World Sculling Championship (Professional)

The World Sculling Championship (1863–1957), evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.

Only the sport of boxing

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

claims an older Championship of the World. It is notable that Jack Broughton

Jack Broughton

John "Jack" Broughton was an English bare-knuckle fighter. He was the first person to ever codify a set of rules to be used in such contests; prior to this the "rules" that existed were very loosely defined and tended to vary from contest to contest...

, the "Father of Boxing", trained scullers for prize contests which had their roots in wager races which had taken place from the middle of the 18th century on the Thames.

History

The first race for the Professional Championship of the Thames took place between Westminster

Westminster

Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...

and Hammersmith

Hammersmith

Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...

, on the River Thames

River Thames

The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...

in London in September 1831, when John Williams of Waterloo Bridge challenged Charles Campbell of Westminster for the Sculling Championship of the Thames. This was just over a year after the first Wingfield Sculls race for the Amateur Championship of the Thames had been held.

The race was initially dominated by oarsmen from the Thames, but a fierce rivalry soon arose between Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...

and London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

after the famous Tyne sculler, Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers was a Scottish publisher, geologist, proto-evolutionary thinker, author and journal editor who, like his elder brother and business partner William Chambers, was highly influential in mid-19th century scientific and political circles.Chambers was an early phrenologist, and was the...

became the first non-Londoner to secure the title in 1859.

In 1863 the race became for the Championship of the World. when it had its first non-British entrant, Australian Richard A W Green. Green lost to Chambers but changes were afoot and as an increasing number of professional scullers from Australia; the USA and Canada started to compete, Britain lost its dominance, failing to secure a win between 1876 and 1920. For details of the subsequent English Championship only see English Sculling Championship

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...

.

The first overseas sculler to claim the title, was Australian 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...

, who won his first race in June 1876, Trickett held the title for the next two races (1877 and 1879), both of which were held on his home river, the Parramatta. Trickett eventually lost out to Canadian Ned Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(the first sculler to use a boat with a sliding seat), in 1880 on the Championship 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...

on the Thames. This course was over a distance of a little over four miles but for other races on other courses there was no set distance. These other courses varied between three and five miles approximately.

Professional sculling saw a marked downturn with each of the world wars. Although a few races were held after the 2nd World War, they failed to arouse the interest of the public or attract the standard of competitor seen in the earlier years of the Championship, and as the amateur / professional split in rowing was slowly abolished, the race died out. The Title lapsed in 1958 when Evans Fischer retired undefeated.

The 1908 World Title race was commemorated in December 2008 when Olympic champion Olaf Tufte

Olaf Tufte

Olaf Karl Tufte is a Norwegian competition rower.At the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics he won the gold medal in the men's single sculls. He won silver in the men's double sculls at the 2000 Summer Olympics together with Fredrik Bekken...

defeated three time World Champion Mahé Drysdale

Mahe Drysdale

Alexander Mahé Owens Drysdale, MNZM ) is a New Zealand rower and five-time World Champion single sculler. The name Mahé came from the largest island in the Seychelles....

and wild card race winner Hamish Bond on New Zealand's Whanganui River

Whanganui River

The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...

to take home the $5000 cash prize.
(source http://www.row2k.com/features/features.cfm?action=read&id=386)

Challenges

A person wanting to become the champion would issue a formal challenge to the existing Champion for a match and would offer a certain sum of money. Sometimes a person would issue a newspaper challenge to the winner of another match and deposit a sum with the paper which would theoretically ‘bind’ the subsequent match. The stake was not a fixed amount but it had to be high enough to be worth the champion’s time and reputation and which would discourage frivolous challenges. Typically the stake would be £100 or £200 a side for a state or national championship and £500 or more each for the world title. Sometimes additional expenses were expected as well. Under the rules such as they were, the Champion would have three months to accept the challenge or else forfeit the match in favour of the challenger.

