THE SPORT OF ROWING not, and, finishing at 50, they made Thames go flat out to beat them.”1085 The U.S. beat Belgium by ten lengths in 6:21.2. The other heat winners were Canada, Poland and Germany in its first allowed appearance after World War I. Argentina had a row over. The following day there were repêchages for the five heat losers. Holland eliminated Belgium, and Italy did the same to France. Denmark drew a row over and advanced. The field was reduced from eleven to nine. In the second round, Britain beat Poland by six lengths in 6:30.6 while the U.S. dispatched Denmark by two lengths in an unofficial 6:30. Again, the U.S. had rowed the course in a time marginally faster than the Thames R.C. entry. The other winners were Italy, Canada and Germany. Denmark and Holland suffered their second defeats of the competition and were eliminated. The two crews with only one defeat so far raced off the following day, with Poland sending Argentina out of the regatta by two lengths. There were six crews left alive. In the third round, Canada eliminated Poland, and the U.S. eliminated Italy by three lengths in 6:32.8. This was the same crew that Britain had beaten by only half a length days earlier. The British lined up against Germany in the third round. The Times of London: “The Thames men rowed with beautiful style and judgment. The Germans, who stroked 22 in the first half-minute to the British 21, got away with a slight lead which they maintained to half-way. Thames then spurted strongly and drew level at the 1,200 metres mark. By the 1,750 metres mark they had gained a lead of half a length, 1085 Page, p. 78 which they increased gradually till the winning post. They were by no means rowed out at the finish.”1086 The winning time was 6:34.2. For the third time, the Thames Eight came home slower than the Americans. And then there were three. In the semi-final, America beat Canada by half a length in 6:02, the fastest time of the regatta, while Britain rowed over the course in 6:23. The two finalists had been set, and the race would be a good one. Coach Jack Beresford, Sr. described the final: “The English crew, though led by a length after the 750-metres signal, hung on with great tenacity and repeatedly spurted and lessened the American lead. All their efforts were answered, however.”1087 1929 British Rowing Almanack: “From the 1,000 metre mark the Americans spurted no less than four times. Four times their coxswain rattled imperatively with the side- plates against the hull, for the last ounce to be put in; but in spite of all the efforts his men put forth, Thames came up on them.”1088 Beresford, Sr.: “At 1,500 metres the difference was three-quarters of a length. It was at this point that the English crew started their final desperate spurt. They rowed 40 all the way in, and were able to reduce the American lead to half a length. “It is, perhaps, not known how good was the American crew that beat us in the final. Suffice it to say that their average weight was 13st.1089 a man to our 12st. 2lb.1090; that they had broken the record of every course on which they had rowed in America, long 1086 The Olympic Games: Rowing, The Times of London, August 8, 1928 1087 Jack Beresford, Sr., in a letter published in The Times of London, August 16, 1928 1088 Qtd. by Page, p. 79 1089 83 kg 1090 77 kg 288
