Donald Gollan

Who was Donald Gollan?

Donald Herbert Louis Gollan was a British rower who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Gollan was born in Paddington, London, the son of Spencer Gollan a racehorse owner and sportsman. He was deaf and mute. He was a member of both Thames Rowing Club and Vesta Rowing Club. He was initially a single sculler and first entered the Wingfield Sculls in 1914. In 1920 Gollan was runner up to Jack Beresford in the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. and in the Wingfield Sculls. From 1920 he was Beresford's toughest competitor in the Wingfield Sculls which in 1921 were decided on a foul after Beresford's boat was holed in a clash with Gollan. Both scullers were being steered by their fathers and so in 1922 it was decided that fathers of competitors should not act as pilots or steer the cutters. Gollan was again runner up to Beresford in that year. In 1923 Gollan won the London Cup at the Metropolitan Regatta but was runner up in the Diamonds to M K Morris, and to Beresford in the Wingfield Sculls. In 1925 he was again runner-up to Beresford at Henley.

In 1928 Gollan was a member of the Thames eight which won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley.