John Harris

Appearing at the 1960 Roma Olympics was the highlight of kayaker John Harris and Basil Pratt’s careers but it was not as memorable as they would have liked. Sadly, they finished last in their opening heat of the kayak doubles 1,000 metres and then came last again in their repêchage heat. The following year Pratt and Harris finished second in the kayak pairs at the Serpentine Regatta in London’s Hyde Park. The pair were also in the British Canoe Union’s 4 x 500 metres relay team that came second at the same Regatta.

A trainee surveyor at the time of the Olympics, Harris started canoeing in his last year at King Edward VI Grammar School, Camp Hill, Birmingham, and in 1956 joined the Birmingham Canoe Club.