Single Sculls, Men

Other than Cecil McVilly of Australia and Everard Butler of Canada, all the scullers were European. Butler was the top North American sculler, being superior to any of the United States’ men of the time. He had won the 1911 and 1912 championship of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen in the single sculls.

The top European sculler was likely William Kinnear, who had won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley in 1910 and 1911. But Kinnear lost at Henley early in 1912 to A. A. Stuart, who had also won the same event in 1909. The European championships were held later in 1912 and would be won by Belgium’s Polydore Veirman.

Kinnear, Butler, and Veirman made it through to the semi-finals. The biggest early casualty was McVilly, who was disqualified in the first round for colliding with Martin Stahnke’s (GER) boat. In the semi-finals, Veirman defeated Hugo Maximilian Kusick of Russia. The other semi was closely fought with Kinnear holding off Butler by one length. This set up a final between Kinnear and Veirman, probably the two favorites. In the final, Veirman led from the start, and was up by ½ length at 500 metres. But Kinnear pulled even at the halfway mark and pulled away to win by one length.