rowingevolution.com
I'm not actively coaching these days, so sometimes I feel a bit out of
the loop. I only hear about some events by pure luck, so if you know
of somewhere I ought to visit, someone I ought to speak to, please
let me know.
The biggest news is that beginning in 2006, the book has been and
will continue to be excerpted periodically on the website
www.row2k.com. This has greatly helped in allowing me to get
feedback from members of the rowing community worldwide, and it
is a great honor. I am most indebted to Ed Hewitt of row2k. As my
research has proceeded, among the most rewarding things has
been the people who have contacted me from around the world to
offer additions to my bibliography and to read and comment on what
I have written so far. I am privileged to collaborate with individuals
from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Germany, Italy,
Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.
I have also found newsreel archives in the U.S., Britain and France
to be enormously illuminating in my continuing efforts to reconstruct
the techniques of crews going all the way back to the 19th Century.
I have spent the last two years introducing to the book analysis of
force graphs through the work of Cas Rekers, Paul Smith and
original research I began in the 1980s and continued in 2009. This
has brought me fascinating new insights into current and historic
rowing techniques. Other than that, as I continue to write, the book
seems to guide me as to where I need to explore next.
I was privileged to work closely with John Cooke from the 1956 Yale
Olympic Champion Crew in the months before he died. John's
teammate, Charlie Grimes, also gave me his rowing files and spent
hours on the phone with me shortly before he also passed away. I
will be forever grateful that I got to collaborate with both these
champions while there was still time.
I got to row with the 1956 Yale Eight during their 50th Reunion at the
Yale-Harvard Race in 2006, and an article authored by me appeared
in the November, 2006 issue of the Yale Alumni Magazine to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Yale Olympic Champion
Eight. Two years later, I rowed in the 1968 Harvard Olympic Eight on
the occasion of their 40th Reunion and two years after that in the
1960 Navy Olympic Eight on the occasion of their 50th Reunion. I
treasure both these memories along with the golden day in 1973 I
spent rowing a pair with 1956 Olympic Champion Duvall Hecht, and
I have hopes of traveling to Georgia to row with 1952 Gold Medalist
Chuck Logg, Jr. and to Vancouver to row with Kathleen Heddle. I am
privileged to call all these people my friends.
In January, 2008, Joe Burk, my coach for a year while I was a
freshman at Penn, passed away a week short of his 94th birthday. I
was honored to get to know him better personally as he generously
assisted me in my book project for more than three years. We
talked on the phone, corresponded, and I visited him twice in
Tucson, Arizona. As were all those who knew him, I was profoundly
touched by Joe Burk. My new book will be dedicated to him.
I am beginning to turn my attention toward doing my final reviews
prior to publication. I have a couple of oral histories yet to collect, but
it is very encouraging to be nearing completion of a six-year project.
I want all four volumes in the hands of readers well before the 2012
Olympics. The connections that have become apparent when the
full span of rowing history is laid bare are surprising and incredibly
useful to the rowers and coaches of today.
In addition, the stories are sometimes funny, sometimes
heart-breaking and always fascinating and inspiring. I started this
project knowing remarkably little about history, and I am enormously
grateful to the historians who have preceded me and to people like
Chris Dodd, Bill Miller, Tom Weil, Dan Topolski and Peter Klavora
who have provided my with advice and guidance.
I am especially grateful to John Van Blom, Harry Parker, Ted
Washburn, Conn Findlay, Duvall Hecht, Bob Ernst, Tim McLaren, Jim
Joy, Ted Nash and so many others for their continuing assistance
and encouragement.
As I have turned to international rowing, I am very grateful for
responses from such individuals as Thomas Lange, Drew Ginn,
Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, Cas Rekers, Angelo Savarino and
Maurizio Ustolin. Again, the list goes on.
There are several other serious rowing history projects in process at
the moment, and I am thrilled to cooperate and collaborate with
Chris Dodd, Dan Boyne, Tom Weil, Bill Miller, Sandy Culver, Joanne
Iverson, Susan Saint Sing, Robin Poke and anyone else. I am in
great company on this project, not only with fellow writers and
historians but also with the people who have made the history I write
about.
