Lionel P Robberds AM QC
Leichhardt Rowing Club (NSW)
Born 2 April 1939. Schooled at Sydney Boys High and then at Sydney University. Admitted as a Barrister in NSW in 1966 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1982. He remains a prominent Sydney QC.
Typical of a great sportsman, he was not just a good cox; he could row both sides, at a time when it was an unusual achievement, and he was also a very handy sculler. Outside rowing. he was a member of the Australian Squash Team which won the World Men's Team Championship governed by the World Squash Federation. A leader in both sports.
Lionel has maintained his interest in rowing throughout his life.
1951 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First
1952 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First
1953 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First
1954 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – Second
1954 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Coxed Four cox – Gold
1955 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First
1955 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Third
1955 - NSW Three Mile Champion Eight cox
1955 - NSW 2000m Champion Eight cox - First
1955 – Interstate Men’s Coxed Pair Championships cox – Second
1956 - NSW 2000m Champion Four cox - First
1956 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox – First
1956 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Second
1957 - North Shore Regatta Lightweight Novice Pair (bow)
1957 - NSW 2000m Champion Four cox - First
1957 – Interstate Women’s Four Championships cox & coach – First
1957 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Second
1957 - NSW 2000m Champion Junior Four cox/coach - First
1957 - NSW 2000m Champion Four cox/coach - Second
1958 - Drummoyne Regatta Lightweight Senior Single Scull - Second
1958 - NSW Three Mile Champion Eight cox - First
1958 - NSWRA Regatta Maiden Single Scull - Third
1958 - Hawkesbury Regatta Maiden Eight, bow - First
1958 - Balmain Regatta Maiden Eight, bow - Third
1958 - Leichhardt Regatta Maiden Eight, bow - Third
1958 - Metropolitan Regatta Lightweight Senior Double Scull, bow - Third
1958 - Marlow (England) Regatta - Grand Challenge Eight cox - First
1958 – Henley Royal Grand Challenge Eight cox - Second (The Henley Regatta was on before the Games).
1958 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Eight cox – Silver
1958 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Coxed Four cox – Silver
1959 - Haberfield Regatta - NSW Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow - First
1959 - Metropolitan Regatta Lightweight Senior Double Scull, bow - Third
1959 - Leichhardt Regatta - Lightweight Senior Double Scull, bow - First
1959 - NSW Three Mile Champion Eight cox - Second
1959 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – First
1959 - St.George Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, stroke - Third
1960 - Hawkesbury Regatta Lightweight Maiden Eight, three - Second
1960 - Drummoyne Regatta Lightweight Senior Eight, four - Third
1960 - Drummoyne Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, bow - First
1960 - Balmain Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, bow - First
1960 - Haberfield Regatta Lightweight Senior Single Scull - Third
1960 - Haberfield Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, bow - Third
1960 - Metropolitan Regatta Maiden Pair, bow - Second
1960 - Riverview Regatta Lightweight Senior Eight, four - Second
1960 - Riverview Regatta Lightweight Maiden Four, stroke - Second
1960 - Leichhardt Regatta Maiden Single Scull - Second
1960 - Leichhardt Regatta Maiden Pair, bow - First
1960 - NSWRA Regatta Maiden Single Scull - Third
1960 – Olympic Games – Men’s Coxed Four cox – Fifth
1962 - National Men's Lightweight Coxed Pair Championship, cox and coach -Fifth
1962 - National Men's Lightweight Eight Championship, cox and coach - Third
1964 - National Men's Coxed Four Championship, cox - Second
1964 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships cox – Second
1955 Victorious NSW Women's Four
1964 Olympic Coxed Four
Lionel's Wikipedia entry extracted on 27th June 2021 also describes another aspect to his sporting life:
Robberds took up squash in 1963. By 1970 he was the fifth ranked player in New South Wales and at that year's Australian Championships he beat Cam Nancarrow the Australian #2 seed. Along with his brother Greg, Lionel Robberds made the New South Wales men's team and he was a part of their legacy when between 1958 and 1973 members of that team won 78 consecutive matches at Australian carnivals. Nancarrow, Ken Hiscoe, Ted Hamilton and others participated in that time in the four men squad. The unbeaten run ended with a loss to Queensland in 1974. In 1973 Robberds was selected in the Australian national men's team which competed and won the World Men's Team Championship governed by the World Squash Federation. The next men's world championships were held in England in 1976 and again Robberds was selected in the Australian team who competed and placed third overall.
Andrew Guerin and Steve Roll
June 2021 (updated December 2021)
Sources:
- Regatta programs
- Leichhardt Rowing Club records
- Wikipedia