A native of England, George Yeoman Pocock (1891-1976) emigrated to Canada in 1911, settling in Vancouver, B.C. Son of boat builder Aaron Pocock, George was familiar with boatbuilding techniques, and he found work building racing shells for the Vancouver Rowing Club. His reputation spread, and in 1912 he was visited by University of Washington crew coach Hiram B. Conibear who wished to place an order for racing shells. This was the start of Pocock's relationship with the University of Washington, and in 1913 he relocated his business to the UW campus in Seattle, WA. In 1923, rowing a Pocock built shell, the UW won their first national championship at the IRA regatta. This victory boosted George's prominance as a shell builder, and by 1936, ninteen out of twenty-three shells competing in the national championship had been built by Pocock. George accompanied the UW crews to both the 1936 and the 1948 Olympics as the chief boatman, as well as the coach of the 1948 four man crew. Due to their innovations and record of victories, Pocock built shells became preeminent within the United States, and were used at every Olympics until 1968. George Pocock retired from active shell building in 1970.
Established in 1899, the University of Washington crew team competed in its first intercollegiate regatta in 1903, winning a victory over the University of California. The University of Washington soon became dominant on the west coast, and eventually nationally. In 1936 the University of Washington represented the United States at the Olympics, where they took the gold medal in the men's eight. In 1948 UW Crew again became Olympic champions, winning gold in the four man crew with a team coached by George Pocock. This victory would prove highly influential in the history of crew at the UW, as it established support in the Washington State legislature for the construction of a new state of the art crew facility, the Conibear Shellhouse. This was the home of UW crew until 2004 when it was replaced with a more modern building bearing the same name.
This film is comprised of scenes from George Pocock's trip to the 1948 London Olympics with the University of Washington crew team. It depicts the UW crew team practicing, its departure from New York City on a ship, many shipboard scenes of various United States Olympic Team athletes in training, the Olympic opening ceremonies, the participation in the Olympics of the UW crew team, and members of the men's coxed four at their medal ceremony. Also includes footage from the Pocock family's trip to Sweden after the Olympics.
Participants: George Pocock, Frances Pocock, Gordon Giovanelli, Robert Martin, Allen Morgan, Warren Westlund, and Robert Will.
No restrictions on access.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries for details.
Donor transferred the original 8mm to DVD. The DVD was donated to Special Collections and the donor retained the originals for donation at a future date.
Gift of Patricia Pocock Van Mason, December 9, 2009
Processed by Hannah Palin and Angela Yon, 2012 ; Completed by Andrew Weaver, 2014
The University of Washington crew team practicing in Seattle, on a ship to London, particpating in the 1948 London Olympics, and the Pocock family's trip to Sweden.