A. A. Casamajor
Encyclopedia
Alexander Alcée Casamajor (1833 – 7 August 1861) was a British rower
who won the Wingfield Sculls in six successive years and the Diamond Challenge Sculls
at Henley Royal Regatta
as well as being twice in the winning Grand Challenge Cup
team.
Casamajor was an amateur and won his first public sculling
match at Barnes Regatta in 1852. He rowed for Wandle Club in 1855 when he won the Wingfield Sculls and Diamond Challenge sculls at Henley beating Herbert Playford
in the final. He also won Silver Goblets at Henley with Josias Nottidge
beating W F Short and Edward Cadogan
.
In 1856, Casamajor helped Nottidge and Playford establish the London Rowing Club
, becoming secretary. As a newly founded club, they were unable to enter Henley Royal Regatta
in 1856, so its members competed as members of the Argonaut Club
. Casamajor was in a coxed four
with Nottidge, James Paine
and Playford which won the Stewards' Challenge Cup
and the Wyfold Challenge Cup
. In 1856 at Henley he won the Diamonds beating C Stephens in the final and partnered Nottidge again in the Silver Goblets which they won over their colleagues Paine and Playford. He also won the Wingfield Sculls for Argonaut Club.
In 1857 the London Rowing Club competed at Henley and won the Grand Challenge Cup
and the Stewards' Cup with Casamajor in the crews. Though primarily a sculler, Casamajor helped the club eight win the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1857 and 1859 although on both occasions he showed extreme exhaustion. He won Diamonds in 1857, beating Paine in the final.
In 1858, Casamajor won the Diamond Challenge sculls with a row over and won Silver Goblets with Playford when they beat Edmond Warre
and Arthur Lonsdale
in the final in 1858. Casamajor helped the club eight win the Grand Challenge Cup and partnered Paine in the Silver Goblets in 1859 when they were runners-up to Warre and John Arkell
. In 1860, he won Silver Goblets partnering W Woodbridge. He won the Wingfield sculls with a row over in 1857, 1858, 1859 and 1860. In 1861, he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls, again beating Edwin Brickwood
in the final.
Casamajor died from a broken blood vessel at the age of 28, a month after winning at Henley and three days before the date of the Wingfield Sculls and the race was postponed in tribute. He won 45 races of approximately 60 in which he took part, and was never beaten in a public event. Casamajor was also rowing correspondent of The Field
.
A tribute in Hunts Yachting Magazine noted
Casamajor had a distinctive sculling style with a very long swing back with straight arms and a stiff back until the blades came out of the water of their own accord. As a result he pulled himself up on the blades slightly at the start of the recovery so that his technique was considered inferior to contemporaries such as Herbert Playford. However, he had great strength and his technique was effective, it being noted that on an occasion when he rowed out of style he was quickly down at the start, although he went on to win when he reverted to his long stroke.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who won the Wingfield Sculls in six successive years and the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
as well as being twice in the winning Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
team.
Casamajor was an amateur and won his first public sculling
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
match at Barnes Regatta in 1852. He rowed for Wandle Club in 1855 when he won the Wingfield Sculls and Diamond Challenge sculls at Henley beating Herbert Playford
Herbert Playford
Herbert Harlee Playford was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. He was instrumental in founding London Rowing Club and the Metropolitan Regatta....
in the final. He also won Silver Goblets at Henley with Josias Nottidge
Josias Nottidge
Josias Nottidge was an English rower who twice won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.Nottidge rowed initially for Wandle Club . He took part in the Wingfield Sculls in 1853 when it was won by James Paine. In the heat, there was a private match between Nottidge and H C Smith for a £15 cup. ...
beating W F Short and Edward Cadogan
Edward Cadogan (rower)
Edward Cadogan was a British clergyman and rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.Cadogan was born at Caerfyrddin Sain Pedr, Carmarthenshire, Wales, the son of Colonel Edward Cadogan and his wife Virginia de Beaumassoir. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and was a rower at the...
.
In 1856, Casamajor helped Nottidge and Playford establish the London Rowing Club
London Rowing Club
London Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom.It is regarded as one of the most exclusive and successful rowing clubs in Britain. and its Patron is HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh....
