John M. Russell

As a youngster, John M. Russell was a member of the Parkside Rowing Club and in 1953, aged 17, he won the Junior sculls at the Kingston Regatta. He joined London Rowing Club in 1957 and in 1959 became the British Amateur Sculling champion when he won the coveted Wingfield Sculls at Henley, beating George Justicz into second place.

Russell moved to Molesey Rowing Club in 1960 and finished third in that year´s scullers Head of the River Race behind Justicz and Nick Birkmyre. He was also in the Molesey eight that won the 1960 Grand Challenge Trophy at Henley and represented Britain at the World Championships at Lucerne.

Russell won the Head of the River in 1962 when he dead-heated with Birkmyre. It was the only dead-heat in the history of the event (up to and including the 2024 race). Russell was second to Bill Barry in the same race in 1963 and two years later the two men were in the Quintin Boat Club coxless four that won the Stewards Cup at Henley in a course record time. It was the fourth time Russell had won the race having previously won with Barn Cottage, Molesey, and Tideway Scullers.

Internationally, Russell appeared in the 1960 Roma Olympics coxed fours without medalling but won two bronze medals at the 1962 Perth (Australia) British Empire and Commonwealth Games, in the coxed fours and eights. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics Russell won the coxless fours silver medal with Barry, Hugh Wardell-Yerburgh, and John James. It was the first time the four had rowed together at an international meeting. Russell worked for the family firm of Southampton-based marine engineers before retiring in 1999.