The challenger and Champion, or their agents, discussed the ‘terms’ and came to an agreement. Sometimes challenges failed at this stage as there was no agreement or the challenger was unable to raise the money. Once the challenge was accepted the ‘articles’ would be drawn up and signed by the contestants and witnessed. The articles would state where and when the match was to be held, who the umpire was to be, how much the stake per side was to be and when it was to be paid in, and who the literal stake-holder was to be, and a few other details. From time to time it was agreed that the loser would receive some money as expenses which at least prevented a total loss. The stake-holder was often the Editor of a newspaper. The race was then supposed to run within another six months.

Seldom did challengers or Champions have to put up their own money in these sorts of competitions. The normal arrangement was that wealthy backers would put up the money. The backers were usually syndicates of gambling men. The backers of the winner of the match got their money back, and collected any other bets placed, but the winning man personally got the money put up from the backers of the loser. Side-bets between the actual contestants themselves were not unknown. Contestants were also often rewarded by splitting the ‘gate.’ i.e. the profit from sales of boat tickets and souvenirs. The nature of sculling meant that not all spectators could be charged to see the race but a split of sixty-forty to the winner was common.

Betting

Professional scullers tended to attract more media attention than the crews, since their individuality gave the media and public a greater chance of recognition. "The Aquatic Oracle" published in London in 1852 lists hundreds and hundreds of professional races from 1835 to 1851 between watermen. While many were for small sums of money it gives an indication of the extent of the activity. Betting on races was widespread and in the late 19th century, sculling or wager racing was perhaps the greatest spectator sport in London at the time. Many tens of thousands of spectators attended each race. By the turn of the century prize money had become so great that some scullers made up to nearly £5,000 a year in prizes and side bets, and £2,000 for a race.

Betting was simplified by recourse to past performances and present form would be followed by hordes of spectators at training sessions.

Boats

The very earliest races were informal events between working watermen who raced in their everyday work boat or wherry

Wherry

A wherry is a type of boat that was traditionally used for carrying cargo or passengers on rivers and canals in England, and is particularly associated with the River Thames and also with the Broadland rivers of Norfolk and Suffolk. London passenger wherries evolved into the Thames skiff, a...

. These rowing boats were used to carry passengers and goods from one part of the river to another. As
racing became more formalised the work boats were superseded by specialist racing craft. Several technical developments assisted in this transformation from the job of waterman to the sport of rowing. These were;

(1) the development of light weight boats built solely for racing.

(2) the outrigger which placed the oar’s pivot point outside the boat allowing for more leverage.

(3) the swivelling rowlock, and

(4) the sliding seat which also allowed for more oar movement.
These developments greatly increased the average speed of racing. Generally in contemporary reports these types of boats were referred to as “outriggers,” “best and best,” or “wager boats.”

Fouls

A foul is the touching of any part of an opponent’s boat or sculls by any part of your own boat or sculls. In the early days of professional rowing, fouling an opponent was an accepted part of the game as a contestant would often deliberately foul to gain an advantage. As racing boats became lighter and frailer this practise became less and less accepted and was finally done away with as actual rowing skill was counted as more important than disabling the opposition.
Later title or money matches outlawed fouling and generally the man doing the fouling lost the match. However, because contestants faced the opposite way to the way the boat travelled, accidental fouls sometimes occurred particularly as races were often held on rivers that had bends in them. No lanes were marked out as in modern courses and in a close race a foul could happen as both men tried to get around the bend as quickly as possible. It was not unknown for a contestant to engineer a foul against himself to thereby try to win the race.
In most matches an umpire or referee would rule on these sorts of fouls as to whose fault it was, usually at the time, but sometimes only after the race had finished. From time to time he would decide that the foul was accidental with no advantage to either sculler, and would order the men to continue racing. Many races were decided on fouls rather than who was the better sculler and many men felt hard done by when the decision went against them. The umpire’s decision was final.

