THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT his thing, and in the era that he was coming out of, for everybody it was all about how well you rowed, not about how fit and strong you were.”6036 “He was an outstanding sculler and once won the Scullers’ Head, a grueling event that takes place over the Boat Race course, [beating Stuart McKenzie,6037 Nick Birkmyre and George Justicz6038] so everyone respected him greatly.”6039 Spracklen: “In 1958, Geoff Baker, a fellow club member, and I joined forces to scull a double. We were both small, but we sculled many miles together, which developed a good aerobic foundation as well as bonding an efficient technical application. We won trials that year to represent England in the Empire and Commonwealth Games. “After the trials, we raced in Amsterdam, beating the French Champions, Bernard Monnereau [5’9” 175cm 159lb. 72kg] and Rene Duhamel [5’11” 180cm 174lb. 79kg] from C.N.A. Rouen, on both days.6040 “We returned to race at Marlow and Henley Regattas where we faced the Australians [1948 Olympic Singles Champion] Mervyn Wood6041 and Murray Riley, who had arrived in England for the Empire Games. They had won Silver in the doubles in the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, but after we beat them at Marlow Regatta and again at Henley Royal Regatta, the Australian selectors replaced Riley with Stuart McKenzie. 6036 Redgrave, op. cit. 6037 See Chapter 86. 6038 Birkmyre and Justicz won the Double Sculls Challenge Cup at Henley in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1964. They also won the Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1962. 6039 Redgrave, Golden, pp. 43-4 6040 This double would go on to earn Silver at the 1958 European Championships and Gold at the 1962 World Championships. 6041 See Chapter 86. 6042 Ibid. 6043 Spracklen, personal correspondence, 2010 Mike Spracklen Marlow Rowing Club Men’s Double 1958 Empire and Commonwealth Games Champion Lake Padarn, North Wales Bow Geoff Baker 5’11” 180cm 140lb. 63kg, Stroke Mike Spracklen 5’10” 178cm 154lb. 70kg “Mackenzie was a top sculler, having finished second in Melbourne to Ivanov of Russia, whom he then defeated in the Diamond Sculls at Henley.6042 It was said that Riley was injured, but there was an Australian incentive for Mervin Wood to win his last race before retirement.”6043 Redgrave: “Mike won the doubles in the Empire Games in 1958 with Geoff 1693
