Joseph Sadler
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Sadler was a British professional rower who twice won the World Sculling Championship. Before 1876, the English Sculling Championship
was considered to be the premier event in professional sculling. In 1876, the English Title gained the World status and earlier winners were retrospectively given the title of World Champion.
, of whom Sadler was a pupil. Sadler won easily, and the following year on November 22, 1866, contested the English Sculling Championship against Robert Chambers
. Kelley, Sadler's mentor, had retired that year, leaving the championship title an open race between Sadler and Chambers. Halfway through the race Sadler seemed to have the measure of his opponent, but Chambers took the lead and did not relinquish it.
In 1867 Kelley returned from retirement, and, on May 6, sculled Chambers for the Championship on the River Tyne
. Kelley won easily. The same year Sadler beat Kelley at the Paris International Regatta, but was disqualified for a foul. This created animosity between the two, which was to have a profound effect.
The case became a cause célèbre
. The Court decided that the referee had acted ultra vires in awarding the stakes to Kelley, inasmuch as he had not first taken the trouble to observe for himself Sadler's manoeuvres at the starting post. He had formed his opinion from hearsay and separate statements. The case was decided in favour of Sadler, although history does not record that he also gained the title.
beat Kelley to the Championship, but died in 1871 without having defended the title. During the period of Renforth's championship Sadler had successfully rowed in the United States
during 1870; on Renforth's death he was deemed the best remaining sculler, but could not claim the title without a race. It was arranged that he row R. Bagnall, a Tyne rower, and the two raced on April 16, 1874 on the Championship Course. The distance was 4ml.300yds and the time was 24m.15s. Sadler won and was therefore World Champion.
Sadler's next Championship race, on November 15, 1875, was against R.W. Boyd of Durham
, to whom Sadler had previously lost by three-quarters of a length in a mile race on the Tyne. The championship race was held on the Putney to Mortlake course
and the stake was £200 a side. Boyd darted away and soon took a long lead but then faded. Sadler rowed steadily, overtook his opposition, and went on to win very comfortably in a time of 28m.05s. Sadler announced he would not return to training. This suggested that the race would have been Sadler's last. However, his actual final Championship race came on June 27, 1876, when he lost to Edward Trickett
in 24m.35s. After an even start Trickett took a three lengths lead, which Sadler was unable to recover. This was the first Championship race rowed on sliding seats.(see Harry Clasper
(section Sliding seats)). The race became known as the World Championship at this point as Trickett was the first non-British contestant to win. Sadler was reported to have retired after this race but he must have continued some later training. On the 5th November 1877 he and Harry Kelley
, his old foe, raced over the Putney to Mortlake course for a stake of £400. After an even start Sadler went ahead and was never passed. His time was 24m.02s. After the race Kelley rowed over to Sadler and shook hands to the cheers of the onlookers.
crew who won the Thames Champion Fours. In 1869, he competed in the same event for the Surbiton crew.
English Sculling Championship
The English Sculling Championship developed out of informal competitions between working watermen on rivers such as the Thames and the Tyne. Various matches were made on a casual basis but in time these were more formalised. The first recognised Champion was Charles Campbell who beat John Williams...
was considered to be the premier event in professional sculling. In 1876, the English Title gained the World status and earlier winners were retrospectively given the title of World Champion.
English Sculling Championship record
Sadler, who lived in London and worked as a chimney-sweep, rowed his first great match in 1865, at the Thames Regatta Sculls. His opponent was T. Hoare, who was reputed the second greatest contemporary oarsman after English sculling champion Harry KelleyHarry Kelley
Harry Kelley was a famous professional oarsman on the Thames. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion, a title he won four times.-Sculling career:...
, of whom Sadler was a pupil. Sadler won easily, and the following year on November 22, 1866, contested the English Sculling Championship against Robert Chambers
Robert Chambers (oarsman)
Robert Chambers was a famous Tyneside professional oarsman. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion.He was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper and James Renforth....
. Kelley, Sadler's mentor, had retired that year, leaving the championship title an open race between Sadler and Chambers. Halfway through the race Sadler seemed to have the measure of his opponent, but Chambers took the lead and did not relinquish it.