Results

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{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
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! YEAR !! DATE !! CHAMPION!! BEAT !! TIME !! COURSE
|-
| 1831 || Sep 9th || Charles Campbell

Charles Campbell (Oarsman)

Charles Campbell of Westminster was the first recognised Professional World Champion Single Sculler. At the time, he became the Champion of the Thames which was effectively the Champion of England although the Tyne scullers might have disagreed. See Also English Sculling Championship...

|| John Williams || NTT || Thames (Westminster to Hammersmith)
|-
| 1838 || Nov 1st || Charles Campbell

Charles Campbell (Oarsman)

|| Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes , celebrated professional oarsman and Champion Sculler, was born at Vauxhall, Surrey.-Early life:A waterman from an early age, Coombes spent his life on the river Thames...

|| 42mins || Thames (Westminster to Putney)
|-
| 1846 || Aug 19th || Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes , celebrated professional oarsman and Champion Sculler, was born at Vauxhall, Surrey.-Early life:A waterman from an early age, Coombes spent his life on the river Thames...

|| Charles Campbell

Charles Campbell (Oarsman)

|| 26mins 15secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1847 || Sep 19th || Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes , celebrated professional oarsman and Champion Sculler, was born at Vauxhall, Surrey.-Early life:A waterman from an early age, Coombes spent his life on the river Thames...

|| Robert Newell || 23 mins 46 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1851 || May 7 || Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes , celebrated professional oarsman and Champion Sculler, was born at Vauxhall, Surrey.-Early life:A waterman from an early age, Coombes spent his life on the river Thames...

|| Thomas J MacKinney || 27 mins 30 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1852 || May 24 || Tom Cole

Tom Cole (Oarsman)

Tom Cole was the Professional Single Sculls World Champion from 1852 to 1854. He resided in Chelsea. At the time, he became the Champion of the Thames which was effectively the Champion of England...

|| Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes , celebrated professional oarsman and Champion Sculler, was born at Vauxhall, Surrey.-Early life:A waterman from an early age, Coombes spent his life on the river Thames...

|| 25 mins 15 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1852 || Oct 14th || Tom Cole

Tom Cole (Oarsman)

Tom Cole was the Professional Single Sculls World Champion from 1852 to 1854. He resided in Chelsea. At the time, he became the Champion of the Thames which was effectively the Champion of England...

|| Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes

Robert Coombes , celebrated professional oarsman and Champion Sculler, was born at Vauxhall, Surrey.-Early life:A waterman from an early age, Coombes spent his life on the river Thames...

|| 23 mins 35 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1854 || Nov 20th || James Messenger

James Messenger

James MessengerJames Messenger was the Professional Single Sculls World Champion from 1854 to 1857. He resided in Teddington. At the time, he became the Champion of the Thames which was effectively the English Sculling Championship...

|| Tom Cole

Tom Cole (Oarsman)

Tom Cole was the Professional Single Sculls World Champion from 1852 to 1854. He resided in Chelsea. At the time, he became the Champion of the Thames which was effectively the Champion of England...

|| 24 mins 45 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1857 || May 12 || 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:...

(GBR) || James Messenger

James Messenger

|| 24 mins 30 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1859 || Sep 20th ||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....

(GBR) || 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:...

(GBR) || 25 mins 25 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1860 || Sep 18th ||Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers (oarsman)

(GBR) || Tom White (GBR) || 23 mins 25 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1863 || Apr 14th ||Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers (oarsman)

(GBR) || George W Everson (GBR) || 25 mins 27 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1863 || Jun 16th ||Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers (oarsman)

(GBR) || Richard A W Green (AUS) || 25 mins 35 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1865 || Aug 8th || 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:...

(GBR) ||Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers (oarsman)

(GBR) || 23 mins 23 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1866 || Jul 4th || 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:...

(GBR) || James Hammill (USA) || 32 mins 45 secs || Tyne
|-
| 1866 || Nov 22nd ||Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers (oarsman)

(GBR) || Joseph Sadler

Joseph Sadler

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...

(GBR) || 25 mins 4 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1868 || May 6 || 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:...

(GBR) ||Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers (oarsman)

(GBR) || 31mins 47 secs || Tyne
|-
| 1868 || Nov 17th || James Renforth

James 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:...

(GBR) || 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:...

