Alf Duval Jnr.
Sydney Rowing Club (NSW)
1962 - National Men's Coxless Four Championship, three seat - Second
1962 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship five seat – Fourth
1963 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship - Second
1964 - National Men's Coxless Four Championship, bow- Third
1964 - National Men's Coxed Four Championship, bow - First
1964 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship three seat – Second
1964 - Olympic Games – Men’s Coxed Four bow – Tenth
1965 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship five seat – First
1966 - National Men's Coxed Four Championship, three seat - First
1966 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship - Second
1966 – World Championships – Men’s Coxed Four three seat – Eighth
1967 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship five seat – First
1967 – European Championships – Men’s Eight
1968 - National Men's Coxless Pair Championship, coach - Second
1968 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – First
1968 - Olympic Games – Men’s Eight stroke - Silver
1969 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – Second
1975 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship (QLD) stroke & co-coach – Eliminated in repechage
Alf stroking the silver medal winning 1968 Olympic Eight
In 1968, Sydney Rowing Club conferred life membership on Alf Duval. The 1967-68 annual report provided the following tribute.
The Committee has resolved that Alf Duval, Jnr., be nominated for life membership at the Club's Annual Meeting. The club is very proud of Alf's outstanding ability and leadership on the water. He joined the club in 1956, but did not win his first maiden race till the 1958-59 season. He also won three Junior races that same season.
[n 1960 he won his first senior race and was also in the winning Gold Cup crew. He was called up in I 961 and tried out for State crew, being one of the last to be eliminated. Selected in King's Cup crew in 1962, he has been a member of each crew since, rowing in eight King's Cups which would be a record.
Alf was selected in the four that represented Australia in the Olympics at Tokyo in 1964. He was in the Australian eight in three test races against New Zealand in 1965; was a member of the coxed four that represented at the World Championships, held in Yugoslavia, 1966. This crew also rowed in many races in Germany and Switzerland.
In 1967 he was selected in the Australian eight that went to Canada and U.S.A., and then to France, for European Championships.
On his return to Australia he was selected in the four to represent Australia in New Zealand and was also elected Captain of the rowing squad. Quite a few people were surprised when on his return from New Zealand it was decided that he would row in the stroke seat of the club eight. This proved to be a most successful experiment as Alf stroked the club and state crews to victory. He was selected to stroke the eight at Mexico and went on to win a Silver medal. This must have been a great moment for Alf and if you have seen the film of him receiving his medal it is easy to see what this meant to him.
On his return from Mexico, Alf was soon again rowing in the club crew, winning the State Championship and being selected to stroke the State crew.
It is doubtful if any oarsman has had such a long and distinguished career and we feel sure that all will agree that Alf is worthy of this high honour.
Andrew Guerin
December 2020