Berry Durston
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | 1 August 1940 Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 19 January 2007 (aged 66) Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Rowing |
| Club | Uni of WA Boat Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | King's Cup 1960-65, 1971 |
Berry Haworth Durston AM (1 August 1940 – 19 January 2007) was an Australian representative rower and an accomplished rowing administrator and racing official. He competed in the men's eight event at the 1960 Summer Olympics.[1]
Durston's senior club rowing was from West Australian Rowing Club and later the University of Western Australia Boat Club.[2]
Durston made his first state representative selection for Western Australia in the 1960 senior eight which contested and won the King's Cup at the Australian annual Interstate Regatta.[2] He benefitted from the policy adopted by coach Ken Grant to retain only two members of the 1959 WA King's Cup crew into the 1960 boat as he sought to build a heavy and more powerful eight. This enabled Durston to take the two seat for the 1960 King's Cup win and to make Olympic representation.[3]
Post-Olympics Durston made five further King's Cup appearances for Western Australia resulting in four podium finishes. He was consistently selected from 1960 to 65 and then raced his final King's Cup event in 1971.[2]
International representative rowing
The entire West Australian champion King's Cup eight of 1960 were selected without alteration as the Australian eight to compete at the 1960 Rome Olympics. The crew was graded as the second of the seven Australian Olympic boats picked for Rome and was therefore fully funded by the Australian Olympic Committee. Durston rowed in the six seat of the eight. They were eliminated in the repechage on Lake Albano at the 1960 Olympics.[4]
