Bill Dixon (rower)

William John Dixon (9 November 1912 – 10 June 1969) was an Australian rower.[1] He was a four-time national champion who competed in the men's double sculls event at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[2]

William John Dixon
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
Born(1912-11-09)9 November 1912
Sydney, Australia
Died10 June 1969(1969-06-10) (aged 56)
New South Wales, Australia
EducationSt Joseph's College
Sport
SportRowing
ClubSydney Rowing Club
Achievements and titles
National finalsKing's Cup 1933-39
Olympic finals1936 Berlin Olympics M2X
Medal record
Representing  Australia
British Empire Games
1938 SydneyM8+

Club and state rowing

Dixon was educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill with 1929 as his senior year.[3] His senior rowing was from the Sydney Rowing Club and in the 1931-32 season he stroked a Sydney maiden four.[4] He won a New South Wales state championship in the coxed four the following year.

In 1933 Dixon made state selection in the New South Wales men's eight which contested and won the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta.[5] He rowed in four successive King's Cup winning New South Wales eights between 1933 and 1936[6] and then contested the event on three further occasions from 1937 to 1939.[7]

In 1939 Dixon rowed in a Sydney Rowing Club which contested the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. They won their first round but were knocked out in second.[8]

International representative rowing

In 1936 Australian Olympic Federation funding was scarce. The NSW Police Rowing Club eight which dominated the Sydney club season and the New South Wales state championship[8] was selected in toto as Australia's men's eight to compete at the 1936 Berlin Olympics with their attendance wholly funded by the NSW Police Federation.[9] Cecil Pearce was the selected single sculler and Herb Turner picked for the double. The selectors picked Dixon as the reserve sweep-oarsman and asked him to row the double-scull with Turner. Though Dixon had not sculled before selection, he and Turner were the best performers of the three Australian boats in Berlin. They made the Olympic final and placed sixth.[9]

In 1938 Dixon was one of five New South Welshman selected in the men's eight for the 1938 Commonwealth Games. That eight took the silver medal behind the British crew.[10]

War service

In WWII Dixon served in the Australian Army. He enlisted early in the war in 1940 and had the rank of sergeant with the 2/5th Field regiment when was discharged at the war's end in 1945.[11]

References
  1. Bill Dixon at Olympedia
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bill Dixon Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. St Joseph's magazine 1929
  4. "Sydney Rows History". Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  5. "1933 Interstate Regatta". Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  6. "1936 Interstate Regatta". Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. "1939 Interstate Regatta". Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  8. "Sydney Rows history". Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  9. "1936 Olympics". Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. "1938 C'wealth Games". Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  11. Dixon at WWII Nominal Roll
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