THE SPORT OF ROWING pairs for 1,250. He talked to everyone as he raced, distracting even the most disciplined veterans. Novice scullers simply shut down and paddled home.”3753 Steve Redgrave:3754 “He Public Record Office Victoria Stuart Mackenzie in 1956 Mackenzie the Showman Dodd: “[He was also known as the] ‘enfant terrible’ and ‘ruderer mit humor,’ the bad boy of rowing.”3751 Ted Nash: “In 1959, when I was 26, my hero was Stuart ‘Sam’3752 Mackenzie, the huge Australian single sculler with a bag of medals at Europeans, Diamond Sculls and world regattas of all kinds and Olympic levels. He was on tour getting ready for the ‘60 Games in Italy, and he was an impressive sight for new Brit and American team members and for many Europeans, like a wrestler prepared to devour babies in a fenced playground. “Sam would leave the line as if he were an eight, at 50 spm. Seldom under 45 in the first 250, he based early at 36 whilst his opponents were at 31-32. He often held off men’s doubles for 800 meters and men’s 3751 Sone, p. 6 3752 SAM = Stuart Alexander Mackenzie used to try to beat the opposition by the greatest possible distance, cross the line, then back the boat down and sit on the wooden booms which mark out the [Henley] course below the finish. His opponent would assume that he’d hit the booms and crashed, and would row triumphantly past thinking that he’d won, only to discover the truth. At other times, Stuart would try to get back to the boathouse, change into his jacket and tie, and emerge to shake the vanquished sculler’s hand as he came off the water.”3755 Nash: “Stuart had tales to burn, and what is more, he won many of his races on shore prior to the ‘Êtes-vous prêt?’ He became known for his unusual ‘off-the- water-manship.’ “With just a casual word, Sam could crush your plan and make you doubt your appearance in the race, leaving no room in your mind for any possible victory. He was a master. “He might say to you [Here Nash assumed an Australian accent.], ‘Hello, myte. Haven’t seen you for a while. You look a bit pale. Are you well? You aren’t racing anytime soon, are you? Oh, well. Cheers! See you on the line. G’day!’ 3753 Nash, personal correspondence, 2007 3754 See Chapter 130. 3755 Redgrave, Golden, p. 44 1028
