Harry Kelley
Encyclopedia
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.
waterman, Kelley's first Championship win was in 1857, when he beat James Messenger for the Championship of England. Kelley's technical abilities in a boat soon got him noticed and he was regularly referred to as the best waterman the Thames ever produced, either as an oarsman or as a judge of rowing.
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.
Kelley first won the World Championship by beating the holder, James Messenger
, on 12 May 1857. He lost it to Robert Chambers (oarsman)
on the 20 Sept 1859. Chambers had several defences of the Title before Kelley challenged again. The race was on the 8 August 1865 and Kelley won. James Hamill was the American Champion and he challenged Kelley to two races, only one of which was a Championship race. They were held in England in July 1866. Kelley won both of them and he shortly after announced his retirement. Chambers later retook the Title in an open race.
Kelley came out of retirement in 1867 and again challenged Chambers to a match. This race was on the 6 May 1868 with the result that Kelley was again World Champion. He finally lost the Title to James Renforth
in a race on the 17 November 1868.
For details of the six World Title races that Kelley was involved in see World Sculling Championship.
. During a race against a St John's
crew on Aug 23 1871, Renforth collapsed and eventually died in Kelley's arms.
A memorial sculpture, erected by public subscription showing the dying figure of Renforth in the arms of Kelley now stands outside Shipley Art Gallery
in Gateshead
.
Kelley continued to row and on the 5th November 1877 he raced Joseph Sadler
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. After finally retiring from competitive rowing, Kelley went on to act as a steer and trainer for a number of crews and scullers. He steered Australian Edward Trickett
against Canadian Ned Hanlan
during their race for the World Champion title on the Thames. He was still busy coaching F L Playford for the amateur championship in 1879 and steered the umpire for the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race on a number of occasions.
He died at his home in Fulham
in 1914 aged 82.
World Sculling Championship (Professional)
The World Sculling Championship , evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.Only the sport of boxing claims an older Championship of the World...
, a title he won four times.
Sculling career
The son of Jack Kelley, another ThamesRiver 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,...
waterman, Kelley's first Championship win was in 1857, when he beat James Messenger for the Championship of England. Kelley's technical abilities in a boat soon got him noticed and he was regularly referred to as the best waterman the Thames ever produced, either as an oarsman or as a judge of rowing.
- Messenger's reign was a short one. For There was working as foremosthand on one of the boats a young fellow whom old Johnny Coates, of Chelsea, denominated the future "star" of the Thames, Harry Kelley, one of the prettiest scullers ever seen in a boat. Messenger, never a very strong man, had to give place to this rising young waterman.
- We shall never forget the handsome figure of Harry as he sat in his boat. Many a time and oft have we stood at Newbold's window, at the corner of Holywell street, and looked at the outstretched arms of Kelley, and wondered when we should be able to grow a black beard like his.
- AQUATICS OLD AND NEW. Otago Witness, Issue 1951, 11 April 1889, Page 25
World Champion
Before 1876, the English Sculling ChampionshipEnglish 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.
Kelley first won the World Championship by beating the holder, 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...
, on 12 May 1857. He lost it to Robert Chambers (oarsman)
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....
on the 20 Sept 1859. Chambers had several defences of the Title before Kelley challenged again. The race was on the 8 August 1865 and Kelley won. James Hamill was the American Champion and he challenged Kelley to two races, only one of which was a Championship race. They were held in England in July 1866. Kelley won both of them and he shortly after announced his retirement. Chambers later retook the Title in an open race.
Kelley came out of retirement in 1867 and again challenged Chambers to a match. This race was on the 6 May 1868 with the result that Kelley was again World Champion. He finally lost the Title to 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:...
in a race on the 17 November 1868.
For details of the six World Title races that Kelley was involved in see World Sculling Championship.
Renforth
Kelley was one of the celebrated English crew which visited America in 1871 with the then champion 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:...
. During a race against a St John's
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
crew on Aug 23 1871, Renforth collapsed and eventually died in Kelley's arms.
A memorial sculpture, erected by public subscription showing the dying figure of Renforth in the arms of Kelley now stands outside Shipley Art Gallery
Shipley Art Gallery
The Shipley Art Gallery is an art gallery situated in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. It is at the south end of Prince Consort Road, near to Shipcote.-Origins:The Shipley Art Gallery first opened to the public in 1917...
in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
.
Kelley continued to row and on the 5th November 1877 he raced 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...
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. After finally retiring from competitive rowing, Kelley went on to act as a steer and trainer for a number of crews and scullers. He steered 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...
against Canadian Ned Hanlan
Ned Hanlan
Edward "Ned" Hanlan was a World Champion professional sculler, hotelier, and alderman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Early life:...
during their race for the World Champion title on the Thames. He was still busy coaching F L Playford for the amateur championship in 1879 and steered the umpire for the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race on a number of occasions.
He died at his home in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
in 1914 aged 82.