Hiram Boardman Conibear
Encyclopedia
Hiram Boardman Conibear (September 5, 1871 - September 9, 1917) was the rowing
coach at the University of Washington
in 1907. He coached both the men's and women's rowing team. He developed the distinctive style that became known as the Conibear stroke that "had an effect on the sport that lasted for 30 years".
to Edward H. Conibear and Amelia Boardman of England.
He later graduated from the University of Illinois.
Conibear began his coaching career in cycling. In 1906, working as athletics trainer at the University of Washington, he accepted the post of rowing crew coach even though he had no rowing experience and knew nothing about the sport.
Experiments convinced him that the traditional Oxford style of rowing, involving a long stroke, was both unsound and uncomfortable, and he developed the new, shorter style with which his name became associated.
Under his coaching the university crew became, in 1913, the first Western crew to compete by invitation in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association
regatta in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Washington crew members went on to achieve success at subsequent regattas and at national and Olympic level using the technique developed by Conibear.
Conibear died from a fall from a plum tree at his home in Seattle, Washington
on September 9, 1917 at age 46.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
coach at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1907. He coached both the men's and women's rowing team. He developed the distinctive style that became known as the Conibear stroke that "had an effect on the sport that lasted for 30 years".
Biography
He was born on September 5, 1871 in Mineral, IllinoisMineral, Illinois
Mineral is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 237 at the 2010 census, down from 272 people at the 2000 census...
to Edward H. Conibear and Amelia Boardman of England.
He later graduated from the University of Illinois.
Conibear began his coaching career in cycling. In 1906, working as athletics trainer at the University of Washington, he accepted the post of rowing crew coach even though he had no rowing experience and knew nothing about the sport.
Experiments convinced him that the traditional Oxford style of rowing, involving a long stroke, was both unsound and uncomfortable, and he developed the new, shorter style with which his name became associated.
Under his coaching the university crew became, in 1913, the first Western crew to compete by invitation in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association
Intercollegiate Rowing Association
The Intercollegiate Rowing Association runs the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. Since 1995, it has been held on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and includes both men's and women's events for sweep boats...
regatta in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Washington crew members went on to achieve success at subsequent regattas and at national and Olympic level using the technique developed by Conibear.
Conibear died from a fall from a plum tree at his home in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
on September 9, 1917 at age 46.
External links
- Hiram Boardman Conibear at Encyclopedia Britannica