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australian rowers profiles and history

Lance Robinson

Haberfield Rowing Club (NSW)

Lance was a top rower and coach. Michael Morgan paid tribute to Lance with the following words:

When I first started to coach in late 1973 Lance Robinson kindly acted as my mentor. Lance was a Haberfield stalwart and had coached me in 1967, which was my first Representative crew to the North American and European championships.

Very early in this role as mentor he said don’t forget the “Ninth Man”. I soon realised that he was talking about the boat. The boat has to be given a chance to work. The simple fact is that in a 6-minute race the oars are out of the water for 4 minutes and that is when the “Ninth man” must be allowed to do his work. Obviously with 2/3 of a race being spent with the oars out of the water the time between strokes is very important.

This provides an insightful view of a great coach.

Strokes of 1947 Interstate Eights
Left to right: Reg F Stewart (TAS), Donald H Fraser (WA), Walter J Lambert (VIC), Lance Robinson (NSW), R H Graetz (SA)

Key races in his rowing career

1939 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – Second

1946 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – Second

1947 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – Second

1947 - Olympic Test Race, Men's Four, stroke - Second

1967 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship coach - First

1967 – European Championships – Men’s Eight coach

1971 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship coach - Third

1972 – Olympic Games – Men’s Coxed Four coach – Thirteenth


Andrew Guerin
December 2021

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