TODAY AND THE NEAR FUTURE
I now have a shrinking list of tasks to perform before the book is
finished. In order to complete my research into mid-20th Century
American sculling, I still need to interview Bill Maher and Derek
Porter.
My good friend Tony Popplewell has encouraged my wife and me to
attend the 2010 World Championships on Lake Karapiro, and we
have made our reservations. I hope to spend time with Dudley
Storey and Richard Tonks and shake a lot of hands while I am there.
We also plan on being there when Olympic rowing returns to Mother
England in 2012. That will surely be a joyous time for me, again
visiting Eton College, the birthplace of our sport of rowing, with my
good friend, Alex Henshilwood.
When the book is finally finished, I am sure I will miss the process. I
have been privileged to work with so many great athletes, coaches
and historians, so many individuals passionate about rowing. I am
very grateful to everyone who has contributed.
the loop. I only hear about some events by pure luck, so if you know
of somewhere I ought to visit, someone I ought to speak to, please
let me know.
The biggest news is that beginning in 2006, the book has been and
will continue to be excerpted periodically on the website
www.row2k.com. This has greatly helped in allowing me to get
feedback from members of the rowing community worldwide, and it
is a great honor. I am most indebted to Ed Hewitt of row2k. As my
research has proceeded, among the most rewarding things has
been the people who have contacted me from around the world to
offer additions to my bibliography and to read and comment on what
I have written so far. I am privileged to collaborate with individuals
from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Germany, Italy,
Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.
I have also found newsreel archives in the U.S., Britain and France
to be enormously illuminating in my continuing efforts to reconstruct
the techniques of crews going all the way back to the 19th Century.
I have spent the last two years introducing to the book analysis of
force graphs through the work of Cas Rekers, Paul Smith and
original research I began in the 1980s and continued in 2009. This
has brought me fascinating new insights into current and historic
rowing techniques. Other than that, as I continue to write, the book
seems to guide me as to where I need to explore next.
I was privileged to work closely with John Cooke from the 1956 Yale
Olympic Champion Crew in the months before he died. John's
teammate, Charlie Grimes, also gave me his rowing files and spent
hours on the phone with me shortly before he also passed away. I
will be forever grateful that I got to collaborate with both these
champions while there was still time.
I got to row with the 1956 Yale Eight during their 50th Reunion at the
Yale-Harvard Race in 2006, and an article authored by me appeared
in the November, 2006 issue of the Yale Alumni Magazine to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Yale Olympic Champion
Eight. Two years later, I rowed in the 1968 Harvard Olympic Eight on
the occasion of their 40th Reunion and two years after that in the
1960 Navy Olympic Eight on the occasion of their 50th Reunion. I
treasure both these memories along with the golden day in 1973 I
spent rowing a pair with 1956 Olympic Champion Duvall Hecht, and
I have hopes of traveling to Georgia to row with 1952 Gold Medalist
Chuck Logg, Jr. and to Vancouver to row with Kathleen Heddle. I am
privileged to call all these people my friends.
In January, 2008, Joe Burk, my coach for a year while I was a
freshman at Penn, passed away a week short of his 94th birthday. I
was honored to get to know him better personally as he generously
assisted me in my book project for more than three years. We
talked on the phone, corresponded, and I visited him twice in
Tucson, Arizona. As were all those who knew him, I was profoundly
touched by Joe Burk. My new book will be dedicated to him.
I am beginning to turn my attention toward doing my final reviews
prior to publication. I have a couple of oral histories yet to collect, but
it is very encouraging to be nearing completion of a six-year project.
I want all four volumes in the hands of readers well before the 2012
Olympics. The connections that have become apparent when the
full span of rowing history is laid bare are surprising and incredibly
useful to the rowers and coaches of today.
