Karl Vernon

Karl Vernon
Born19 June 1880
Neuenahr
Died11 July 1973
Worthing
OccupationRower
Olympic medal record
Men's rowing
Silver medal – second place 1912 Stockholm Coxed four

Karl Vernon MM (19 June 1880 – 11 July 1973), sometimes known by his nickname The Bean, was a British rower and coach who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.[1]

Life

Vernon was born in Neuenahr, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.[1] He joined Thames Rowing Club in around 1904, first appearing at Henley Royal Regatta in 1906, with Julius Beresford as runners-up in Goblets and in a Thames Cup eight (which also included Bruce Logan). Beresford and Vernon were runners-up in Silver Goblets again in 1907 and 1908.[2]

In the Autumn of 1907, having become frustrated by their inability to impress the Thames coaches, Vernon and Beresford formed a new four with Logan and Charlie Rought. These four (with Vernon in the 2 seat) would stay together, on and off, for the next five years, winning the Stewards' Challenge Cup at Henley in 1909 and 1911.[1]

Then, with cox Geoffrey Carr, the Thames Rowing Club coxed four won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics.[3]

In the First World War, he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was awarded the Military Medal.[1][4]

Vernon later became a regular coach at Thames and at numerous University clubs. In 1954, he had all his trophies and medals melted down and made into a trophy for the Head of the River Race.

He was Captain of Thames from 1930–32 and was elected a Vice President of the Club in 1943. Outside rowing, he was an architect, spending at least some of his career at the London County Council.[1] He also designed an extension to the Thames clubhouse. He was a talented draughtsman and sketcher; Vernon's works were frequently used as prizes in local regattas.

Vernon was a vegetarian, and this led to his lifelong nickname "The Bean".[5]

Achievements

Olympic Games

  • 1912 – Silver, Coxed Four

Henley Royal Regatta

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Karl Vernon". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  2. ^ Henley Royal Regatta Results of Final Races 1839–1939 Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Sports Reference Olympic Sports – Karl Vernon
  4. ^ Page, Geoffrey (1991). Hear The Boat Sing. Kingswood Press. ISBN 0-413-65410-9.
  5. ^ Mallory, Peter (2011). "The Sport of Rowing: A Comprehensive History" (PDF). Row Perfect. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karl Vernon.