Norman Ella

Haberfield Rowing Club (NSW) then Police Rowing Club (NSW) then back to Haberfield Rowing Club (NSW)

1936 Olympic Games – Men’s Eight cox – eliminated in repechage

1936 – Henley Royal Regatta – Grand Challenge cox

1936 Olympic Games crew in Germany - Ella is on the left

Kevyn Webb in his 1950 history of Haberfield Rowing Club provides the following profile on Ella.

Gained fame as coxswain of Haberfield's first eight oar crew ever to race in an open regatta, and won the first four oared race in which the club was successful. Coxed the Lightweight Champion Four of N.S.W. 1927-28 and the Haberfield crew which won the Lightweight Champion Eight of N.S.W. 1928-29. Norm won the New South Wales Rowing Association's premier coxswains trophy for the most wins in a season. After leaving Haberfield, Norm coxed with the newly formed Police Club and won state Championships with that club. In 1936 he represented Australia at the Berlin Olympic Games. Norm returned to Haberfield during the war years to coach. In his seven active coxing years he won 50 races.

Andrew Guerin
May 2020

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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