(GBR) || 23 mins 15secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1874 || Apr 16th || Joseph Sadler

Joseph Sadler

(GBR) || Robert Bagnall (GBR) || 24 mins 15 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1875 || Nov 15th || Joseph Sadler

Joseph Sadler

(GBR) || Robert W Boyd (GBR) || 28 mins 5 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1876 || Jun 27th ||Edward Trickett

Edward Trickett

(AUS) || Joseph Sadler

Joseph Sadler

(GBR) || 24 mins 35 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1877 || Jun 30th ||Edward Trickett

Edward Trickett

(AUS) || Michael Rush (rower)

Michael Rush (rower)

Michael Rush was an Irish Australian sculler noted for his one-on-one competitions against champion opponents, which drew vast crowds of spectators.-Youth and Early Times:...

(AUS) || 23 mins 27secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1879 || Aug 29th ||Edward Trickett

Edward Trickett

(AUS) || Elias C. Laycock

Elias C. Laycock

Elias Connell Laycock was an Australian competitive rower who three times tried to become the World Sculling Champion..-Early life:...

(AUS) || 23 mins 29 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1880 || Nov 15th || Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) ||Edward Trickett

Edward Trickett

(AUS) || 26 mins 12 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1881 || Feb 14th ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) || Elias C. Laycock

Elias C. Laycock

Elias Connell Laycock was an Australian competitive rower who three times tried to become the World Sculling Champion..-Early life:...

(AUS) || 25 mins 49 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1882 || Apr 3rd ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) || Robert W Boyd (GBR) || 21 mins 25 secs || Tyne
|-
| 1882 || May 1 ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) ||Edward Trickett

Edward Trickett

(AUS) || 28 mins || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1883 || May 30 ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) ||John A Kennedy (USA) ||19 min 4 sec ||Point of Pines, Boston USA
|-
| 1883 || July 18 ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) ||Wallace Ross

Wallace Ross

Wallace Ross was a professional rower who was considered to be the greatest sculler to come out of Saint John, Canada. He was a champion who nearly won the World Champion single sculls title.-Early life:...

(CAN)||27 min 57.5 secs || Odensberg, New York, USA
|-
| 1884 || May 22 ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(CAN) || Elias C. Laycock

Elias C. Laycock

Elias Connell Laycock was an Australian competitive rower who three times tried to become the World Sculling Champion..-Early life:...

(AUS) || 22 mins 46 secs || Nepean, Sydney
|-
| 1884 || Aug 16th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

William Beach was a professional Australian sculler. He was unbeaten as World Sculling Champion from 1884 to 1887.Born on 6 September 1850 at Chertsey, Surrey, England, to Alexander Beach, blacksmith, and his wife Mary, née Gibbons...

(AUS) ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(Can) || 20 mins 28 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1885 || Feb 28th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

(AUS) || Thomas Clifford (AUS) || 26 mins 1 sec|| Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1885 || Mar 28th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

(AUS) ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(Can) || 22 mins 51 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1885 || Dec 18th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

(AUS) || Neil Matterson (AUS) || 24 mins 11 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1886 || Sep 18th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

(AUS) || Jake Gaudaur Snr.

Jake Gaudaur Snr.

For the Canadian Footballer and Commissioner, see Jake Gaudaur.----Jacob Gill “Jake” Gaudaur, Sr. was one of two native Canadians to win the Professional World Sculling Championship. Gaudaur was born in Orillia, Ontario, on 3 April 1858. His first race was when he was aged 17 years and over his...

(CAN) || 22 mins 29 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1886 || Sep 25th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

(AUS) || Wallace Ross

Wallace Ross

(CAN) || 23 min 5 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1887 || Nov 26th || Bill Beach

Bill Beach

(AUS) ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(Can) || 19 mins 25 sec || Nepean, Sydney
|-
| 1888 || Feb 11th || Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

Peter Kemp was one of seven Australians who each won the World Sculling Championship between 1876 and 1907.He was born on the banks of the Hawkesbury River near Windsor, New South Wales, on 15 November 1853. As a boy growing up he taught himself to row...

(AUS)|| Thomas Clifford (AUS) || 23 mins 27secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1888 || May 5 || Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

(AUS) ||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(Can) || 21 mins 36 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1888 || Sep 28th || Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

(AUS)||Edward Hanlan

Ned Hanlan

Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...