In addition, the stories are sometimes funny, sometimes
heart-breaking and always fascinating and inspiring. I started this
project knowing remarkably little about history, and I am enormously
grateful to the historians who have preceded me and to people like
Chris Dodd, Bill Miller, Tom Weil, Dan Topolski and Peter Klavora
who have provided my with advice and guidance.
I am especially grateful to John Van Blom, Harry Parker, Ted
Washburn, Conn Findlay, Duvall Hecht, Bob Ernst, Tim McLaren, Jim
Joy, Ted Nash and so many others for their continuing assistance
and encouragement.
As I have turned to international rowing, I am very grateful for
responses from such individuals as Thomas Lange, Drew Ginn,
Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, Cas Rekers, Angelo Savarino and
Maurizio Ustolin. Again, the list goes on.
There are several other serious rowing history projects in process at
the moment, and I am thrilled to cooperate and collaborate with
Chris Dodd, Dan Boyne, Tom Weil, Bill Miller, Sandy Culver, Joanne
Iverson, Susan Saint Sing, Robin Poke and anyone else. I am in
great company on this project, not only with fellow writers and
historians but also with the people who have made the history I write
about.
TODAY AND THE NEAR FUTURE
I now have a shrinking list of tasks to perform before the book is
finished. In order to complete my research into mid-20th Century
American sculling, I still need to interview Bill Maher and Derek
Porter.
My good friend Tony Popplewell has encouraged my wife and me to
attend the 2010 World Championships on Lake Karapiro, and we
have made our reservations. I hope to spend time with Dudley
Storey and Richard Tonks and shake a lot of hands while I am there.
We also plan on being there when Olympic rowing returns to Mother
England in 2012. That will surely be a joyous time for me, again
visiting Eton College, the birthplace of our sport of rowing, with my
good friend, Alex Henshilwood.
When the book is finally finished, I am sure I will miss the process. I
have been privileged to work with so many great athletes, coaches
and historians, so many individuals passionate about rowing. I am
very grateful to everyone who has contributed.
Where I've Been and What I've Done: What's Going On with the Book:
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
9.04
This project began when our children left for college, and my wife suggested I find something to
occupy my time. I picked up an 1897 British rowing text a friend had given us as a wedding
present and found I couldn't put it down. The rest, as they say, is history.
10.04
Traveled to Boston for Head of the Charles, met with Monk Terry, Harry Parker, Tim McLaren, Buzz
Congram, Hart Perry, Gardner Cadwalader.
10.04
Spent several days in the research library at Mystic Seaport.12.29.04In Princeton/Philadelphia
area, met with Mike Teti, Tom Terhaar and Ted Nash.
01.05
Interviewed Don Breitenberg, Washington '49 concerning Al Ulbrickson.
01.09.05
Went out in launch with Steve Gladstone of University of California.
01.23.05
Met Christopher Dodd, Bill Miller, Hart Perry and Tom Weil, Directors of the Friends of Rowing
History, in Mystic, Connecticut.
01.28-9.05
Met with and interviewed Thor Nilsen, Mike Spracklen, Alan Roaf, Volker Nolte and a host of other
coaches at the RCA Coaches' Conference in Ontario.
04.2-3.05
Met with Anita deFrantz, Joan Lind, Rick Clothier, Zenon Babraj, Stan Bergman, Lou Lindsey, Conn
Findlay and Kent Mitchell at the San Diego Crew Classic.
04.9.05
Met with Joe Burk at his winter home in Tucson.
05.15.05
Met with Historian Chuck von Wrangell at the Women's Eastern Sprints.
09.18-25.05
Traveled to Seattle to meet with historian John Lundin, grandson of a member of the 1897
IRA-champion Cornell crew, coaches Charlie McIntyre, Stan Pocock, Frank Cunningham and Bob
Ernst, members of the 1948 Washington Varsity and Jayvee crews, Conal Groom of Pocock
Rowing Center, 2004 Olympians Volpenhein, and Bill Tytus of Pocock Racing Shells.
