THE POCOCK GENERATION “Keep the stroke low, and then mow ‘em down in the finishing sprint.”2095 The New York Times: “The United States met the British in such calm, matter- of-fact style that the Seattle crew gave the impression of actually toying with the Britishers. The Huskies’ stroke was lower all the way, but Britain, at a higher beat, was unable to gain appreciably. “The Leander Eight had to pay the penalty for it when the final drive came. Washington had such unplumbed resources that it picked up the better part of a length in the last furlong [c. 200 meters]. When the white-tipped oars of the Huskies were dipped in the slate-gray river water in the homestretch, their cedar shell fairly flew along. “The blades dug in, and the boat ran along the surface, came even with the Britishers 150 yards from the end and then went further and further ahead with every stroke. Olympia Jesse Owens “The unbeaten University of Washington Huskies won by twenty feet to place the United States on the threshold of its fifth consecutive Olympic eight-oared rowing championship. “The Washingtonians broke the course record, 6:09, with a magnificent 6:00.8, one of the fastest 2,000 meter races in the history of the Olympics. “Joining the Americans in the final round were the very surprising Hungarians [Pannónia Evezős Klub2096], with a heat victory over powerful Italy [Gli Scarronzoni 2095 Ibid. 2096 Pannónia Rowing Club in Budapest. “Pannónia” was the Roman name for the province. from Canottieri Livornesi2097] in 6:07.6, and the Henley champions from Switzerland [Ruderclub Zürich], with a one-foot trial triumph over the quite amazed Germans [Rudergesellschaft Wiking e.V. Berlin 1896, in 6:08.4].”2098 It was Britain, Italy and Germany who qualified in that order for the final through the repêchage. By winning its qualifying heat, Washington could rest, “and rest was important for Washington. Both Gordon Adam [3-seat] and Don Hume [stroke-seat] had contracted an illness earlier in the week. The effort during their prelim only exacerbated the symptoms, particularly Hume’s.”2099 The New York Times: At the end of the heat, “Hume, seven pounds underweight at a mere 158, collapsed at the finish.”2100 Hume: “I wasn’t feeling all that great. I had a real bad chest cold and a temperature. I did manage to get through the preliminary heat, and they stuck me in bed.”2101 Shorty Hunt, 6-seat: “When Don wasn’t feeling well, Ulbrickson put in a substitute, Don Coy,2102 at stroke, and the boat didn’t really go all that well, so we as a group went to Ulbrickson and said, ‘Well we’re going to put Hume in there if we just have to tie him in the seat and let him lay 2097 See Chapter 73. 2098 Arthur J. Daley, Grünau Rowing Course Mark Smashed by Washington in Beating British Crew, The New York Times, August 13, 1936 2099 www.huskycrew,com 2100 Daley, op.cit. 2101 Qtd. by Scott 2102 S. Pocock, p. 33 579
