W Alfred Lodding
Nagambie Rowing Club (VIC)
Alf Lodding was a significant member of the Nagambie, Victorian and Australian rowing community. He was a Victorian representative oarsman, Olympic coach and local rowing administrator.
His first race win was in 1931 in a maiden four rowing in the three seat. He was part of a strong rowing group at Nagambie which spanned the period between WWI and WWII. They won many races from maiden to senior and were a strong club.
This group of athletes succeeded in winning the Club's first Victorian Four Oared Championship and the Club's only Victorian Eight Oared Championship. This was a special group of rowers.
Alf represented the State in the seven seat of two King's Cup crews, in 1934 and 1935. His last recorded race win was in 1935when he appears to have retired from rowing.
1934 Victorian crew with Alf Lodding in the seven seat
He then went onto be the Club's primary administrator and coach for many years including coaching his son Neil in the Australian Olympic coxed pair in 1964.
His contribution is enormous.
1964 Olympic Coxed Pair. From the left: Bruce Richardson, Alf Lodding, Wayne Gammon, Ray Todd and Neil Lodding
Some details:
1934 - Victorian Men's Four Championship, three seat - First
1934 - Victorian Men's Eight Championship, seven seat - First
1934 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship, seven seat - Did not finish
1935 - Interstate Men's Eight Championship, seven seat - Fourth
1957-73 - Captain, Nagambie Rowing Club
1961 - Victorian Men's Junior Pair Championship, coach - First
1961 - Victorian Country Pair Championship, coach - First
1962 - Victorian Pair Championships, coach - First
1962 - Victorian Sprint Pair Championship, coach - First
1962 - Victorian Country Pair Championship, coach - First
1962 - Henley on Yarra, Men's Pair, coach - Dead heat for First
1962 - NSW Men's Coxed Pair Championship, coach - Third
1962 - National Men's Coxless Pair Championships, coach - Third
1963 - Victorian Men's Pair Championship, coach - First
1963 - Victorian Country Pair Championship, coach - First
1964 - Victorian Men's Pair Championship, coach - First
1964 - National Men's Coxless Pair Championship, coach - Second
1964 - National Men's Coxed Pair Championship, coach - First
1964 - Olympic Games, Men's Coxed Pair, coach - Ninth
1965 - South Australian Pair Oared Championship, coach - First
Andrew Guerin
August 2021