10.20-8.05
Traveled to Boston during the Head of the Charles to interview 1968 Olympic Stroke Steve Brooks,
1972 Olympic Stroke Monk Terry, members of Harvard crews of the 1960s and 1970s, and
members of the current Harvard crews and coaching staff. Then traveled to Indianapolis to search
the USRA film and print archives.
11.05
Met for breakfast with Bill Stowe and Stan Cwiklinski of the 1964 Olympic Champion Vesper Boat
Club Eight. Stan and his wife, Lisa, had recently moved to San Diego, California, and they have
since become good friends.
2.3.06
Traveled to the Olympic Training Center to go out in the launch with Ted Nash of Penn A.C. and
meet with Kris Korzeniowski and Laurel Korholz of the U.S. National Team.
2.5-14.06
Traveled to the East Coast and did some research at the Princeton University Library and met with
Curtis Jordan and Lori Dauphiny of Princeton, Lyman Perry of the 1960 Naval Academy Olympic
Eight, Stan Bergman, Seth Brennan, Mike Irwin, Chris Simon and Barb Kirsch Grut of Penn,
Charles von Wrangell of the 1948 Cornell Crew, Ed Hewitt of www.row2k.com, Jason Read of the
2004 U.S. Olympic Crew, John Pescatore and Dave Vogel of Yale, and Bill Miller, Hart Perry, Tom
Weil and Christopher Dodd of the Friends of Rowing History. I then spent two days doing research
in Tom Weil's magnificent archive of rowing books, periodicals and artifacts.
4.1-2.06
At the San Diego Crew Classic I met with Jason Read from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Champion
Eight, Cal Coach Steve Gladstone, Long Beach Scullers John Nunn, John Van Blom and Joan
Lind Van Blom. I interviewed Lou Lindsey, coach of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Eight, and Sebastian
Bea, stroke of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Silver medal Pair.
5.26.06
Spent the day at the Cal Boathouse with Steve Gladstone and his Cal Varsity two days before they
left for the IRAs, which they won.
6.9-10.06
Joined the 1956 Yale Olympic Champion Crew at their 50th Reunion in New London. Went for a
row with them at Gales Ferry, and stayed to watch the Yale-Harvard Race.
8.27-8.06
My wife and I visited Irmgard, the widow of Herman Beasley, at her home along the Siuslaw River
in Oregon. A friend for thirty years, Herman had entrusted his rowing film collection and his notes
to me so that I could ensure that they would be preserved fro future generations of rowers and
coaches.
3.07
Went out in the launch with Tom Terhaar as he coached the U.S. Women's National Team at the
Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
5.13.07
Attended the Eastern Sprints in Worcester, Massachusetts, paying my respects, speaking to
coaches on behalf of the San Diego Crew Classic and making contacts with sources from
Northeastern University.
9.13.07
Spent several hours reminiscing with Tom McKibbon, 1969 European Doubles Champion and
coach of the great Long Beach Rowing Association woman scullers of the 1970s.
3.9.08
Renewed old friendships and made new ones at the Friends of Rowing History Forum at Mystic
Seaport. Christopher Dodd has agreed to help me gain additional access in Great Britain. He
and Tom Wiel, perhaps the world's leading authority on rowing history, will review the text in its
current form as the book project approaches conclusion.
3.16.08
I again went out in the launch with University of California Coach Steve Gladstone and spent a
morning with California Rowing Club Coach Tim McLaren, former Australian Olympic Medalist
Sculler and Olympic Champion Coach.
6.14.08
I rowed in the 1968 U.S. Olympic Eight from Harvard University on the occasion of their 40th
Reunion. I got to experience first-hand the famous Harry Parker "Stop 'n Shop" Technique. They
treated my wife and I like family and we are most grateful.
6.30.08 - 7.9.09
I made a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta with the encouragement of rowing journalist Chris Dodd
and Henley steward Hart Perry. Both went out of their way to open doors for me and guide me
through them.