, becoming secretary. As a newly founded club, they were unable to enter Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1856, so its members competed as members of the Argonaut Club
Argonaut Club
The Argonaut Club was an English rowing club based on the Tideway of the River Thames that competed in the middle of 19th century.The Argonaut Club was active in the 1850s and its first major successes were in the Visitors' Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1852 and 1953. The most prominent...
. Casamajor was in a coxed four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat 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 cox....
with Nottidge, James Paine
James Paine (rower)
James Paine was an English rower who competed in the 19th century and won the Wingfield Sculls and events at Henley Royal Regatta.Paine lived in London and rowed initially as a member of the Argonaut Club...
and Playford which won the Stewards' Challenge Cup
Stewards' Challenge Cup
The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....
and the Wyfold Challenge Cup
Wyfold Challenge Cup
The Wyfold Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college or secondary school are not permitted.The trophy...
. In 1856 at Henley he won the Diamonds beating C Stephens in the final and partnered Nottidge again in the Silver Goblets which they won over their colleagues Paine and Playford. He also won the Wingfield Sculls for Argonaut Club.
In 1857 the London Rowing Club competed at Henley and won the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
and the Stewards' Cup with Casamajor in the crews. Though primarily a sculler, Casamajor helped the club eight win the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1857 and 1859 although on both occasions he showed extreme exhaustion. He won Diamonds in 1857, beating Paine in the final.
In 1858, Casamajor won the Diamond Challenge sculls with a row over and won Silver Goblets with Playford when they beat Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre
Edmond Warre C.V.O. was an English rower and headmaster of Eton College from 1884-1905.Warre was born in London, the son of Henry Warre, of Bindon House, near Wellington. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he had a distinguished career, taking a double first...
and Arthur Lonsdale
Arthur Heywood-Lonsdale
Arthur Pemberton Heywood-Lonsdale was an English rower and landowner who was High Sheriff of two counties and a substantial investor in North Vancouver....
in the final in 1858. Casamajor helped the club eight win the Grand Challenge Cup and partnered Paine in the Silver Goblets in 1859 when they were runners-up to Warre and John Arkell
John Arkell
John Arkell was an English clergyman and a rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.Arkell was born at Boddington, Gloucestershire. He was educated at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he was a rower. He rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race in 1857, 1858 and 1859. Oxford won in 1857 but...
. In 1860, he won Silver Goblets partnering W Woodbridge. He won the Wingfield sculls with a row over in 1857, 1858, 1859 and 1860. In 1861, he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls, again beating Edwin Brickwood
Edwin Brickwood
Edwin Dampier Brickwood was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls in 1861 and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1859 and 1862. He also wrote about rowing....
in the final.
Casamajor died from a broken blood vessel at the age of 28, a month after winning at Henley and three days before the date of the Wingfield Sculls and the race was postponed in tribute. He won 45 races of approximately 60 in which he took part, and was never beaten in a public event. Casamajor was also rowing correspondent of The Field
The Field (magazine)
The Field is the world's oldest country and field sports magazine, having been published continuously since 1853.The famous sportsman Robert Smith Surtees, the creator of Jorrocks, was the driving force behind the initial publication...
.
A tribute in Hunts Yachting Magazine noted
"THIS gentleman's sudden death on Wednesday Aug 7th caused great regret amongst the rowing men on the Thames and a large circle of friends His kindly disposition gained him the esteem of all parties with whom he came in contact duriug his long and successful career as the Champion Sculler on the Thames and the aquatic editor of DeWs Life himself an oracle on boating says His wonderful prowess as an oarsman and sculler and unflinching pluck at once directed attention to the boat in which he was pulling a match and without disparagement to his predecessors and contemporaries we may pronounce him to have been one of the best scullers that have ever appeared."
Casamajor had a distinctive sculling style with a very long swing back with straight arms and a stiff back until the blades came out of the water of their own accord. As a result he pulled himself up on the blades slightly at the start of the recovery so that his technique was considered inferior to contemporaries such as Herbert Playford. However, he had great strength and his technique was effective, it being noted that on an occasion when he rowed out of style he was quickly down at the start, although he went on to win when he reverted to his long stroke.