(Can) || 21 mins 25 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1888 || Oct 27th || Henry Ernest Searle

Henry Ernest Searle

Henry Ernest Searle , was a professional Australian sculler, who was World Champion from 1888 until his premature death from typhoid in 1889....

(AUS) ||Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

(AUS) || 22 mins 44 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1889 || Sep 9th || Henry Ernest Searle

Henry Ernest Searle

Henry Ernest Searle , was a professional Australian sculler, who was World Champion from 1888 until his premature death from typhoid in 1889....

(AUS) || William O'Connor (CAN) || 22 mins 42 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1890 || Apr 25th || Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

(AUS) || Neil Matterson (AUS) || 21 mins 13 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1890 || May 15 || Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

(AUS) || John McLean

John McLean (rower)

John McLean was one of seven Australians who each won the World Sculling Championship between 1876 and 1907. He was born at Shoalhaven, New South Wales, on the 17 September 1859.-Early Sculling:...

(AUS) || 21 mins 45 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1890 || Dec 15th || John McLean

John McLean (rower)

John McLean was one of seven Australians who each won the World Sculling Championship between 1876 and 1907. He was born at Shoalhaven, New South Wales, on the 17 September 1859.-Early Sculling:...

(AUS) || Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp (rower)

(AUS) || 22 mins 13 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1891 || Apr 28th || Jim Stanbury * (AUS) || John McLean

John McLean (rower)

John McLean was one of seven Australians who each won the World Sculling Championship between 1876 and 1907. He was born at Shoalhaven, New South Wales, on the 17 September 1859.-Early Sculling:...

(AUS) || 22 mins 15 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1891 || Jul 7th || Jim Stanbury * (AUS) || John McLean

John McLean (rower)

John McLean was one of seven Australians who each won the World Sculling Championship between 1876 and 1907. He was born at Shoalhaven, New South Wales, on the 17 September 1859.-Early Sculling:...

(AUS) || 18 mins 25 secs || Parramatta, Sydney (short Course)
|-
| 1892 || May 2 || Jim Stanbury * (AUS) || Tom Sullivan (NZL) || 17 mins 26 secs || Parramatta, Sydney (short Course)
|-
| 1896 || Jul 13th || Jim Stanbury * (AUS) || Charles R Harding

Charles R Harding

Charles R. Harding was an English professional single sculler who became the Champion of England and was a contender for the World Sculling Championship. He was born in London circa 1866 and his occupation was that of a waterman...

(GBR) || 21 mins 51 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1896 || Sep 7th || Jake Gaudaur Snr.

Jake Gaudaur Snr.

(CAN) || Jim Stanbury (AUS) || 23 mins 1 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1898 || Jly 4th || Jake Gaudaur Snr.

Jake Gaudaur Snr.

(CAN) || Robert Johnston (CAN) || 20 mins 25 sec || Vancouver Harbour
|-
| 1901 || Sep 7th || George Towns

George Towns (rower)

George Towns was the Australian Single Sculls World Champion from 1901 to 1905 and 1906 to 1907. He was the last of the seven Australian Champions who between them held the title almost uninterrupted from 1876 to 1907.-Early Sculling:...

(AUS) || Jake Gaudaur Snr.

Jake Gaudaur Snr.

(CAN) || 20 mins 30 sec || Lake of the Woods, Ontario
|-
| 1904 || Jul 30th || George Towns

George Towns (rower)

(AUS) || Richard Tresidder (AUS) || 21 mins 28 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1905 || Jul 22nd || Jim Stanbury * (AUS) || George Towns

George Towns (rower)

(AUS) || 19 mins 4 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1906 || Jul 28th || George Towns

George Towns (rower)

(AUS) || Jim Stanbury (AUS) || 19 mins 53 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1907 || Mar 2nd || George Towns

George Towns (rower)

(AUS) || Edward Durnan (CAN) || 22 mins 27 secs || Nepean, Sydney
|-
| 1907 || Aug 3rd || William Webb

William Webb (rower)

William Charles Webb was the first New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship Title. He was also known as “Bill” or “Billy Webb”.-Early life:...