I interviewed Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, 1977 World Doubles Champion Chris Baillieu,
Oxford Boat Race Coach Dan Topolski and 1956 Cambridge Blue John Hall-Craggs. I met in
person for the first time Diana Cook of Richard Way Booksellers in Henley, who has been most
helpful in locating reference materials and arranging introductions. I met Angelo Savarino, coach
of Newcastle University, who has been most helpful to me in researching the chapter on Italian
rowing.
After the regatta ended, I spent two days at Eton College with their coach, Alex Henshilwood. He
showed me where sport rowing was born, and it all looks remarkably unchanged in 200 years. He
also showed me their new rowing facility, Dorney Lake, on the grounds of the college, which will
host the rowing events of the 2012 Olympics.
4.26-30.09
Traveled to the East Coast to do research and consult with Tom Weil and Hart Perry and to
interview 1984 American Olympic Single Sculler John Biglow.
6.9.09
Interviewed and recorded the force curve of Mark Hunter, stroke of the 2008 British Olympic
Champion Lightweight Men's Double,6.5-6.09Met with and recorded force curves of 1960 Olympic
Bronze Medalis Coxed-Pai Stroke Dick Draeger, 1964 Olympic Champion Coxed-Pair Bow-man Ed
Ferry, 1967 Thames Cup Champion Stroke Chris Williams and 1969 European Champion
Coxless-Pair Larry Hough and Tony Johnson at the IRA Regatta in Sacramento.
6.30.09
Met with 1966 World Singles Champion Don Spero, 1964 Olympic Coxed-Pair Bow-man Jim
Edmonds and 1964 Olympic Champion Eights Coach Allen Rosenberg at Potomac Boat Club in
Washington, DC.
7.1-2.09
Met with and recorded the force curves of 1967 Pan Am Champion Coxed-Pair Stroke Gardner
Cadwalader, 1974 World Champion Lightweight Men's Single Sculler Bill Belden, 1976 Olympic
Coxless-Pair Bow-man Mike Staines, John Riley from the 1986 World Champion Coxless-Four,
Dave Krmpotich from the 1988 Olympic Silver Medal Coxless-Four, 1995 World Champion Men's
Eight Stroke Fred Honebein, 1995 World Champion Women's Eight Bow Annie Kakela, 1996
Olympic Champion Dutch Men's Eight 3-man Michiel Bartman and 2004 World Champion Men's
Eight 5-man Matt Deakin at the University of Pennsylvania boathouse in Philadelphia.
7.22.09
Met with Bob Ernst, University of Washington Head Coach for 35 years now, Charles Minett, 2003
Washington Captain, Lucius Biglow, father of 1981-2 World Bronze Medalist Single sculler John
Biglow, John Lundin, grandson and biographer of Mark Odell, Washington volunteer coach before
Hiram Conibear, Theo Mittet, bow-man of the 1964 Lake Washington Olympic Bronze Medal
Coxless-Four, Rod Johnson, 7-man of the 1948 Washington IRA Champion Varsity, Bob Will,
2-man of the 1948 Washington Olympic champion Coxed-Four, Chuck Alm, 5-man and Captain,
and John Bisset, coxswain of the 1958 Washington Varsity that won in Moscow, Paul Enquist, bow
of the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal Double, Carl Lovsted, bow of the 1952 Washington Olympic
Bronze Medal Coxed-Four, Kathy Whitman, longtime Green Lake Coach and coach of the 1978
USA Junior Women's Eight, John Sayre, stroke of the 1958 Washington Varsity in Moscow and
stroke of the 1960 Lake Washington Olympic Gold Medal Coxless-Four, Frank Cunningham,
stroke of the 1947 Harvard Lake Washington Regatta Champion Varsity as well as author,
philosopher and Seattle coach for the past half-century, Dewitt Whitman, longtime Green Lake
Coach and husband to Kathy, Len O'Donnell, working on a film documentary on the 1958
Washington Moscow Varsity.
8.1.09
Hosted Tony Popplewell and Alex Clark of the 1964 New Zealand Olympic Eight at our home in
Los Angeles.
