THE SPORT OF ROWING and men even of the finest physique cannot go on rowing forever.”1025 This is an extraordinarily long and passionate editorial from London’s flagship newspaper. British Rowing was serious business at the beginning of the 20th Century. It is interesting to note that the writer noted that the then-current generation of English Orthodox rowers could not compare with the previous generation, many of whom actually rowed the post-Fairbairn Golden Age Classical Technique! Vivian Nickalls Of the three great rowers in the Nickalls clan, Vivian Nickalls (1871-1947), who never rowed in the Olympics, is now too often overlooked. Guy Nickalls had been 2nd Captain of the Boats at Eton in 1886. His younger brother, Vivian, was Captain of the Boats in 1890, and when he followed Guy to Magdalen College, Oxford the following year, he got to row right behind him in the winning 1891 Oxford Blue Boat. Vivian won the Diamond Sculls as well that year. He won the Wingfield Sculls in ‘92, ‘94 and ‘95. Guy Nickalls described his brother as follows: “Vivian Nickalls, for a long man, was a fine sculler, handicapped by an awkward finish and handicapped also by the fact that he never entirely gave his time up 1025 The Olympic Regatta, Victory of Leander, The Times of London, August 1, 1908, p. 13 University of Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletics Vivian Nickalls, 1913, University of Pennsylvania Coach to sculling only – his chief characteristic being a fine, healthy, long body swing.”1026 Rowing for Leander, Magdalen and later London Rowing Club, Vivian shared victories with his brother in the Grand Challenge Cup in 1891, the Steward’s Cup in ‘92, ‘95 and ‘96, and the Silver Goblets in ‘94, ‘95 and ‘96. In ‘92 and ‘93, he also won the Goblets with former Eton and 1026 Isthmian Rowing, p. 174 274
