Julius Beresford
Encyclopedia
Julius Beresford (29 June 1868 – 29 September 1959), also known as Berry or The Old Berry, was a British
rower
and coach who competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
. Julius Beresford dropped his father's surname 'Wiszniewski' in 1914. Outside rowing, he was a partner in a furniture making business, Beresford & Hicks.
Beresford initially sculled
at Kensington Rowing Club
in Hammersmith
with some success, winning many trophies although failing in attempts at the Wingfield Sculls in 1902 and 1903 and in the London Cup at the Metropolitan Regatta
. By 1904 he had decided that he had reached his limits as a single scull
er and moved to Thames Rowing Club
in order to row seriously in crew boats. He remained a member of Thames for the rest of his life. In 1909 and 1911, he was in the crew that won the Stewards Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta
,. Also in the 1911 regatta, he partnered Arthur Cloutte
to win the Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
. In a heat of this event he and Cloutte dead heated against Bruce Logan
and Charles Rought
to set a course record which lasted until 1934. Rought and Logan joined Beresford who was the bowman
, in the Thames Rowing Club coxed four
which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
Beresford served as captain of Thames Rowing Club in 1914 and again in 1926. In 1922 he was appointed a Vice President of the club. He was a dedicated coach with strong opinions. Despite holding similar views on techniques, Beresford clashed with Steve Fairbairn
and a dispute between the two was an underlying cause of Fairbairn's move from Thames to London Rowing Club
in 1927.
As a coach at Thames, Beresford's greatest successes came in 1927 when Thames won four events at Henley Royal Regatta and in 1928 when the club repeated the feat.
Beresford's son Jack Beresford
was also a rower and won medals at five successive Olympics.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rower
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...
and coach who competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
Life
Beresford was the son of Julius Bernard Wiszniewski, an emigre from Danzig and his wife Stella Louisa Davey. In 1871 the family were living in TottenhamTottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
. Julius Beresford dropped his father's surname 'Wiszniewski' in 1914. Outside rowing, he was a partner in a furniture making business, Beresford & Hicks.
Beresford initially sculled
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...
at Kensington Rowing Club
Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Auriol Kensington Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club, based in Hammersmith in west London, England. The club was formed in 1981 by the amalgamation of two separate clubs - Auriol Rowing Club which was founded in 1896, and Kensington Rowing Club which was founded in 1872...
in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
with some success, winning many trophies although failing in attempts at the Wingfield Sculls in 1902 and 1903 and in the London Cup at the Metropolitan Regatta
Metropolitan Regatta
The Metropolitan Regatta is an international rowing regatta. It takes place on Dorney Lake, Buckinghamshire near Eton next to the River Thames in southern England. It attracts crews from schools, clubs and universities from around the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA...
. By 1904 he had decided that he had reached his limits as a single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
er and moved to Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club is a rowing club situated on the River Thames in Putney, London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1860.-Club colours:Red, white and black in stripes, the white stripe lying between the red and black and being of half their width....
in order to row seriously in crew boats. He remained a member of Thames for the rest of his life. In 1909 and 1911, he was in the crew that won the Stewards Challenge Cup 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...
,. Also in the 1911 regatta, he partnered Arthur Cloutte
Arthur Cloutte
Arthur Hamilton Cloutte was an English rower who won the Wingfield Sculls, the amateur single sculling championship of the River Thames, in 1902...
to win the Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup
The Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.-History:The Silver Goblets...
. In a heat of this event he and Cloutte dead heated against Bruce Logan
Bruce Logan (rower)
Hubert Bruce Logan was a British rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.-Life:Logan was born at Chesterton, Cambridge, the son of John Maxwell Samuel Logan and his wife Alice Mary Bullard. He became a member of Thames Rowing Club and in 1909 and 1911 was a member of the crew that won the...
and Charles Rought
Charles Rought
Charles Gardner Rought was a British rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.-Life:Rought was born in Surbiton. He became a member of Thames Rowing Club and in 1909 and 1911 was a member of the crew that won the Stewards' Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta...
to set a course record which lasted until 1934. Rought and Logan joined Beresford who was the bowman
Bow (rowing)
Bow is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Bow:...
, in the Thames Rowing Club coxed four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....
which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics featured 4 events, for men only. All races were held in Djurgårdsbrunnsviken from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19, 1912.-Medal summary:-Bronze medals:...
.
Beresford served as captain of Thames Rowing Club in 1914 and again in 1926. In 1922 he was appointed a Vice President of the club. He was a dedicated coach with strong opinions. Despite holding similar views on techniques, Beresford clashed with Steve Fairbairn
Steve Fairbairn
Steve Fairbairn was a rower and an influential rowing coach, notably at Jesus College Boat Club, Cambridge University, Thames Rowing Club and London Rowing Club in the early decades of the 20th century.-Early life:...
and a dispute between the two was an underlying cause of Fairbairn's move from Thames to London Rowing Club
London Rowing Club
London Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom.It is regarded as one of the most exclusive and successful rowing clubs in Britain. and its Patron is HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh....
in 1927.
As a coach at Thames, Beresford's greatest successes came in 1927 when Thames won four events at Henley Royal Regatta and in 1928 when the club repeated the feat.
Beresford's son Jack Beresford
Jack Beresford
Jack Beresford, CBE, was a British rower who won medals at five Olympic Games in succession, an Olympic record in rowing, which has since been tied by Steven Redgrave.-Early life:...
was also a rower and won medals at five successive Olympics.
Henley Royal Regatta
- 1909 - Stewards' Challenge CupStewards' Challenge CupThe Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....
- 1911 - Stewards' Challenge Cup
- 1911 - Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge CupSilver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge CupThe Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry.-History:The Silver Goblets...
- 1919 Victory Regatta - Fawley Cup