James Clark (rower)
Encyclopedia
Richard James Scott Clark (born 15 July 1950) is a British
rower
who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
, in the 1976 Summer Olympics
, and in the 1980 Summer Olympics
.
In 1972 he was a crew member of the British boat which finished seventh in the coxless fours event.
Four years later at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal he won the silver medal with the British boat in the eights competition.
At the 1980 Games in Moscow he and his partner Chris Baillieu
finished sixth in the double sculls contest.
Until the mid 1970s he was a physical education schoolmaster in Ealing, where he taught and coached the future Olympic champion oarsman Martin Cross
. Cross identifies Clark as a major influence and inspiration in his memoirs. Subsequently Clark was master in charge of rowing at Latymer Upper School
. Among his early protégés there was the double Olympic rowing gold medallist, Andy Holmes
. He then became a DT teacher and retired from teaching in the summer of 2010.
His wife Lyn Clark was one of the most prominent international oarswomen in Britain in the 1970s and 80s, initially as a heavyweight but later (from the early 80s on) as a lightweight. In 1985 she was half of the world champion lightweight
double scull crew, and the following year she was in the silver-medal-winning lightweight coxless four.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rower
Rowing (sport)
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 competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, in the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, and in the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
.
In 1972 he was a crew member of the British boat which finished seventh in the coxless fours event.
Four years later at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal he won the silver medal with the British boat in the eights competition.
At the 1980 Games in Moscow he and his partner Chris Baillieu
Chris Baillieu
Christopher Latham "Chris" Baillieu MBE is a British former rower who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics and in the 1980 Summer Olympics. He was the first chairman of British Swimming, from 2001 to 2008.-Early life:...
finished sixth in the double sculls contest.
Until the mid 1970s he was a physical education schoolmaster in Ealing, where he taught and coached the future Olympic champion oarsman Martin Cross
Martin Cross
Martin Patrick Cross is an Olympic gold medal-winning oarsman. He won the gold medal in the coxed four at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with Steve Redgrave, Richard Budgett, Andy Holmes, and Adrian Ellison....
. Cross identifies Clark as a major influence and inspiration in his memoirs. Subsequently Clark was master in charge of rowing at Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School, founded by Edward Latymer in 1624, is a selective independent school in Hammersmith, West London, England, lying between King Street and the Thames. It is a day school for 1,130 pupils – boys and girls aged 11–18; there is also the Latymer Preparatory School for boys and girls...
. Among his early protégés there was the double Olympic rowing gold medallist, Andy Holmes
Andy Holmes
Andrew Jeremy Holmes MBE was a British rower.Holmes was born in Uxbridge, Greater London, and was educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, where he was coached by Olympic rowing silver medallist Jim Clark. After leaving school, he rowed for Kingston Rowing Club and then...
. He then became a DT teacher and retired from teaching in the summer of 2010.
His wife Lyn Clark was one of the most prominent international oarswomen in Britain in the 1970s and 80s, initially as a heavyweight but later (from the early 80s on) as a lightweight. In 1985 she was half of the world champion lightweight
Lightweight rowing
Lightweight rowing is a special category of rowing where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. The rationale is that larger, taller people have a small but significant physical advantage and tend to dominate the sport...
double scull crew, and the following year she was in the silver-medal-winning lightweight coxless four.