Robert George Krulock "Ken" Waley (26 November 1889 – 10 September 1939) was an Australian

coxswain The coxswain ( , or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boat ...

who competed in the

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...

. He was Australia's first selected representative coxswain. Aust Olympic VIII 1912

Rowing career

Waley was educated at the King's School where he was introduced to rowing. In 1909 he coxed the Sydney University eight which won the men's eight event at the Australian University Championships. His senior club rowing was from the

Sydney Rowing Club Sydney Rowing Club is the oldest rowing club in New South Wales, Australia formed in 1870. It has occupied its current site on Port Jackson's Parramatta River at Abbotsford Point since 1874. The club has a focus on its high performance and elite ...

. In 1910 and 1911 he steered the New South Wales crews to victory in the men's eight at the annual Australian Interstate Regatta. He was

in a 1912 Australian eight which racing as

, won the

Grand Challenge Cup The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and best-known event 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 cl ...

Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames ( ) is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England, northeast of Reading, west of Maidenhead, southeast of Oxford and west of London (by road), near the tripoint of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buc ...

, where they beat the

Leander Club Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world, and the oldest non-academic club. It is based in Remenham in Berkshire, England and adjoins Henley-on-Thames. Only three other surviving clubs were founded prior to ...

. As an Australasian representative crew, they then travelled to Stockholm, Sweden for the

, where after beating a Swedish crew in the first round, they were then knocked-out in the quarter-final by the same

Leander Leander is one of the protagonists in the story of Hero and Leander in Greek mythology. Leander may also refer to: People * Leander (given name) * Leander (surname) Places * Leander, Kentucky, United States, an unincorporated community * Le ...

eight they had defeated at Henley a few weeks earlier. This was the first Australian international representative rowing crew and Waley was thus Australia's first representative coxswain.

War service

Waley enlisted late in WWI as he neared aged 30 and gave his occupation as a company manager. He served in the Flying Corps and was promoted from Private to Sergeant during his period short service. He was returned to Australia just before war's end for duty at the Central Flying School Australia but was almost immediately discharged.Waley Profile at Austn Rowing History
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waley, Robert 1889 births Australian male rowers Olympic rowers of Australasia Rowers at the 1912 Summer Olympics 1939 deaths Coxswains (rowing) People educated at The King's School, Parramatta Australian military personnel of World War I