INTERNATIONAL ROWING TURNS PROFESSIONAL bow position. Weeks went by, and still they had not made a final selection. “Eventually, I was given the opportunity. From the first stroke, I was awakened to a level of rowing that I had never before imagined possible. I knew at once that my best bet was to do no harm. The boat set perfectly on center, and during subsequent big 20s and clocked 500-meter runs we could literally hear and feel the boat riding on bubbles passing beneath the keel.”3643 Durbrow: “We were trying every conceivable combination of oarsmen in a number of fours that went out every day. Boats that I expected to be super fast felt heavy or ungainly, but one time, Ted Nash, Ted Mittet, Dick Lyon and I went out together with Nash stroking, and it felt light and quick.”3644 Lyon: “Fortune was with us, and the first day we were together, the boat was pretty fast. “We had rowed in many combinations before, but Ted Nash, our inspiration, our energy-filled, positive-attitude maniac, got the four of us together, and we rowed out into the bumpy waters of Lake Washington, churned by power boats. For unexplainable reasons, the boat set up well right away and it just felt really good. Ted had his watch strapped to his boot stretchers and suggested that we see how we do over a 500-meter trial. “So we went for it, and I think we did something like a 1:34 on the first try in bad water. Ted was elated with the number, whatever it was. “Ted then tried another combination a few workouts, but it was a little rough.”3645 Durbrow: “We continued trying other combinations, and about a week later, Nash, Mittet, Lyon and I went out again, and it felt 3643 Mittet, personal correspondence, 2009 3644 Durbrow, op. cit. 3645 Lyon, op. cit., 2009 3646 Durbrow, op. cit. 3647 Mittet, op. cit. 3648 Lyon, op. cit. 3649 Ibid. good again. I remember saying to Nash, ‘Ted, this boat has the best feel of all the other combinations. Why don’t we go with it?’ “As the previous Olympic Gold Medal winner in the boat, it was up to Ted.”3646 Mittet: “Ted was the obvious leader, and I knew that it was he who would decide my fate. I rowed each workout with the fear of being replaced. Others took my place, but I always returned.”3647 Dick Lyon’s daily journal: “Weds – 22 July 64. Timer with 4+ and 2- toward Bellevue along bridge, slight following breeze, 6:33. First day trying 42 start 30 strokes, then 37 for body; rough release, set & steering. “Talked w/Stan, decided against going to Nationals [July 31 – August 2 on Hunter Island Lagoon, New York] due to possible loss of surprise factor and loss of at least 1 week training and money. Need 6:25 to win Trials. Army people squared away for Lyon & Durbrow, full-time training now, no need to go into the office. Legs burned ~1,300m, found self waiting for finish, could put out more. “Encouraged that Stan gave us coaching. “Ate whole box of Life cereal . . . ”3648 Lyon: “I found some old journal pages – we were still trying another combination on Sunday, July 26th, when we (Nash) made the final decision to stay with this lineup.”3649 Durbrow: “Ted sat still for a while out on the water, then turned and agreed to go with us. In terms of rowing with me, I’ve always felt, but don’t know that it’s true, that as Ted sat there considering us, he may have had in the back of his mind the fact that Stan was very positive about my rowing. 1001
