Jack Offer
Encyclopedia
John Sidney "Jack" Offer (1908 - 1985) was an English rower
who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
and a silver medal at the 1938 British Empire Games
.
Offer was born at Hampton Wick
, the son of Henry John Offer and his wife Vera Jennie Burgoine. His maternal
grandfather, Alfred Burgoine, was a boat designer who built one of Queen Victoria
’s Royal Barges and a motor launch that held the world water speed record. He was educated at Tiffin School where he began rowing. He joined Kingston Rowing Club
where his brothers Tom and Dick Offer
were also members.
Offer excelled at sculling
, in particular partnering his brother Dick in the double scull
s. They also took part in skiffing
, being members of The Skiff Club
. They won the Gentlemen's Double Sculls at the Skiff Championships Regatta
in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1935. Offer also won the Singles Skiff Championship in 1932 and 1935 and the Mixed Doubles Skiff Championship in 1933. In 1936 the Offer brothers won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
. Two years later they were selected to compete in the 1938 British Empire Games
. In spite of the difficulties in maintaining training during the six-week sea voyage to Australia they won the silver medal in the double sculls event.
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...
who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
and a silver medal at the 1938 British Empire Games
1938 British Empire Games
The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...
.
Offer was born at Hampton Wick
Hampton Wick
Hampton Wick is a Thames-side area, formerly a village, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in London, England.Famous for its market gardens until well into the twentieth century, it is now commuter-belt territory, housing developments having been built on these areas...
, the son of Henry John Offer and his wife Vera Jennie Burgoine. His maternal
grandfather, Alfred Burgoine, was a boat designer who built one of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
’s Royal Barges and a motor launch that held the world water speed record. He was educated at Tiffin School where he began rowing. He joined Kingston Rowing Club
Kingston Rowing Club
Kingston Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club, based in England, founded in 1858.The club is one of the world's oldest and most successful amateur rowing clubs...
where his brothers Tom and Dick Offer
Dick Offer
Richard Frederick Offer was an English rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta and a silver medal at the 1938 British Empire Games....
were also members.
Offer excelled at sculling
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
, in particular partnering his brother Dick in the double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
s. They also took part in skiffing
Skiffing
Skiffing refers to the sporting and leisure activity of rowing a Thames skiff. A Thames skiff is a traditional hand built clinker-built wooden craft of a design which has been seen on the River Thames and other waterways in England and other countries for nearly 200 years...
, being members of The Skiff Club
The Skiff Club
The Skiff Club is the oldest skiff and punting club in existence, having been founded in 1895. It is based on the River Thames in England, on the Middlesex bank between Teddington Lock and Kingston upon Thames....
. They won the Gentlemen's Double Sculls at the Skiff Championships Regatta
Skiff Championships Regatta
The Skiff Championships Regatta is the premier skiff racing regatta on the River Thames in England. It is held annually at Henley on the Sunday of August Bank Holiday weekend.-Events and course:...
in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1935. Offer also won the Singles Skiff Championship in 1932 and 1935 and the Mixed Doubles Skiff Championship in 1933. In 1936 the Offer brothers won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
. Two years later they were selected to compete in the 1938 British Empire Games
1938 British Empire Games
The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...
. In spite of the difficulties in maintaining training during the six-week sea voyage to Australia they won the silver medal in the double sculls event.