Jack Beresford
Encyclopedia
Jack Beresford, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

, (1 January 1899 – 3 December 1977) was a British rower
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...

 who won medals at five Olympic Games in succession, an Olympic record in rowing, which has since been tied by Steven Redgrave.

Early life

Beresford was the son of Julius Beresford
Julius Beresford
Julius Beresford , also known as Berry or The Old Berry, was a British rower and coach who competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics.-Life:...

. The family name was Wisniewski but his father dropped the name after Beresford was born. Julius Beresford was also a rower who won an Olympic silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics featured 4 events, for men only. All races were held in Djurgårdsbrunnsviken from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19, 1912.-Medal summary:-Bronze medals:...

  as well as winning several times at Henley. Beresford was educated at Bedford School
Bedford School
Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...

 where he stroked the eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....

 and also captained the rugby football XV. During the First World War he served in the Liverpool Scottish Regiment and was wounded in the leg in France. He returned to London and learned the craft of furniture-making for Beresford & Hicks in his father's factory. He took up sculling
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...

 because the leg wound put an end to his rugby career. Throughout his competitive career, Beresford (like his father and his brother, Eric Beresford) represented Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club is a rowing club situated on the River Thames in Putney, London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1860.-Club colours:Red, white and black in stripes, the white stripe lying between the red and black and being of half their width....

.

Rowing career

In 1920, Beresford won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...

, the single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....

s event at the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 beating in the final Donald Gollan
Donald Gollan
Donald Herbert Louis Gollan was a British rower who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.Gollan was born in Paddington, London, the son of Spencer Gollan a racehorse owner and sportsman. He was deaf and mute. He was a member of both Thames Rowing Club and Vesta Rowing Club...

, his closest British rival for the next few years. He followed this up competing in the single sculls event rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
The Olympic Rowing Events at the 1920 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics after World War I, saw five events. The competitions were held from August 27, 1920 to August 29, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....

  where his final race against John B. Kelly, Sr.
John B. Kelly, Sr.
John Brendan Kelly, Sr., also known as Jack Kelly, was one of the most accomplished American oarsmen in the history of the sport of rowing. He was a triple Olympic Gold Medal winner, the first to do so in the sport of rowing. He won 126 straight races in the single scull...

 is legendary. It featured a dramatic stretch run with Kelly eventually prevailing in one of the closest single sculls races in Olympic history. In 1920 Beresford won the Wingfield Sculls, the Amateur Sculling Championship of the Thames and Great Britain for the first time, and went on to win it for seven consecutive years, a streak unmatched in history He also won the London Cup to give him the sculling triple crown in 1920.

Beresford was losing finalist to Eyken in the Diamond Sculls in 1921 but won the London Cup and the Wingfields which was decided on a foul after Beresford's boat was holed in a clash with Gollan. Both scullers were being steered by their fathers and so in 1922 it was decided that in future fathers of competitors should not act as pilots or steer the cutters. Beresford lost Diamonds in the final to Walter Hoover but won the Wingfields and London Cup over Gollan. In 1923 Beresford was in the winning Thames eight in the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...

. He was runner up in the Diamonds to M K Morris, lost to Gollan in the London Cup on a foul, but beat Gollan in the Wingfields.

Beresford won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley again in 1924 against Craig, and went on to win the gold medal in the single scull rowing at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1924 Summer Olympics
The rowing competition at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris featured seven events, all for men only. The competitions were held from Sunday, July 13, 1924 to Thursday, July 17, 1924.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...

 over William Gilmore
William Gilmore
William Evans Garrett Gilmore was an American rower who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics and in the 1932 Summer Olympics.In 1924 he won the silver medal in the single sculls....