In 1867 Kelley returned from retirement, and, on May 6, sculled Chambers for the Championship on the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
. Kelley won easily. The same year Sadler beat Kelley at the Paris International Regatta, but was disqualified for a foul. This created animosity between the two, which was to have a profound effect.
1867 court case
The next race between Kelley and Sadler took place on November 28, 1867, an English Championship decider at £300 a side. Kelley came home first but a foul had occurred, and the referee was unable to decide which party was in the wrong. He accordingly ordered the two to row again the next day. The articles of the match provided for a start by 'mutual consent', and somehow Sadler did not consent at any moment when Kelley was ready. Strong opinions were expressed by several persons who watched the affair from the steamers, and eventually the referee ordered Kelley to row over the course. The stakes were awarded to Kelley by the referee, but Sadler brought an action against the stakeholder, M. J. Smith, then proprietor of The Sportsman newspaper.The case became a cause célèbre
Cause célèbre
A is an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning and heated public debate. The term is particularly used in connection with celebrated legal cases. It is a French phrase in common English use...
. The Court decided that the referee had acted ultra vires in awarding the stakes to Kelley, inasmuch as he had not first taken the trouble to observe for himself Sadler's manoeuvres at the starting post. He had formed his opinion from hearsay and separate statements. The case was decided in favour of Sadler, although history does not record that he also gained the title.
Later races
In November 1868, James RenforthJames Renforth
James Renforth was a famous Tyneside professional oarsman. He became the World Sculling Champion in 1868 and was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper and Robert Chambers.-Early history:...
beat Kelley to the Championship, but died in 1871 without having defended the title. During the period of Renforth's championship Sadler had successfully rowed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during 1870; on Renforth's death he was deemed the best remaining sculler, but could not claim the title without a race. It was arranged that he row R. Bagnall, a Tyne rower, and the two raced on April 16, 1874 on the Championship Course. The distance was 4ml.300yds and the time was 24m.15s. Sadler won and was therefore World Champion.
Sadler's next Championship race, on November 15, 1875, was against R.W. Boyd of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, to whom Sadler had previously lost by three-quarters of a length in a mile race on the Tyne. The championship race was held on the Putney to Mortlake course
The Championship Course
The stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake and Putney in London, England is a well-established course for rowing races, most famously the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. It is often referred to as The Championship Course...
and the stake was £200 a side. Boyd darted away and soon took a long lead but then faded. Sadler rowed steadily, overtook his opposition, and went on to win very comfortably in a time of 28m.05s. Sadler announced he would not return to training. This suggested that the race would have been Sadler's last. However, his actual final Championship race came on June 27, 1876, when he lost to Edward Trickett
Edward Trickett
Edward "Ned" Trickett was an Australian rower. He was the first Australian to be recognised as a world champion in any sport, after winning the World Sculling Championship in 1876, a title he held until 1880, when he was beaten by Canadian Ned Hanlan.Trickett was born at Greenwich, on the Lane...
in 24m.35s. After an even start Trickett took a three lengths lead, which Sadler was unable to recover. This was the first Championship race rowed on sliding seats.(see Harry Clasper
Harry Clasper
Harry Clasper was a Tyneside professional rower and boat builder. He was an innovative boat designer who pioneered the development of the racing shell and the use of outriggers. He is said to have invented spoon-shaped oars...
(section Sliding seats)). The race became known as the World Championship at this point as Trickett was the first non-British contestant to win. Sadler was reported to have retired after this race but he must have continued some later training. On the 5th November 1877 he and Harry Kelley
Harry Kelley
Harry Kelley was a famous professional oarsman on the Thames. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion, a title he won four times.-Sculling career:...
, his old foe, raced over the Putney to Mortlake course for a stake of £400. After an even start Sadler went ahead and was never passed. His time was 24m.02s. After the race Kelley rowed over to Sadler and shook hands to the cheers of the onlookers.
Crew races
As well as his many single sculling races, Sadler was during 1865 and 1866 a member of the Sons of the ThamesSons of the Thames
Sons of the Thames is a rowing club in Hammersmith, London, England. It was originally formed in Putney over a hundred years ago with the aim, still enshrined in its constitution, to further the sport of rowing.-History:...
crew who won the Thames Champion Fours. In 1869, he competed in the same event for the Surbiton crew.