12.2-3.09
Attended the USRA Annual Convention and met with Tiff Wood, Jim Dietz, Tim McLaren, Pete
Cippolone, Michiel Bartmann from Netherlands, Bo Hanson from Australia, Ed Hewitt from
www.row2k.com and his wife Lori Dauphiny, Princeton women's coach, and many others.
03.10
Interviewed Canadian Olympic Champion Kathleen Heddle over the phone.
04.10
Interviewed 1964 Olympic Bronze Medalist U.S. Double Sculler Jim Storm over the phone.
04.15-17.10
I was thrilled and honored to row with and make a presentation to the 50th Reunion of the 1960
Annapolis Olympic Eight.
05.04.10
My wife and I stopped in Princeton, New Jersey to have lunch with Tom Terhaar, U.S. Women's
National Coach, Jen Dore Terhaar, Stroke of the 1995 World Champion U.S. Women's Eight, Lori
Dauphiny, Princeton University Women's Coach, and Ed Hewitt, the man behind www.row2k.com.
This project began when our children left for college, and my wife suggested I find something to
occupy my time. I picked up an 1897 British rowing text a friend had given us as a wedding
present and found I couldn't put it down. The rest, as they say, is history.
10.04
Traveled to Boston for Head of the Charles, met with Monk Terry, Harry Parker, Tim McLaren, Buzz
Congram, Hart Perry, Gardner Cadwalader.
10.04
Spent several days in the research library at Mystic Seaport.12.29.04In Princeton/Philadelphia
area, met with Mike Teti, Tom Terhaar and Ted Nash.
01.05
Interviewed Don Breitenberg, Washington '49 concerning Al Ulbrickson.
01.09.05
Went out in launch with Steve Gladstone of University of California.
01.23.05
Met Christopher Dodd, Bill Miller, Hart Perry and Tom Weil, Directors of the Friends of Rowing
History, in Mystic, Connecticut.
01.28-9.05
Met with and interviewed Thor Nilsen, Mike Spracklen, Alan Roaf, Volker Nolte and a host of other
coaches at the RCA Coaches' Conference in Ontario.
04.2-3.05
Met with Anita deFrantz, Joan Lind, Rick Clothier, Zenon Babraj, Stan Bergman, Lou Lindsey, Conn
Findlay and Kent Mitchell at the San Diego Crew Classic.
04.9.05
Met with Joe Burk at his winter home in Tucson.
05.15.05
Met with Historian Chuck von Wrangell at the Women's Eastern Sprints.
09.18-25.05
Traveled to Seattle to meet with historian John Lundin, grandson of a member of the 1897
IRA-champion Cornell crew, coaches Charlie McIntyre, Stan Pocock, Frank Cunningham and Bob
Ernst, members of the 1948 Washington Varsity and Jayvee crews, Conal Groom of Pocock
Rowing Center, 2004 Olympians Volpenhein, and Bill Tytus of Pocock Racing Shells.
10.20-8.05
Traveled to Boston during the Head of the Charles to interview 1968 Olympic Stroke Steve Brooks,
1972 Olympic Stroke Monk Terry, members of Harvard crews of the 1960s and 1970s, and
members of the current Harvard crews and coaching staff. Then traveled to Indianapolis to search
the USRA film and print archives.
11.05
Met for breakfast with Bill Stowe and Stan Cwiklinski of the 1964 Olympic Champion Vesper Boat
Club Eight. Stan and his wife, Lisa, had recently moved to San Diego, California, and they have
since become good friends.
2.3.06
Traveled to the Olympic Training Center to go out in the launch with Ted Nash of Penn A.C. and
meet with Kris Korzeniowski and Laurel Korholz of the U.S. National Team.