. Following that he competed in and won the Philadelphia Gold Cup, awarded by the Schuylkill Navy
Schuylkill Navy
The Schuylkill Navy is an association of amateur rowing clubs of Philadelphia. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the United States...

 for the amateur sculling championship of the world. In 1925, he successfully defended the Diamond Challenge Sculls against Donald Gollan and the Philadelphia Cup against Walter Hoover before indicating to its stewards that he no longer wished to contest it. With the Wingfields and London Cup he won the triple crown. Beresford won the Diamond Challenge Sculls again in 1926 beating G E G Goddard in the final. He won the London Cup again and also the Wingfields, but only after his boat was holed in a clash and the race re-rowed on 11 August.

Beresford was not a winning competitor in 1927, but served as Captain of Thames in 1928-9. In 1928 at Henley he won the Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
The Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.-History:The Silver Goblets...

 partnering Gordon "Bill" Killick
Gordon Killick
Gordon Cecil Killick , also known as Bill Killick, was a British rower who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics and in the 1928 Summer Olympics.-Life:Killick was born in Fulham...

. He was also a member of the Thames eight which won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...

 at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

. This crew then represented Great Britain to win the silver medal rowing at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1928 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only. The competitions were held from August 2, 1928 to August 10, 1928.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:A total of 245 rowers from 19 nations competed at the Amsterdam Games:...

. His Thames crew won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...

 again in 1929 and with Killick he won Silver Goblets again. In 1930, Beresford finished second to reigning Olympic champion Henry "Bobby" Pearce in the Single Scull at the inaugural Empire/Commonwealth Games
1930 British Empire Games
The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930....

. In 1932 at Henley, Beresford competed in the coxless four
Coxless four
A coxless four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of four rowers, each having one oar. There are two rowers on the stroke side and two on the bow side...

 which won the Stewards Challenge Cup and then went on to win the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only. The competitions were held from August 9, 1932 to August 13, 1932 at the Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:...

.

In the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...

 in Berlin, Beresford was the flag bearer for the British delegation in the Opening Ceremonies, which were filmed by Leni Riefenstahl
Leni Riefenstahl
Helene Bertha Amalie "Leni" Riefenstahl was a German film director, actress and dancer widely noted for her aesthetics and innovations as a filmmaker. Her most famous film was Triumph des Willens , a propaganda film made at the 1934 Nuremberg congress of the Nazi Party...

. The scene was included in her documentary Olympia
Olympia (1938 film)
Olympia is a 1938 Nazi propaganda film by Leni Riefenstahl documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. The film was released in two parts: Olympia 1. Teil — Fest der Völker and Olympia 2. Teil — Fest der Schönheit . It was the first documentary feature...

, which is sometimes described as a Nazi propaganda film. Rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1936 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only.The competitions were held from August 11, 1936 to August 14, 1936. They were held on a regatta course at Grünau on the Langer See.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...

 in Berlin, with Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...

 watching, Beresford and Dick Southwood
Dick Southwood
Leslie Frank "Dick" Southwood was a British rower who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics....

 his partner in the Double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....

s, came from a length down to pass the favoured Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 with just 200 metres to go, thus giving Beresford his fifth Olympic medal and third gold. Beresford would later write it was "the sweetest race I ever rowed."

In the inaugural Centenary Double Sculls - now the Double Sculls Challenge Cup
Double Sculls Challenge Cup
The Double Sculls Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's double sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry....

 - at Henley in 1939, Beresford, together with Dick Southwood, raced a memorable final against the European Champions, Scherli and Broschi of Trieste which resulted in a dead-heat.

Beresford was denied the opportunity to win a medal in the double sculls event in the 1940 Olympics
1940 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1940 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XII Olympiad and originally scheduled to be held from September 21 to October 6, 1940, in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II...

  because those Games were cancelled because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

Later life

Beresford was elected a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 in 1946. He was a member of the organising committee of the 1948 London Olympic Games
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...

. His contribution to rowing was recognised with two honours in the 1940s: the gold medal of the international rowing federation (1947), and the Olympic diploma of merit (1949). In 1960, Beresford was appointed a Commander of the British Empire. He was President of Thames Rowing Club from 1970 until his death in 1977.

