Harold Ives was the captain of the Nottingham Union Rowing Club coxed fours at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, but they did not progress beyond their opening heat. Ives served on the committee of the club for many years and later became president. He was also the Nottingham area representative on the Amateur Rowing Association. In 1932 he had the honour of seeing Nottingham reach their first Wyfold Challenge Cup final at Henley, when they lost to Thames RC. Their next appearance in the final was in 1963 when they won it for the first time.