2.5-14.06
Traveled to the East Coast and did some research at the Princeton University Library and met with
Curtis Jordan and Lori Dauphiny of Princeton, Lyman Perry of the 1960 Naval Academy Olympic
Eight, Stan Bergman, Seth Brennan, Mike Irwin, Chris Simon and Barb Kirsch Grut of Penn,
Charles von Wrangell of the 1948 Cornell Crew, Ed Hewitt of www.row2k.com, Jason Read of the
2004 U.S. Olympic Crew, John Pescatore and Dave Vogel of Yale, and Bill Miller, Hart Perry, Tom
Weil and Christopher Dodd of the Friends of Rowing History. I then spent two days doing research
in Tom Weil's magnificent archive of rowing books, periodicals and artifacts.
4.1-2.06
At the San Diego Crew Classic I met with Jason Read from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Champion
Eight, Cal Coach Steve Gladstone, Long Beach Scullers John Nunn, John Van Blom and Joan
Lind Van Blom. I interviewed Lou Lindsey, coach of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Eight, and Sebastian
Bea, stroke of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Silver medal Pair.
5.26.06
Spent the day at the Cal Boathouse with Steve Gladstone and his Cal Varsity two days before they
left for the IRAs, which they won.
6.9-10.06
Joined the 1956 Yale Olympic Champion Crew at their 50th Reunion in New London. Went for a
row with them at Gales Ferry, and stayed to watch the Yale-Harvard Race.
8.27-8.06
My wife and I visited Irmgard, the widow of Herman Beasley, at her home along the Siuslaw River
in Oregon. A friend for thirty years, Herman had entrusted his rowing film collection and his notes
to me so that I could ensure that they would be preserved fro future generations of rowers and
coaches.
3.07
Went out in the launch with Tom Terhaar as he coached the U.S. Women's National Team at the
Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
5.13.07
Attended the Eastern Sprints in Worcester, Massachusetts, paying my respects, speaking to
coaches on behalf of the San Diego Crew Classic and making contacts with sources from
Northeastern University.
9.13.07
Spent several hours reminiscing with Tom McKibbon, 1969 European Doubles Champion and
coach of the great Long Beach Rowing Association woman scullers of the 1970s.
3.9.08
Renewed old friendships and made new ones at the Friends of Rowing History Forum at Mystic
Seaport. Christopher Dodd has agreed to help me gain additional access in Great Britain. He
and Tom Wiel, perhaps the world's leading authority on rowing history, will review the text in its
current form as the book project approaches conclusion.
3.16.08
I again went out in the launch with University of California Coach Steve Gladstone and spent a
morning with California Rowing Club Coach Tim McLaren, former Australian Olympic Medalist
Sculler and Olympic Champion Coach.
6.14.08
I rowed in the 1968 U.S. Olympic Eight from Harvard University on the occasion of their 40th
Reunion. I got to experience first-hand the famous Harry Parker "Stop 'n Shop" Technique. They
treated my wife and I like family and we are most grateful.
6.30.08 - 7.9.09
I made a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta with the encouragement of rowing journalist Chris Dodd
and Henley steward Hart Perry. Both went out of their way to open doors for me and guide me
through them.
I interviewed Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, 1977 World Doubles Champion Chris Baillieu,
Oxford Boat Race Coach Dan Topolski and 1956 Cambridge Blue John Hall-Craggs. I met in
person for the first time Diana Cook of Richard Way Booksellers in Henley, who has been most
helpful in locating reference materials and arranging introductions. I met Angelo Savarino, coach
of Newcastle University, who has been most helpful to me in researching the chapter on Italian
rowing.
After the regatta ended, I spent two days at Eton College with their coach, Alex Henshilwood. He
showed me where sport rowing was born, and it all looks remarkably unchanged in 200 years. He
also showed me their new rowing facility, Dorney Lake, on the grounds of the college, which will
host the rowing events of the 2012 Olympics.
4.26-30.09
Traveled to the East Coast to do research and consult with Tom Weil and Hart Perry and to
interview 1984 American Olympic Single Sculler John Biglow.
