Cecil Chandler

As an 18-year-old, Edward Chandler was bow to the Henley Rowing Club eight that won the Marlow Regatta in 1920. He was in the Thames crew that won many prestigious eights events, notably at the Kingston and Staines regattas over the years. His finest moment, however, came in 1923 when he won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley, with the first Thames crew to win the coveted trophy since 1889. Victory over Pembroke College, Cambridge, made amends for defeat by Leander in the 1922 final. Chandler was also in the crew beaten by Leander, again, in 1925.

Chandler was originally chosen to partner Charles Rew in the coxless pairs at the Paris Olympics, but the duo surprisingly lost to another Thames pair, Gordon Killick and Thomas Southgate, who subsequently got the call to row in the pairs at Paris. Rew and Chandler, however, competed in the eights. Despite setting an Olympic best time in their opening heat, the Great Britain eight could only finish fourth, just half a length behind bronze medal winners Italy.