Golden rowers recall stormy win

By George Herd
BBC News

The triumphant 1958 Commonwealth gold medal winners

"The weather was so bad the judges' podium capsized on the lake," recalls Creighton Redman.

It is a memory that would be hard to forget, especially if you had just won a Commonwealth gold medal.

That was 50 years ago, and the last time Redman and the members of his rowing team had stood on the shores of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia.

The year was 1958, and Wales was hosting its first - and as yet only - British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

While venues such as Cardiff Arms Park and Empire Pool were attracting throngs of sporting fans and athletes, elite rowers were told to head for Snowdonia.

Which is where the coxless fours for England returned to mark the half-century since they pushed their way to gold, setting the rowing world alight with a then record-breaking performance.

L-R: Creighton Redman, David Young, Keith Shakell, and Roger Pope

"There was a gale blowing from the west end of the lake, and the waves had white-horses on them," explained Redman, now in his seventies.

"We had a fair bit of water in the boat, because it was coming over the side.

"We kept our sweaters between us which stopped the water rushing up and down the boat.

"That would have brought us at the end of each stroke to a dead stop."

Despite the desperate conditions, the England rowers pulled ahead of favourites Canada, and pushed the Welsh crew into bronze medal place.

For oarsman David Young, the moment of the race and winning the medal remains a blur.

"It was a good feeling - but it's all a little bit vague now. What I do remember is there was a silver band on the shore playing Land of Hope and Glory.

"It was echoing around, that was quite moving - lump in the throat sort of stuff."

The England crew beat the favourites Canada into second place

Of course, this was the era of the amateur sportsman, and the rowers were no different.

They all worked in the London area as bank clerks, fitting in a gruelling training schedule before and after a day in the office.

Long slogs

"We were doing similar things to the rowers of today, but we were working boys, and it had to fit around that," remembered Keith Shakell.

"It was long, long slogs in the winter time, 15 miles a row to get the stamina up."

Arguably, the regime that the four men embarked on was the template that would be adopted worldwide after the games.

"We broke the mould in physical fitness and endurance which the rest of the world took up," said Redman.

The rowers also believe that their approach to the sport was one of the factors in turning Britain into one of the great rowing nations, a legacy to inspire the likes of Olympic rowing legends such as Sir Stephen Redgrave.

But how would the 1958 team have compared to the modern heroes of the sport?

Redmand has his own theories: "When we were in competition, our rowing weight was around 12st (76kg), while Redgrave rowed at around 17st (108kg).

"A big good one is always going to beat a little good one.

"If we went out and rowed Redgrave's four - we wouldn't stand a chance."