The 1958 Empire & Commonwealth Games

Extract from Chapter XI of A History of St Catherine's Rowing 1875-1999

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[Written by T. Hancox (see Chapter X), who was a member of the Thames RC representing England]

The rowing took place 180 miles away on Llyn Padarn, at Llanberis in North Wales, amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. The lake, two miles long and about a quarter of a mile wide and very deep, lies at the foot of Snowdon and is sheltered from all but a head or following wind on account of the steepness of the mountains on either side of its length. The crews stayed at the University College of North Wales at Bangor, close to the Menai Straits and Anglesey. The twice-daily journey to and from Llanberis through the stone-walled lanes was tremendously exciting, the colours of the mountains changing each journey, in different weathers. In the morning sun the greens would predominate, in the evening the greys and browns. Quite often, of course, being in Wales it would rain, when the wet slate rock would glisten purple on the foothills, but would grow blacker and darker as the eye high travelled higher, until the mist merged earth into cloud.

For Thames, whose first crew represented England in the Eights, the story began in June at Henley one hot afternoon when, by a canvas, they won the final of the Empire Games Trials from the 1st and 3rd Trinity Boat Club, Cambridge.

Photo: The Thames RC crew which rowed for England in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held in Wales. From left to right, back row: F. D. M. Badcock (res.), P. J. M. Thomson , A. C. Hancox (Capt.), J. A. Stephenson, R. L. Penney, R. J. Workman, J. F. C. Badcock, D. R. Mount; front: G. S. Dear (res.), D. S. S. Elliot, H. A. Wober. (D. Elliot is the father of Graham Elliot, St Caths Men's Captain 1983/84.)