Robin Tamplin

The Republic of Ireland made their début in international rowing at Henley during the 1948 London Olympics. Robin Tamplin was a member of the eight that finished third in their heat behind Canada and Portugal before losing by 20 seconds to Norway in their repêchage heat.

Tamplin rowed for Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, and was bow to their fours that retained the Wray Cup at Coleraine in 1946. Also, while at Portora, Tamplin was a fine athlete, excelling as a hurdler. He continued rowing after going to Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and became club captain shortly after the Olympics, and in 1949 was in the eight that beat University College Dublin (UCD) to win the University Grand Cup. He also guided them to third place in the London Head of the River race in 1949.

Tamplin later took up coaching at the Dublin University Boat Club (DUBC), and the highlight of his coaching career was in guiding the ladies eight to a historic win in the Ladies’ Challenge Plate at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1977. It was an important day in Irish rowing history, and subsequently Tamplin became president of the DUBC. In 2002 they named one of their eights boats the “Robert Tamplin” in his honour.