Basil Pratt

Appearing at the 1960 Roma Olympics was the highlight of kayakers Basil Pratt and John Harris’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.

With a new partner in 1962, Pratt finished second, again, with fellow Royal Canoe Cub member Alan Young in the inaugural British Canoe Union’s 10,000 metres K-2 championship on the river Severn at Worcestershire. In 1993 Pratt became a director of the Royal Canoe Club Trust.