INTERNATIONAL ROWING TURNS PROFESSIONAL learned so much more about training, including the importance of having regular, daily massage. “During my six weeks in South America I also still kept up my five mile training runs.”2908 As late as the Henley Regatta in 1948, Bushnell was rowing his single in the Diamond Sculls, and Burnell was rowing a double with R.F. Winstone of Kingston Rowing Club. Bushnell lost in his final by five lengths to Merv Wood of Australia,2909 and Burnell’s double lost its semi-final by two lengths to the eventual finals winners from Belgium. The English selectors encouraged Bushnell to abandon the single and join the mix in an attempt to strengthen the double, with Trials to be held in eleven days time, leaving a further two weeks to prepare for the Olympics. The Times of London: “In the double sculls, although Garrod and Horwood, the 1947 winners at Henley, had been in the final this year against the winning Belgian pair, Burnell and Winstone had previously been beaten by [the Belgians] in record time. The selectors thought that were Burnell, an ex-Wingfield winner, partnered by the excellent middle-weight Bushnell, also a Wingfield winner, something really fast would be produced. Such proved to be the case in their decisive win over Garrod and Horwood [in the Trials]. “Coached by J. Beresford2910 during the three weeks left to them for training and given the weather, the record may go and the trophy, the only one won in 1936 at Berlin, may be retained.”2911 2908 Ibid. 2909 See Chapter 86. 2910 See Chapter 25. 2911 Rowing – Olympic Trials, The Times of London, July 19, 1948 Burnell: “Our sculling was soon the most enjoyable I have ever experienced, but I think we must admit that there was a considerable amount of luck in the way we fell together. “But a great deal of credit must go to Bushnell. It was a remarkable performance for one whose whole time had been spent as a single sculler, to fit in so quickly with the vagaries of a stroke behind whom he had never sculled before.”2912 Bushnell: “Dickie, I don’t think anyone else ever called him that, presented me with a physical, technical rowing problem, for he was about 6ft 2in and 13 and a half stone, while I was no more than 5ft 10in and 10st 12lb. It was vital that I re-rig the boat so that, in spite of the serious physical differences between us, we were able to reach together.”2913 The new combination entered the Olympic regatta with less than a month under their belts, filled with hope and trepidation. The Heat Burnell: “In the first round we drew Italy and France. We were nervous, I suppose, and started off at much too high a rate, something over 40 I think, and could not settle down. The French Double led us at once, and instead of rowing our race we tried to keep the rating up to hold them. We did hold them, but most uneconomically. All the time I felt that we could go by, but we went on scrambling “At about the 1,500 metre mark, we had a serious attempt at getting level. We closed up a bit, but after half a minute I knew that they were counter-spurting and holding us. I thought we might get past, but probably would not, so we eased off and finished 2912 Burnell, Swing Together, pp. 100-1 2913 Allen, op. cit., p. 5 817
