Rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls

The men's single sculls was one of four rowing events on the Rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. Nations could enter up to 2 boats (total of 2 rowers).[1] Nine rowers from six nations competed.[2] The host nation, Great Britain, earned the top two spots with Harry Blackstaffe taking gold and Alexander McCulloch silver. It was the first victory in the event for Great Britain, which had taken bronze in 1900. The two bronze medals went to semifinalists Bernhard von Gaza of Germany and Károly Levitzky of Hungary, both nations making their debut in the event.

Men's single sculls
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
Gold medalist Harry Blackstaffe (right, seen with Harry Tate during a coxless pair competition sometime in the early 1900s)
VenueRiver Thames
Dates28–31 July
Competitors9 from 6 nations
Winning time9:26.0
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Harry Blackstaffe
 Great Britain
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Alexander McCulloch
 Great Britain
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bernhard von Gaza
 Germany
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Károly Levitzky
 Hungary
← 1904
1912 →

Background

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This was the third appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The single sculls has been held every time that rowing has been contested, beginning in 1900.[3]

For the first time, there was a strong international field. The Diamond Challenge Sculls winners competing were Lou Scholes of Great Britain (1904), Harry Blackstaffe of Great Britain (1906), and Alexander McCulloch of Canada (1908). Great Britain had another strong sculler in London for the Games in Frederick Septimus Kelly (1902, 1903, and 1905 Diamond champion), but he had retired from sculling and competed in the eight instead; only two of the British rowers would have been able to compete under the 1908 national limits in any case. Prominent American sculler Frank Greer, the reigning Olympic champion, did not compete.[3]

Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, and Italy each made their debut in the event. Great Britain was the only nation to have competed before, making its second appearance.

Competition format

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The 1908 tournament featured four rounds of one-on-one races; with 9 boats in the competition, 7 had byes to the quarterfinals and only 1 race was held in the first round. Semifinal losers each received bronze medals. The course was 1.5 miles in length, with two slight bends near the start and about halfway.[4]

Schedule

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Date Time Round
Tuesday, 28 July 1908 15:00 First round
Wednesday, 29 July 1908 12:30
15:00
16:00
Quarterfinals
Thursday, 30 July 1908 12:30
16:45
Semifinals
Friday, 31 July 1908 14:30 Final

Results

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First round

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Heat 1

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Von Gaza won easily, and Killer abandoned the race after the German crossed the finish line.

Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Bernhard von Gaza   Germany 9:35.0 Q
Ernő Killer   Hungary DNF

Quarterfinals

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Quarterfinal 1

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Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Bernhard von Gaza   Germany 9:47.0 Q
2 Lou Scholes   Canada Unknown

Quarterfinal 2

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Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Károly Levitzky   Hungary 10:08.0 Q
2 Gino Ciabatti   Italy Unknown

Quarterfinal 3

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Bowler capsized, leaving Blackstaffe with the win.

Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Harry Blackstaffe   Great Britain 10:03.0 Q
Walter Bowler   Canada DNF

Quarterfinal 4

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Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Alexander McCulloch   Great Britain 10:08.0 Q
2 Jozef Hermans   Belgium Unknown

Semifinals

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Semifinal 1

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Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Alexander McCulloch   Great Britain 10:22.0 Q
  Károly Levitzky   Hungary Unknown

Semifinal 2

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von Gaza fell ill at the 1500m mark, leaving Blackstaffe to ease off and win.

Rank Rower Nation Time Notes
1 Harry Blackstaffe   Great Britain 10:14.0 Q
  Bernhard von Gaza   Germany DNF

Final

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McCulloch took the early lead, but started by pulling fewer strokes than Blackstaffe. McCulloch opened up by a length and led through 1200 yards before being caught by Blackstaffe. At 1 mile, Blackstaffe pulled ahead by ¾ of a length and held this lead to the finish.

Rank Rower Nation Time
  Harry Blackstaffe   Great Britain 9:26.0
  Alexander McCulloch   Great Britain 9:27.5

Results summary

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Rank Rower Nation First round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
  Harry Blackstaffe   Great Britain Bye 10:03.0 10:14.0 9:26.0
  Alexander McCulloch   Great Britain Bye 10:08.0 10:22.0 9:27.5
  Károly Levitzky   Hungary Bye 10:08.0 Unknown Did not advance
Bernhard von Gaza   Germany 9:35.0 9:47.0 DNF
5 Gino Ciabatti   Italy Bye Unknown Did not advance
Jozef Hermans   Belgium Bye Unknown
Lou Scholes   Canada Bye Unknown
Walter Bowler   Canada Bye DNF
9 Ernő Killer   Hungary DNF Did not advance

References

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  1. ^ Official Report, p. 37.
  2. ^ "Rowing at the 1908 London Summer Games: Men's Single Sculls". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Single Sculls, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ^ Official Report, pp. 237–38.
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  • Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report. London: British Olympic Association.
  • De Wael, Herman (2001). "Rowing 1908". Herman's Full Olympians. Retrieved 6 May 2006.