TOM SULLIVAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 23 (Supplement)

TOM SULLIVAN.

COACHING IN GERMANY. OLD NEW ZEALAND OARSMAN. With the Olympic Games being held in Berlin this year German rowing enthusiasts anticipate that the oarsmen representative of Germany will play a particularly prominent part in the rowing events. The sport is a very popular one in Germany, and in the Berliner Ruder Club the capital ’ has probably one of the strongest organisations of its kind in the world. It has turned out some first-class crews and some exceptionally fine scullers, among the latter being Dr. R. Buhtz, winner in 1932 and 1934 of the Diamond Sculls at the Royal Henley Regatta. Buhtz also incidentally holds the record for the race. With the possible exception of the Australian champion, W. Turner, the German is without a doubt the best amateur sculler of the day. The strong position which the Berliner Club enjoys has been due in no small measure to Tom Sullivan, an ex-amateur sculling champion of New Zealand, who is coach of the club. Oarsmen of forty years ago will recall Sullivan as a member of the Wellington Club’s champion four which for two seasons carried all before it. He did his early rowing on the Waiwera River in North Auckland. Later he went to Devonport, and then in 1887 removed to Wellington and joined the permanent military forces. Sullivan was a member of the Torpedo Corps stationed at Shelley Bay. ' Won New Zealand Title. He joined the Athletic Rugby Football Club and won representative honours in 1888, playing against Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Wairarapa. He also linked up with the Wellington Rowing Club, and in the years 1888-89-90 its champion crew, comprising W. Bridson, father of Gordon Bridson, the former national swimming champion, E. J. Rose, T. McKay and T. Sullivan, who was stroke, won the New Zealand champion fours. Sullivan and Rose also won the pairs while in the 1889-90 season the former was successful in the champion sculla. Sullivan’s training for the latter event was carried out chiefly at Shelley Bay in secret under the eye of Captain Falconer, who was in command of the Torpedo Corps. The race, which was rowed at Petone, resulted in a comfortable win for Sullivan over his clubmate and defending champion, T. McKay. In 1891 he became a professional and went to Australia, where he won the sculling championship of that country. He rowed J. Sanbury, of New South Wales, for the world’s title on the Parramatta River in 1892, but was unsuccessful. Later he won the English championship. Sullivan was coaching in Germany before the war and on the outbreak of 'hostilities in 1914 was interned. On his release he was for some time in the hotel business in London with his son. Subsequently he was coaching in Holland, and then resumed his pre-war connection in Germany. He accompanied the German Olympic team to los Angeles in 1932. Those New Zealanders fortunate enough to visit Berlin this year are sure to make his acquaintance.