World Professional Sculling Championships

1890 John McLean (AUS) defeats Peter Kemp (AUS)

Jack McLean

McLean from Shoalhaven was a tough axeman. Henry "Banjo" Paterson is quoted to say:

"Maclean, an axeman, who could fell any tree, using an axe in either hand, and never resting till the tree came down,.."

1891 Jim Stanbury (AUS) defeats John McLean (AUS) on the Parramatta River in Sydney

Jim Stanbury

The Grafton Rowing Club history reports:

"James (Jim) Stanbury was born February 25, 1868, at Peat's Ferry, Hawkesbury River. His first public competition at heavy boat sculling was at Lake Bathurst, NSW aged 19. Stanbury's main rivals at this time were Searle, Matterson & Neilson. On July 13, 1888 he rowed against Henry Searle at Parramatta for 200 pounds prize money but lost."

A rematch later in the same year between these two scullers produced the same result.

1891 was a great year for professional scullinh in NSW with Alan May in Sydney Rows reporting that 26 professional matches took place.

1896 Jim Stanbury (AUS) defeats Wag Harding (GBR) on the Thames in London

The Grafton Rowing Club history records that the championship purse was 200 pounds.

1896 James Stanbury in England

1896 James Stanbury In England

Stanbury scarf

Scarf commemorating Stanbury's 1896 win

< previous 1889 Searle (AUS) def O'Connor (CAN)

> next 1901 Towns (AUS) def Gaudaur (CAN)

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.