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Lot Essay
Great Britain chose a vastly experienced Leander crew for the eights at the 1908 Olympics, with the aim of defeating the powerful young Belgian team. The 31-year-old Raymond Etherington-Smith was selected for captain and, after the Belgian boat capsized, led the GB team to win by two lengths. The victory contributed to what was become GB Rowing Team's most successful Games of the modern era and confirmed Britain's place as the greatest rowing nation in the world.
Raymond Etherington-Smith competed for the London Rowing Club and was a member of their Thames Cup crew in 1895 before attending Trinity College, Cambridge. He rowed against Oxford in 1899 and 1900 and in his last year, when he was President; a unique record was set when he competed against his brother, Thomas, who was in the Oxford boat. The Cambridge crew beat the Oxford team that year by a massive 20 lengths - the most decisive margin of victory in the history of the race. On leaving Cambridge, Raymond Etherington-Smith qualified as a surgeon but after performing an operation at St. Bartholomew's Hospital he contacted peritonitis which sadly caused his death aged just 36 years old. St Bartholomew's named and re-modeled an operating theatre in memory of the promising young surgeon.
Raymond Etherington-Smith competed for the London Rowing Club and was a member of their Thames Cup crew in 1895 before attending Trinity College, Cambridge. He rowed against Oxford in 1899 and 1900 and in his last year, when he was President; a unique record was set when he competed against his brother, Thomas, who was in the Oxford boat. The Cambridge crew beat the Oxford team that year by a massive 20 lengths - the most decisive margin of victory in the history of the race. On leaving Cambridge, Raymond Etherington-Smith qualified as a surgeon but after performing an operation at St. Bartholomew's Hospital he contacted peritonitis which sadly caused his death aged just 36 years old. St Bartholomew's named and re-modeled an operating theatre in memory of the promising young surgeon.