Harry Blackstaffe

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Harry Tate and Harry Blackstaffe (right)

Henry Thomas "Harry" Blackstaffe (born July 28, 1868 in Islington , † August 22, 1951 in West Wickham ) was an English rower who was 1908 Olympic champion in the single .

Blackstaffe was one of the most successful British single rowers of his time. He won the London Cup nine times . In 1897 he won the Wingfield Sculls on the Thames for the first time , and he repeated this victory four times: 1901, 1905, 1906 and 1908. In 1906 Blackstaffe won the Diamond Sculls , the one-man race of the Henley Royal Regatta , although it was very difficult for the trained butcher Blackstaffe had been to get admission to the Henley Regatta at all, but he earned his living with his handwork, which contradicted the amateur idea of ​​Henley. Blackstaffe, who competed for the Vesta Rowing Club , was able to qualify for the final held in Henley at the 1908 Olympic Games by defeating the Canadian Walter Bowler and the German Bernhard von Gaza . In the final three days after his 40th birthday, Blackstaffe met his compatriot Alexander McCulloch , who was 20 years his junior and was only able to distance him shortly before the finish line. With his victory, Blackstaffe became the oldest single Olympic champion in Olympic history. (As of 2008)

Blackstaffe received the Freeman of the City of London honor and later was Vice President of the British Rowing Association.

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personal data
SURNAME Blackstaffe, Harry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Blackstaffe, Henry Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British Olympic rowing champion
DATE OF BIRTH July 28, 1868
PLACE OF BIRTH Islington
DATE OF DEATH August 22, 1951
Place of death West Wickham