Timothy John Crooks (born 12 May 1949) is a former British rower who competed at the

1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...

and the

1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Montreal 1976 (), were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal ...

. He was seven times winner at

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a Rowing (sport), rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It diffe ...

and won the

Wingfield Sculls The Wingfield Sculls is a Rowing (sport), rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the The Championship Course, Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake. The race is between single scullers and is usually on the ...

three times.

Rowing career

Crooks was educated at Radley College and raced in the World Youth Championships in 1967. He won the Thames Challenge Cup at

in 1968 competing for

Leander Club Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world, and the oldest non-academic club. It is based in Remenham in Berkshire, England and adjoins Henley-on-Thames. Only three other surviving clubs were founded prior ...

, then won Silver Goblets in 1971 competing for Leander Club and partnering Glyn Locke. He raced in the 1971

World Rowing Championships The World Rowing Championships is an international Rowing (sport), rowing regatta organized by International Rowing Federation, FISA (the International Rowing Federation). It is a week-long event held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer ...

in the coxless pair, then in 1972 switched to the

double scull A double scull, also abbreviated as a 2x, is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars each, one in each hand. Racing boats (often called "shells") ar ...

with Patrick Delafield, winning the Double Sculls Challenge Cup at Henley and the double sculls with Delafield, at the inaugural 1972 National Rowing Championships. Crooks and Delafield reached the final rowing for Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich and led briefly before finishing out of the medals in fifth. In 1973 Crooks moved to the eight, winning the silver medal at the 1974 World Rowing Championships behind the U.S., and the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1975 (in which year he also finished 4th in the World Championships in the

coxed four A coxed four, abbreviated as a 4+, is a racing shell used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a coxswain. The crew consists of four rowers, each having one ...

). He won the silver medal in the eight

rowing at the 1976 Summer Olympics Rowing at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal featured races in 14 events, all held at the rowing basin on Notre Dame Island. Women's events held at 1000 m debuted (they would be lengthened to the men's events of 2000 m at the 1988 Summer Oly ...

in Montreal, behind the

East German East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally vie ...

crew. Crooks then competed in the single scull winning the

Diamond Challenge Sculls The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a Rowing (sport), rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. First run in 1844, it is open to male scullers from all eligible rowin ...

at Henley and the

in both 1977 and 1978. In 1980 he repeated his win of the Wingfield Sculls. In 1977 he came fourth in the World Championships in the single scull. He won the single sculls title, rowing for the Kingston Rowing Club, at the 1982 National Rowing Championships and competing again at Henley in 1983, he won the Queen Mother Challenge Cup and came second in the Diamond Challenge, then in 1984 was runner-up in the Double Sculls.

Other activities

Crooks won the 1977 version of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

television show '' Superstars''.BBC Sports
/ref> From the late 1980s to the late 1990s he taught Craft Design Technology at St. John's School, Leatherhead having taught previously at Glyn School in Ewell. The day of the opening ceremony for the London Olympics, 2012, he rowed in Gloriana from Hampton Court to City Hall.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Crooks, Tim 1949 births English male rowers British male rowers Olympic rowers for Great Britain Living people Rowers at the 1972 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1976 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain People educated at Radley College Olympic medalists in rowing Members of Leander Club World Rowing Championships medalists for Great Britain Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics