THE SPORT OF ROWING comfortably, very out of breath but not too tired, about three lengths behind.”2914 Years later, Bushnell told a different story. Bushnell: “Dickie decided we should lose the first heat so as not to meet the Danes [Ebbe Parsner and Aage Larsen] in the semi-final. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to do that. We could have won, but we didn’t, and came into the semis through the repêchage, avoiding the Danes.”2915 The Repêchage Burnell: “We drew, in the repêchage, Holland and Argentina. The Dutch Pair, European Champions in 1947,2916 were by far the most formidable opponents in any of the repêchage heats, and the Argentine pair, too, were known to be fast for a way. “We started cleanly and strongly, rowing, I should think, 20 and 38 in the half and full minute, and settled at once to 32 which was our best pace. We had a much easier race than expected and won by more than three lengths.”2917 The Semi-Final After heats and reps, the original field of twelve had only been reduced to nine. There were three semi-finals scheduled, three participants each, with only the winners to qualify for the final. Britain drew the United States and Belgium, the winners at Henley. Burnell: “There was a stiffish headwind blowing, and we got off to another good start and were soon nosing out in front of Belgium. After about half a minute, they caught a slight crab. Here is one of the joys of double sculling, for two men can row as 2914 Burnell, op. cit., p. 105 2915 Dodd, op. cit. 2916 Van der Meer & Neumeier. See Chapter 88. 2917 Burnell, op. cit., pp. 105-6 one, reacting far more quickly than is possible in a bigger boat. Four or five ‘thick-uns’ made the most of our momentary advantage, and we were clear of the Belgians at the end of a minute. “Their actual crab cost the Belgians very little distance, but it upset their rhythm, and they never came again. I soon realized that we had the legs of them, but I was not so sure about the Americans. And in a strong wind I did not dare let up. “The official account said, ‘USA passed Belgium and led them by a length at 750 metres, with Great Britain going further and further ahead. The race became a procession, with the British pair quite untroubled at a strong 30.’ “It may have been a procession, but the British pair were far from being untroubled. In a head wind one cannot ease off until the race is over, and we had to go to the 1,500 metres before I could let up. We came in four or five lengths ahead, very tired. “The only cloud on the horizon was the Danish pair, which we had never noticed in practice, and which had won its semi-final against Italy by ten seconds, in 7 min. 48.3 sec. against our time of 7 min. 55.1 sec.”2918 The Final From the Saturday semi-finals to the final late Monday seemed like an eternity to Richard Burnell: “All I could think of was ‘just one more race, and then never again!”2919 Finally the moment to launch arrived. Burnell: “Paddling down to the start was one of the worst things I have ever known. One always feels weak enough on these occasions, but generally one can raise a smile for the odd well-wisher who calls ‘good luck’ from the bank. But now we were greeted by a deafening roar all the 2918 Ibid, pp. 106-7 2919 Ibid, p. 108 818
