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David Robertson (sportsman)

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David Robertson
Birth nameDavid Donaldson Robertson
Date of birth(1869-03-21)21 March 1869
Place of birthShawlands, Scotland
Date of death13 September 1937(1937-09-13) (aged 68)
Place of deathBerkshire, England
SchoolHaileybury School
Glasgow Academy
UniversityGlasgow University
Christ's College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)Solicitor
Rugby union career
Position(s) Threequarters
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
- Cambridge University ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1893 Scotland 1 (0)

David Donaldson Robertson (21 March 1869 – 13 September 1937) was a Scottish sportsman who represented Great Britain and Ireland at golf in the 1900 Summer Olympics, and also played international rugby for the Scotland.[1]

Personal history

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Robertson was born in Shawlands, Glasgow, Scotland to William Alexander Robertson, a wine merchant.[2] He was educated at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire before entering the Glasgow Academy; he later studied at Glasgow University before matriculating to Christ's College, Cambridge in 1889.[3] He received his BA in 1893 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1895.[2]

With the outbreak of the First World War, Robertson joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Anti-Aircraft Division.

Robertson died aged 68 in Idstone, Berkshire, England.[4]

Rugby career

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Robertson first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge University in the 1892 Varsity match.[3] The 1893 game was a huge disappointment after heavy rainfall turned the Queen's Club ground into mud. Although both teams came to the match with excellent reputations for exciting play, the game "degenerated into a scramble in the mud"; and the game ended in a nil-nil draw.[5] While still representing Cambridge at club level, Robertson was selected Scotland for a rugby international against Wales as part of the 1893 Home Nations Championship.[6] The Welsh used the four three-quarter tactic to great effect and Scotland were well beaten on their own ground, 9–0.[7] The Scottish selectors acted angrily towards the back positions, making six changes. Robertson was one of those dropped, and never represented Scotland at rugby again.

Golf career

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Medal record
Men's golf
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1900 Paris Individual

In 1900 he won the bronze medal in the men's competition in golf at the Olympics.

References

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  1. ^ "David Robertson". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Robertson, David Donaldson (RBRT889DD)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ a b Fletcher Robinson & Rugby (Part VI), bfronline.biz Archived 31 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 12 July 2009.
  4. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "David Robertson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  5. ^ Marshall, Howard; Jordon, J.P. (1951). Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match. London: Clerke & Cockeran. pp. 80–81.
  6. ^ David Robertson player profile scrum.com Retrieved on 12 July 2009.
  7. ^ Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. p. 2:9. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.
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