INTERNATIONAL ROWING TURNS PROFESSIONAL would be dry ice, and the horses would be on rollers. Phil had to teach the horses to do it. Well, there was an accident, and one horse fell on him. “Rowing in the heats for Rowing Magazine, Dec 1964/Jan 1965, Thomas E. Weil Collection 1964 Tideway Scullers Coxless-Four Olympic Silver Medal, Toda Bashi Stroke John Russell 6’0” 183cm 176lb. 80kg, 3 Hugh Wardell-Yerburgh 6’2” 189cm 183lb. 83kg, 2 Bill Barry 6’2” 188cm 187lb. 85kg, Bow John James 6’0” 183cm 165lb. 75kg reproduce today’s form, they should provide a real challenge in the final.”3673 Mittet: “I remember the absolute disbelief of watching Phil’s blade falter. How could this be? What was wrong? “Our feelings and concerns shifted totally to Phil in an instant – we knew that this was serious.”3674 Meyers: “Coughing, wobbling, nearly toppling out of the boat, Durbrow survived the heat. Moments later in the shellhouse, Durbrow collapsed. Hospital X-rays revealed a severe lung infection.”3675 Nash: “Durbrow was rushed to the hospital. We tried to visit, but they wouldn’t let us see him. The doctor told me it was a tremendous fluke, a rare re-injury of an old wound. “If I recall what he told me a couple of years earlier, Phil had been the chief horse trainer in Hollywood for the movie, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In it, the four horses (representing war, famine, pestilence and death) had to gallop side by side on a cloud. For the cameras, the clouds 3673 Coxless-Four Give Lift to British Team, The Times, October 12, 1964 3674 Mittet, op. cit. 3675 Meyers, op. cit. the 1964 Olympics, with all the pressure and excitement, maybe he had never pulled so hard . . . he was incredibly strong, reopened the injury. “I believe this is what happened. I also heard sinus problems, so I can’t really say. It was a terrific shock to our crew.”3676 Durbrow: “I’m surprised Ted remembers that I did stunts with horses in Hollywood, but I never got badly hurt in that work. My situation in Tokyo was just totally unexpected and very disappointing after all our efforts.”3677 Meyers: “The doctor forbade him to row. “‘I didn’t know whether to cuss or cry,’ Durbrow said. ‘I guess I did a little of both.’”3678 Nash: “Phil still makes me appreciate what an influence a great 3-seat can have on a stroke and a boat. I recall Phil Durbrow as a coach’s and stroke-seat’s dream. He could get you off the line and always ratchet up the finish regardless. Phil always knew when to go and quietly would say the word ‘Now!’”3679 Mittet: “Phil Durbrow was, in my opinion, the most naturally gifted athlete among us. He was both sensitive and powerful, and he could immediately intuit when we were not in sync. 3676 Nash, personal conversation, 2005 3677 Durbrow, op. cit. 3678 Meyers, op. cit. 3679 Nash personal correspondence, 2009 Phil apparently 1007