(NZL) || Charles Towns (AUS) || 20 mins 35 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1908 || Feb 25th || William Webb

William Webb (rower)

William Charles Webb was the first New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship Title. He was also known as “Bill” or “Billy Webb”.-Early life:...

(NZL)|| Richard Tresidder (AUS) || 20 mins 28 secs || Wanganui, New Zealand
|-
| 1908 || Dec 15th || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || William Webb

William Webb (rower)

William Charles Webb was the first New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship Title. He was also known as “Bill” or “Billy Webb”.-Early life:...

(NZL) || 19 mins 51 secs || Wanganui, New Zealand
|-
| 1909 || Jun 21st || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || William Webb

William Webb (rower)

William Charles Webb was the first New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship Title. He was also known as “Bill” or “Billy Webb”.-Early life:...

(NZL) || 18 mins 15 secs || Wanganui, New Zealand
|-
| 1910 || Apr 4th || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || George Whelch

George Whelch

George Edwin Whelch was one of six New Zealand oarsman who attempted to win the World Professional Single Sculls title. He was born December 1879 near Akaroa where he lived for most of his life. In 1903 he married Sarah Gundy and they had two children. He died in October 1960.-Amateur Record:Whelch...

(NZL) || 21 mins 51 secs || Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand
|-
| 1910 || Aug 18th || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

Ernest James Barry was a British rower and Thames Waterman, five times Sculling World Champion during the early part of the 20th century and winner of the Doggett's Coat and Badge Race in 1903.-Sculling career:...

(GBR) || 20 mins 14 secs || Zambezi River
|-
| 1911 || Jul 29th || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || Harry Pearce (AUS) || 19 mins 46 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1912 || Jul 29th || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

(GBR) || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || 23 mins 8 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1912 || Oct 14th || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

(GBR) || Edward Durnan (CAN) || 22 mins 31 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1913 || Jul 21st || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

(GBR) || Harry Pearce (AUS) || 24 mins 9 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1914 || Sep 7th || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

(GBR) || Jim Paddon

Jim Paddon

James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....

(AUS) || 21 mins 28 sec || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1919 || Oct 27th || Alf Felton

Alf Felton

Alfred D Felton, known as “Alf”, was the first Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title.- Life and Racing:...

(AUS) || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

(GBR) || 25 mins 40 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1920 || Aug 31st || Ernest Barry

Ernest Barry

(GBR) || Alf Felton

Alf Felton

(AUS) || 24 mins 32 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1921 || Jun 11th || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || Pat Hannan

Pat Hannan

Pat Hannan was the last of six New Zealand oarsman who attempted to win the World Sculling Championship title.JP Hannan, known as Pat or Paddy, was born in Wellington in 1886 but was later a resident of Blenheim for a number of years...

(NZL) || 22 mins 34 sec || Wairau, New Zealand
|-
| 1922 || Jan 5th || Darcy Hadfield

Clarence Hadfield D'Arcy

Darcy Clarence Hadfield was a New Zealand rower who won a bronze medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Subsequently he became the third New Zealander to hold the Professional World Sculling Championship....

(NZL) || Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst

Richard Arnst or Dick Arnst , born Jacob Diedrich Arnst, was a New Zealand rower, six times Single Sculls World Champion during the early part of the 20th century.-Early life:...

(NZL) || 19 mins 46 secs || Wanganui, New Zealand
|-
| 1922 || Apr 18th || Jim Paddon

Jim Paddon

James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....

(AUS) ||Darcy Hadfield

Clarence Hadfield D'Arcy

(NZL) || 19 mins 19 secs || Wanganui, New Zealand
|-
| 1923 || Jul 21st || Jim Paddon

Jim Paddon

James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....

(AUS) ||Darcy Hadfield

Clarence Hadfield D'Arcy

(NZL) || 19 mins 46 secs || Richmond
|-
| 1924 || Aug 12th || Jim Paddon

Jim Paddon

James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....