6.9.09
Interviewed and recorded the force curve of Mark Hunter, stroke of the 2008 British Olympic
Champion Lightweight Men's Double,6.5-6.09Met with and recorded force curves of 1960 Olympic
Bronze Medalis Coxed-Pai Stroke Dick Draeger, 1964 Olympic Champion Coxed-Pair Bow-man Ed
Ferry, 1967 Thames Cup Champion Stroke Chris Williams and 1969 European Champion
Coxless-Pair Larry Hough and Tony Johnson at the IRA Regatta in Sacramento.
6.30.09
Met with 1966 World Singles Champion Don Spero, 1964 Olympic Coxed-Pair Bow-man Jim
Edmonds and 1964 Olympic Champion Eights Coach Allen Rosenberg at Potomac Boat Club in
Washington, DC.
7.1-2.09
Met with and recorded the force curves of 1967 Pan Am Champion Coxed-Pair Stroke Gardner
Cadwalader, 1974 World Champion Lightweight Men's Single Sculler Bill Belden, 1976 Olympic
Coxless-Pair Bow-man Mike Staines, John Riley from the 1986 World Champion Coxless-Four,
Dave Krmpotich from the 1988 Olympic Silver Medal Coxless-Four, 1995 World Champion Men's
Eight Stroke Fred Honebein, 1995 World Champion Women's Eight Bow Annie Kakela, 1996
Olympic Champion Dutch Men's Eight 3-man Michiel Bartman and 2004 World Champion Men's
Eight 5-man Matt Deakin at the University of Pennsylvania boathouse in Philadelphia.
7.22.09
Met with Bob Ernst, University of Washington Head Coach for 35 years now, Charles Minett, 2003
Washington Captain, Lucius Biglow, father of 1981-2 World Bronze Medalist Single sculler John
Biglow, John Lundin, grandson and biographer of Mark Odell, Washington volunteer coach before
Hiram Conibear, Theo Mittet, bow-man of the 1964 Lake Washington Olympic Bronze Medal
Coxless-Four, Rod Johnson, 7-man of the 1948 Washington IRA Champion Varsity, Bob Will,
2-man of the 1948 Washington Olympic champion Coxed-Four, Chuck Alm, 5-man and Captain,
and John Bisset, coxswain of the 1958 Washington Varsity that won in Moscow, Paul Enquist, bow
of the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal Double, Carl Lovsted, bow of the 1952 Washington Olympic
Bronze Medal Coxed-Four, Kathy Whitman, longtime Green Lake Coach and coach of the 1978
USA Junior Women's Eight, John Sayre, stroke of the 1958 Washington Varsity in Moscow and
stroke of the 1960 Lake Washington Olympic Gold Medal Coxless-Four, Frank Cunningham,
stroke of the 1947 Harvard Lake Washington Regatta Champion Varsity as well as author,
philosopher and Seattle coach for the past half-century, Dewitt Whitman, longtime Green Lake
Coach and husband to Kathy, Len O'Donnell, working on a film documentary on the 1958
Washington Moscow Varsity.
8.1.09
Hosted Tony Popplewell and Alex Clark of the 1964 New Zealand Olympic Eight at our home in
Los Angeles.
12.2-3.09
Attended the USRA Annual Convention and met with Tiff Wood, Jim Dietz, Tim McLaren, Pete
Cippolone, Michiel Bartmann from Netherlands, Bo Hanson from Australia, Ed Hewitt from
www.row2k.com and his wife Lori Dauphiny, Princeton women's coach, and many others.
03.10
Interviewed Canadian Olympic Champion Kathleen Heddle over the phone.
04.10
Interviewed 1964 Olympic Bronze Medalist U.S. Double Sculler Jim Storm over the phone.
04.15-17.10
I was thrilled and honored to row with and make a presentation to the 50th Reunion of the 1960
Annapolis Olympic Eight.
05.04.10
My wife and I stopped in Princeton, New Jersey to have lunch with Tom Terhaar, U.S. Women's
National Coach, Jen Dore Terhaar, Stroke of the 1995 World Champion U.S. Women's Eight, Lori
Dauphiny, Princeton University Women's Coach, and Ed Hewitt, the man behind www.row2k.com.