Beryl Crockford


Beryl Crockford was a world-champion and Olympic rower who represented Great Britain from 1975 to 1986.

Representative rowing career

In the 1976 Olympics she rowed with Lin Clark in the women's coxless pairs, then in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics in the women's single sculls. Her silver medal in women's single sculls in the 1981 World Rowing Championships was the first medal achieved by a British woman at a World Rowing Championships, and her win with Lin Clark in the women's lightweight double sculls at the 1985 World Rowing Championships was the first gold medal for a British women's crew at any championships. She represented England in the lightweight single sculls, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. When women's invitational events were introduced to Henley Royal Regatta, Mitchell won the inaugural single sculls in 1982.

Club rowing and coaching

As Beryl Martin she won the coxed fours with Janis Long, Ann Shackell, Margaret Goodsman and Di Ellis, rowing for the St George's Ladies crew, at the inaugural 1972 National Rowing Championships.
In 1977, while rowing for the St George's Ladies Rowing Club she won the coxless pairs with Lin Clark, at the 1977 National Rowing Championships. At the 1979 National Championships she was part of the composite crew that won the quadruple sculls and was the single sculls champion, rowing for the Thames Tradesmen's Rowing Club, at the 1981 National Rowing Championships.
Crockford trained as a dance teacher at Chelsea College of Physical Education Eastbourne before turning to physical education, teaching and college lecturing even during her competitive career. She was the first female member nominated for membership of Leander Club when the club voted in April 1997 to admit women members. In the 1990s she coached Lady Eleanor Holles School to be the most successful junior women's rowing club in the country, and in 2013 she was reported to be coaching the Ancient Mariners squad, a masters crew who row from the Drummoyne Rowing Club in Sydney. For a number of years before her death she was the head coach of rowing at Sydney Boys High School and coached the school's 1st VIII.

Death

On 11 September 2016, Crockford succumbed to injuries she sustained after crashing into a parked car whilst cycling in the precinct of Sydney Olympic Park.