself across Toronto Harbor, across more than a mile of open water subject to currents and sudden weather changes, at the age of five,631 a claim that rowing historian Ted English finds difficult to take seriously.632 Nevertheless, by the time he was of school-age, young Ned used his homemade boat to commute daily across the bay to attend George Street Public School.633 Hanlan was a thoughtful man, and it turns out that he had become a self-made champion by using his brain to take a fresh look at all aspects of technique, training and equipment. 629 Hanlan, p. 1 630 Cosentino, op. cit., p. 8 631 Toronto Colonist, September 6, 1860 632 English, personal conversation, 2008 633 www.hanlanboatclub.ca 169
