Bruce Logan

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameHubert Bruce•Logan
Used nameBruce•Logan
Born2 March 1886 in Chesterton, England (GBR)
Died24 November 1965 in Stevenage, England (GBR)
Measurements80 kg
AffiliationsThames Rowing Club, Putney (GBR)
NOC Great Britain
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Although born in the Chesterton district of Cambridge, Bruce Logan was educated at a boarding school in Blackpool but, unlike many of his contemporary oarsmen in the early part of the 20th century, did not go up to Oxford or Cambridge. He returned south after completing his education and joined the Thames Rowing Club in 1908, where he enjoyed a highly successful career. Logan also enjoyed two other successful sporting careers as a boxer and member of the Richmond RUFC.

Logan was in the Thames four that won the Stewards’ Challenge Cup at Henley in 1909 and 1911 and, in the latter year, Logan and Charles Rought dead-heated with Julius Beresford and Arthur Cloutte in the semi-final of the Silver Goblets. Their time was a course record 8:08, which would stand until 1934. The two crews tossed a coin to see who progressed to the final. Beresford and Cloutte won, and also went on to win the title. Compensation came the following year for Logan and Rought, as they were the victors. The duo, along with Julius Beresford, Karl Vernon and Geoffrey Carr, also made up the Thames coxed fours that won the silver medal for Great Britain at the Stockholm Olympics.

Having rowed in the Grand Challenge eights for the Thames Club at Henley many times since 1908, Logan won his first eights trophy at Henley when he was in the Thames crew that won the Fawley Cup at the Victory Regatta in 1919. Two years later, Logan and Ian Fairbairn were runners-up in the Silver Goblets.

In addition to his excellent rowing career, Bruce Logan was a forward for the Richmond rugby club and, as a boxer, was runner-up in the 1910 ABA heavyweight final, losing to South Africa’s Fred Storbeck when the referee stopped the fight after Logan was floored six times in the first two rounds.

Having joined the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers as a cadet in 1903, Logan was commissioned into the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry during World War I and was awarded the British War Medal and British Victory Medal. During the fighting he was in charge of the Boxing Platoon that entertained the troops by giving exhibition bouts.

After the hostilities, Logan had the honour of captaining the British Army to victory in the newly inaugurated Kings Trophy boxing tournament in 1918. It was a competition open to servicemen from Great Britain, the Commonwealth (represented by teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa), and the United States of America. Logan’s team won the trophy with 50 points, 11 ahead of second-placed USA.

Later in life Logan, who reached the rank of colonel, worked for the Army Welfare Office and, after his competitive career as a rower and boxer, remained in contact with both sports in an administrative capacity. Having earlier worked in the insurance business he later became a director of a shipping company.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1912 Summer Olympics Rowing GBR Bruce Logan
Coxed Fours, Outriggers, Men (Olympic) Thames Rowing Club 2 Silver