In 2005, a Blue Plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....

 was erected by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...

 at 19 Grove Park Gardens in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...

, West London which was Beresford's home from 1903-1940. Beresford is one of the first sportsmen to receive this honour.

Achievements

  • Olympic
    Rowing at the Summer Olympics
    Rowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal...

     Medals: 3 Gold, 2 Silver
  • First rower to compete at five Olympics with his 1936 Olympic appearance. This feat that would be unmatched for forty years till Soviet rower Yuri Lorentsson
    Yuri Lorentsson
    Yuri Evgenevich Lorentsson is a Russian rower who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1960 Summer Olympics, in the 1964 Summer Olympics, in the 1968 Summer Olympics, in the 1972 Summer Olympics, and in the 1976 Summer Olympics...

     made his fifth Olympic appearance in 1976, and unsurpassed for another sixteen years until Czechoslovak rower Jiří Pták
    Jiří Pták
    Jiří Pták, born 24 March 1946 in Děčín, Czechoslovakia is a Czech rower who competed for Czechoslovakia at six Olympic Games between 1968 and 1992 ....

     made his sixth Olympic appearance in 1992.

Olympic Games

  • 1936 - Gold, Double Sculls (with Dick Southwood
    Dick Southwood
    Leslie Frank "Dick" Southwood was a British rower who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics....

    )
  • 1932 - Gold, Coxless Fours (with a crew from Thames Rowing Club
    Thames Rowing Club
    Thames Rowing Club is a rowing club situated on the River Thames in Putney, London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1860.-Club colours:Red, white and black in stripes, the white stripe lying between the red and black and being of half their width....

     and Oxford University Boat Club
    Oxford University Boat Club
    The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....

    )
  • 1928 - Silver, Eights (with a crew from Thames Rowing Club
    Thames Rowing Club
    Thames Rowing Club is a rowing club situated on the River Thames in Putney, London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1860.-Club colours:Red, white and black in stripes, the white stripe lying between the red and black and being of half their width....

    , second to USA, represented by Cal-Berkeley
    Ky Ebright
    Carroll M. Ebright , better known as Ky Ebright was a legendary coach for the University of California, Berkeley crew team. He is the only man to coach three Olympic gold medal-winning eight-oared boats. He coached the Cal Men's crew from 1924 through 1959...

    )
  • 1924 - Gold, Single Sculls
  • 1920 - Silver, Single Sculls (second to John B. Kelly, Sr.
    John B. Kelly, Sr.
    John Brendan Kelly, Sr., also known as Jack Kelly, was one of the most accomplished American oarsmen in the history of the sport of rowing. He was a triple Olympic Gold Medal winner, the first to do so in the sport of rowing. He won 126 straight races in the single scull...

    )

Commonwealth Games

  • 1930 - Silver, Single Sculls (second to Bobby Pearce AUS)

Henley Royal Regatta

  • 1920 - Diamond Challenge Sculls
    Diamond Challenge Sculls
    The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...

  • 1923 - Grand Challenge Cup
    Grand Challenge Cup
    The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...

  • 1924 - Diamond Challenge Sculls
    Diamond Challenge Sculls
    The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...

  • 1925 - Diamond Challenge Sculls
    Diamond Challenge Sculls
    The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...

  • 1926 - Diamond Challenge Sculls
    Diamond Challenge Sculls
    The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...

  • 1928 - Grand Challenge Cup
    Grand Challenge Cup
    The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...

  • 1928 - Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
    Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
    The Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.-History:The Silver Goblets...

  • 1929 - Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
    Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
    The Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.-History:The Silver Goblets...

  • 1932 - Stewards Challenge Cup
  • 1939 - Centenary Double Sculls
    Double Sculls Challenge Cup
    The Double Sculls Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's double sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry....

    (dead heat with G Scherli & R Broschi of SCNT)

External links

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