(AUS) || Alf Felton

Alf Felton

(AUS) || 17 mins 55 secs || Brisbane
|-
| 1924 || Sep 20th || Jim Paddon

Jim Paddon

James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....

(AUS) || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || 17 mins 7 secs || Richmond
|-
| 1925 || Mar 21st || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || Bill McDevitt (AUS) || 22 mins 20 secs || Clarence
|-
| 1925 || Jun 27th || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || Pat Hannan

Pat Hannan

(NZL) || 21 mins 31 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1925 || Nov 7th || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || Jim Paddon

Jim Paddon

James Paddon, known as “Jim”, was the second Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title....

(AUS) || 22 mins 50 secs || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1926 || May 3 || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || Tom Saul (AUS) || 23 mins 11 sec || Parramatta, Sydney
|-
| 1927 || Sep 5th || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || Bert Barry (GBR) || 24 mins 13 secs || Burrand Inlet, Vancouver
|-
| 1927 || Dec 6th || Bert Barry (GBR) || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(AUS) || 21 mins 40 secs || Burrand Inlet, Vancouver
|-
| 1930 || May 31 || Ted Phelps (GBR) || Bert Barry (GBR) || 22 mins 45 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1930 || Oct 11th || Ted Phelps (GBR) || Bert Barry (GBR) || 22 mins 48 secs || Thames (Putney to Mortlake)
|-
| 1932 || Sep 5th || Ted Phelps (GBR) || Major Goodsell

Major Goodsell

Major L Goodsell was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. “Major” was his given name and not an army rank....

(USA) || 17 mins 2 secs || Long Beach, California
|-
| 1933 || Sep 1st || Henry "Bobby" Pearce (CAN) || Ted Phelps (GBR) || 19 mins 26 secs || Lake Ontario,
|-
| 1934 || Sep 5th || Henry "Bobby" Pearce (CAN) || W G Miller (USA) || 19 mins 52 secs || Toronto
|-
| 1938 || Sep 9th || Henry "Bobby" Pearce (CAN) || Evans Paddon (AUS) || 20 mins 35 secs || Tornoto
|-
| 1948 || Nov 20th|| Evans Paddon (AUS) || Max Fisher (AUS) || 17 mins 20 secs|| Parramatta, Sydney ||
|-
| 1949 || May 7 || George Cook (AUS) || Evans Paddon (AUS) || 15mins 09 secs|| Evans River ||
|-
| 1950 || April 22|| Evans Paddon (AUS) || George Cook (AUS) || 21mins 58 secs|| Evans River||
|-
| 1952 || April 5|| Jim Saul (AUS) || Evans Paddon (AUS) || 20 min 33 secs || Richmond River||
|-
| 1952 || Sept 13th|| Evans Paddon (AUS) || Jim Saul (AUS) || 21 min 50 secs || Richmond River||
|-
| 1953 || June 13|| Evans Fischer (AUS) || Evans Paddon (AUS) || 20 min 55 secs || Richmond River||
|-
| 1954 || Aug 7th|| Evans Fischer (AUS) || Evans Paddon (AUS) || 20min 57 secs || Clarence River||
|-
| 1957 || May 25|| Evans Fischer (AUS) || Evans Paddon (AUS) || 20min 46 secs || Clarence River||
|}

Notes:

Bill Beach, Henry Pearce, & Evans Fischer all retired undefeated.
James Renforth died while Champion. Sadler later rowed for an open Title.
Peter Kemp gained the Title twice other than by races; once by formal forfeit from Beach, once upon the death of H Searle.
Richard Arnst gained the Title once other than by a race; on the forfeiture of E Barry.
Charles Towns & Bill McDevitt both held the Title by the forfeiture of George Towns & Jim Paddon respectively. Neither successfully defended it.
R Chambers & E Paddon either gained the Title once each by forfeit, or alternatively, one of their races was for an open Title after the retirement of the Holder.

History

Challenges

Betting

Boats

Fouls

Results

Further reading