The archive of Australia’s first ever double Olympic Medal winner Bobby Pearce (1905-1976), was the highlight of Bonhams Olympic Games Sale on 25 July 2012. This important collection comprised Olympic Gold Medals as well as Olympic memorabilia including letters, photographs and posters. The archive sold for £49,250 at Bonhams Knightsbridge, London.
Henry Robert “Bobby” Pearce’s Olympic Medals & Rowing Archive
Henry Robert “Bobby” Pearce was born in Double Bay, Sydney, in 1905. His family were known for their sporting pedigree, his father, Harry Pearce, was Australian Professional Sculling Champion, his uncle, Sandy Pearce, played Rugby League for Australia’s national side and his Grandfather, Henry (Footie) Pearce, was a noted Sydney Waterman.
He started rowing early under the tutelage of his father and won his first open race at 14. Despite reservations as Pearce was still an amateur, by 1928 such was his reputation that he was the obvious choice for Olympic Games selection. He went to Amsterdam 1928 as the only Australian rower at the Amsterdam Games and was hugely successful, endearing himself to the crowd by actually stopping during his heat with the French Rower Saurin to allow a group of ducks to cross the course, and then going on to win by twenty lengths. He defeated the American entrant Kenneth Myers in the final, who was so disgusted that he smashed his boat.
This win made him the first Australian to win a rowing Gold Medal, and the only Australian prize winner at the 1928 Games. He returned via England, but was denied a chance to row at Henley, because as a carpenter he was considered an artisan.
In 1930 he went to Hamilton, Ontario, to compete for Australia in the British Empire Games, again winning a Gold Medal, and as work was difficult to find in Australia, decided to remain in Canada, where he was given a job by The Distillers Company as a salesman. No longer an artisan, he was able to travel to Henley the following year, where he won the Diamond Sculls, one of the three premier amateur sculling prizes. Although a Canadian resident, Olympic rules meant that he was chosen to compete again for Australia at the Los Angeles Olympiad in 1932, driving across America to compete, with his sculling boat on the roof of his car. His win there made him the first to retain an Olympic Rowing gold medal.
After 1932 he turned professional competing in the Professional Championship of the World in a wager match at Toronto, where he won the race by a staggering quarter of a mile. He retained the title and went on to defend it successfully in 1934 and 1938, relinquishing it undefeated after WW2.
Regarded by many as the best Sculler ever produced by Australia, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986.
His son Bob Jnr, who lives in Canada, is delighted to be offering the collection through Bonhams. He says: “This is a remarkable archive of Olympic and Australian memorabilia, paying homage to my father’s great sporting achievements. I would hope that a suitable home for this collection could be found in Australia.”
The archive comprised:
* A framed collection of Prize and Participation medals, comprising: The Melbourne Amateur Regatta 1908 (Harry Pearce), The Philadelphia Challenge Cup with ribbon (2), 1928 Olympiad participant’s medal and Gold Medal, Amsterdam. 1930 British Empire Games participant’s Medals, Hamilton. 1932 Olympiad participant’s medal and Gold Medal, Los Angeles.
* A framed Prize winner’s Diploma, 1st place, single scull, Amsterdam 1928.
* A framed Prize winner’s Diploma, 1st place, single scull, Los Angeles 1932.
* A framed collection of three Prize certificates,The President’s Cup, Amateur Sculling Championship of Australia, 1927,1928,1929.
* A framed collection of three Prize certificates, The Sculling Championship of New South Wales, 1926/27, 1927/28, 1928/29.
* A framed collection of Olympic memorabilia, including a letter confirming selection for the 1928 Olympiad and a letter clarifying Amateur status, a photograph of Pearce with Joe Louis, and a photograph of Pearce with two Dutch girls, an invitation to meet the Prince of Wales and a track ticket for the 1932 Olympiad.
* A framed photograph of Pearce winning the Olympic final in Amsterdam 1928, plus another inscribed “to the Graham Family” 1933.
* Painted spelter figure of Pearce in the Dewar Boat, on a marble plinth, inscribed To HR (Bob) Pearce Worlds Champion Sculler lX Olympiad Amsterdam 1928 from LE (Les) Duff Honorary Manager Australian Olympic Team 1928
* A section of a broken sculling boat, with the name DEN, mounted on board, with a note about Kenneth Myers in the final 1928.
* A silver gilt “Pineapple” prize Trophy, The Diamond Sculls, Henley Royal Regatta 1931.
* A framed signed original cartoon “Scrambled Eggs” by Lou Skuce featuring Bob Pearce.
* The Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy, Outstanding Canadian Athlete of the Year 1938, H R Pearce. Together with a framed photograph and programme from the presentation ceremony.
* A framed blueprint, The world Professional Sculling Championship course, Toronto 1933.
* A rolled gold Hunter watch by Elgin, inscribed inside the cover From Les Darcy Middleweight Champion of the World to (Bob) Harry Pearce Jnr. with every good wish on his tenth birthday 30.9.1915
* A collection of eight scrap books and photograph albums, covering mainly the period 1927-1939, and dealing with the Amateur and Professional World Sculling Championships, the Olympic Games, Empire Games and Henley Regatta.
* A can of Foster’s Lager, Bobby Pearce.
