Our Olympic Champions - Burnham on Crouch Website

Burnham has celebrated three Olympic gold medals for its yachtsmen which is a considerable achievement. for a small Town.

Additionally there are many World, European and National Champions.

The list of honour does not end their as the prominence and skill of our boat builders mean that many yachtsmen who have do not sail in Burnham visit to have boats designed or built in the boatyards.

The story of the three Burnham Gold's is listed below.

1908 London

The sailing events were held in the Solent at Ryde.
Gold medallists in 6 Metre Class
Yacht Dormy
Crew
Gilbert Umfreville LAWS	b 8 January 1870	d 3 December 1918	Royal Burnham Yacht Club
Thomas Mc MEEKIN			Royal Burnham Yacht Club
Charles CRICHTON			Royal Burnham Yacht Club
How the Gold was won
The medal was decided over a three race series. Dormy dominated by winning the first and second races and finishing third in the final race. The 6 metre race was over a 6 mile course in light winds which meant that Dormy took three and three quarter hours to complete the final races. Strangely each day the wind increased near the end which allowed for racing in the final section.
Details of the Crew
Thomas McMeekin was the owner of the yacht. He was secretary of the Eastern Yacht Club at Burnham Crichton was the crew member who went on to join the 10th Hussar and was awarded the DSO in 1915 which led to his immediate promotion from Major to Lt Colonel. Gilbert Laws was the designer of the yacht and was asked by McMeekin to be his helmsman as he knew more about the boat than any other man. Laws moved to Burnham in 1893 and started the Burnham Boat Building Company with Mr J A Youl. The Company proved a great success and was became one of the leading boat building and design firms not only in Burnham but in the country.

1920 Antwerp

The sailing events were held at Ostend
Gold medallists in 7 Metre Class
Yacht Ancora
Crew
Cyril Macey WRIGHT	b 17 September 1885	d 27 June 1960	Royal Burnham Yacht Club
Dorothy Winifred WRIGHT	b 19 August 1989		Royal Burnham Yacht Club
W J MADDISON			Royal Burnham Yacht Club
Robert Henry Schofield COLEMAN	b 1888	d 1 January 1960	Royal Burnham Yacht Club
How the Gold was won
The 7 metre class as only contested at the 1908 and 1920 Olympics. Ancora finished second on the first race and won the second and third to take gold ahead of the Norweigan boat that won the first race.
Details of the Crew
Cyril Wright was the co owner of the yacht with his father in law Percy Machin. Dorothy Wright was Cyrils wife and was the only female contestant in the 1920 yachting competition. W J Maddison was a crew member Robert Coleman was a crew member

1936 Berlin

The sailing events were held at Kiel
Gold medallists in 6 Metre Class
Yacht Lalage
Crew
Miles Aubrey BELLVILLE	b 28 April 1909	d 27 October 1980	Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Christopher Alan BOARDMAN	b 11 June 1903	d 29 September 1987	Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Russell Thomas HARMER	b 5 November 1896	d 31 October 1940	Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Charles Symonds LEAF	b 13 November 1895	d 19 February 1947	Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
How the Gold was won
After the last race Lalage was in silver medal position with the gold medal going to Swiss boat Yilliam The Swiss boat was eventually disqualified promoting the British crew to gold medal position. The gold medal was one of just 4 that were won in these Olympics.
Details of the Crew
Miles Bellville was a member of the Americas Cup challenge in Endeaver in 1934. In WW2 he served in the commandos as a Major and was awarded the MC and MBE. Christopher Boardman also was a member of the Americas Cup challenge in 1934. He was helmsman of the Lalage. During WW2 he was a Corvette Commander in the Atlantic. His brother was an Olympic rower who won medals at the 1930 Empire Games. Russell Harmer served as a Captain in the Royal Signals during WW1 although he was demobilised after suffering a bad injury. He was a Crew Member. Charles Leaf was the owner of Lalage. Leaf served as a Lieutenant with the Buffs in WW1 and enlisted in WW2 serving in the Balloon Command before transferring as a Lieutenant in the Royal marines at the age of 47.Leaf came from a wealthy family and was a noted archeologist donating many important finds to Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.