David Jennens

David Jennens was the son of a Birmingham civil engineer and was educated at Solihull School, Oundle school, and then Clare College, Cambridge. He was not an outstanding oarsman at Oundle, but showed his promise as stroke to the Clare College coxless fours. Jennens helped them win the University Fours two years in succession, and the Visitors’ Cup at Henley in 1949.

Jennens was a three-time Blue, 1949-51, and was on the winning crew each time. When they won the re-run race in 1951, after Oxford sank first time out, Cambridge won by a massive 12 lengths. The Cambridge eight then followed that win with victories over Harvard and Yale in the USA. Also in 1951 Jennens was stroke to the last British eight to win an international title prior to the 2000 Olympics, when they beat Denmark by just three feet (0,91m) at the European Championships at Mâcon, France.

In 1952 Jennens was stroke to the winning Leander eight in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley. The same eight then went to that year’s Helsinki Olympics, but finished a disappointing fourth.

Jennens later took up coaching and helped several Cambridge crews in the Boat Race. He became a steward at Henley in 1963 and also served on the Henley management committee, and was an umpire there from 1969-84. After leaving university, Jennens qualified as a doctor at St. Thomas’s Hospital. London, before spending time in Canada. He eventually returned to general practice in the UK.