James Messenger
Encyclopedia
James Messenger
James Messenger (born c 1821) 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
. After the English title gained the world status in 1876, earlier winners were retrospectively given the World Champion Title.
At the 1848 Regatta he and three others were beaten in a four-oar race by the Claspers (see Harry Clasper
) for the Champion Prize. However at the 1849 event he was successful in winning the final of the Scullers Prize and £50. The Regatta was discontinued but at the replacement Thames Boat Races of 1850 he came third in the single sculls race which was a closely contested affair.
On the 23 August 1853 Messenger rowed a race against James Candish, who was the Tyne
Champion, on the Thames river Putney to Mortlake course (the Championship Course) for a £100 a side. Messenger defeated Candish with great ease by about a boat length and he covered the distance in 24m.26s after having been stopped twice on the course. A return match was arranged and this was raced on the Tyne on 14 March 1854. Messenger had an easy victory crossing the line more than half a minute ahead.
on the 12 May 1857. Every vantage point along the Putney to Mortlock course was taken up by spectators. Messenger rowed in a boat of his own construction and was piloted by Thomas MacKinney who had in 1851 been contender for the Title, losing to Robert Coombes
.
The race was started by mutual consent; a common method at the time. However there was no ‘foxing’ or ‘gamesmanship’ by either party as was often the case and the men got away promptly and fairly. Just after the start Kelley was perceptibly in front but after a dozen or so strokes Messenger looked like recovering the lost ground. Eager shouts from the crowd encouraged him but the spurt did not last long and by Finch’s he had begun to fall astern. At Rose Bank, Kelley was more than a length ahead and he increased his lead so that by Hammersmith Bridge, reached in nine minutes, he was four or five lengths ahead. By Barnes Railway Bridge the distance between the men had doubled and although both men were partially stopped by skiffs it made no difference to the result. Kelley crossed the line in 24m.30s.
See also World Sculling Championship.
and appears to have been a boat-builder around Sydney. A son, Charles A. Messenger
was a professional single sculler in Sydney around 1881. A grandson, Herbert Henry Messenger was a good cricketer, sailor, and a champion canoeist, but became best known as a Rugby Union football player.
James Messenger (born c 1821) 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
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...
. After the English title gained the world status in 1876, earlier winners were retrospectively given the World Champion Title.
Early Races
At the Thames Regatta in July 1847 Messenger won the apprentice’s coat and silver badge presented by Evan Morris. In the final he defeated Tom Cole, JG Cole, and S Williams.At the 1848 Regatta he and three others were beaten in a four-oar race by the Claspers (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...
) for the Champion Prize. However at the 1849 event he was successful in winning the final of the Scullers Prize and £50. The Regatta was discontinued but at the replacement Thames Boat Races of 1850 he came third in the single sculls race which was a closely contested affair.
On the 23 August 1853 Messenger rowed a race against James Candish, who was the 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...
Champion, on the Thames river Putney to Mortlake course (the Championship Course) for a £100 a side. Messenger defeated Candish with great ease by about a boat length and he covered the distance in 24m.26s after having been stopped twice on the course. A return match was arranged and this was raced on the Tyne on 14 March 1854. Messenger had an easy victory crossing the line more than half a minute ahead.
1st Title Race
The backers of Messenger were pleased with his performance and a challenge was made to Tom Cole (rower) for the Championship of the Thames. The agreed stake was £200 a side and the race was run on the 20 November 1854 on the usual Championship Course. The day was foggy and cold. Cole took the early lead and retained it to Crab Tree at which point Messenger began to gradually overhaul him. By Hammersmith Bridge Messenger had obtained a good lead which he maintained with ease to the finish. The time was 24m.45s. His details at this time were given as height 5ft, 7.5ins, and weight 10st.8lbs.2nd Title Race
A vast crowd was on hand to watch the race between Messenger and 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:...
on the 12 May 1857. Every vantage point along the Putney to Mortlock course was taken up by spectators. Messenger rowed in a boat of his own construction and was piloted by Thomas MacKinney who had in 1851 been contender for the Title, losing to 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...
.
The race was started by mutual consent; a common method at the time. However there was no ‘foxing’ or ‘gamesmanship’ by either party as was often the case and the men got away promptly and fairly. Just after the start Kelley was perceptibly in front but after a dozen or so strokes Messenger looked like recovering the lost ground. Eager shouts from the crowd encouraged him but the spurt did not last long and by Finch’s he had begun to fall astern. At Rose Bank, Kelley was more than a length ahead and he increased his lead so that by Hammersmith Bridge, reached in nine minutes, he was four or five lengths ahead. By Barnes Railway Bridge the distance between the men had doubled and although both men were partially stopped by skiffs it made no difference to the result. Kelley crossed the line in 24m.30s.
See also World Sculling Championship.
Life After Racing
James Messenger later emigrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and appears to have been a boat-builder around Sydney. A son, Charles A. Messenger
Charles A. Messenger
Charles A. Messenger, a professional sculler, was born ca. 1855 in London where his family was well known in aquatic circles. His father James was a noted sculler and boat builder who in 1854 won the World Sculling Championship from Tom Cole...
was a professional single sculler in Sydney around 1881. A grandson, Herbert Henry Messenger was a good cricketer, sailor, and a champion canoeist, but became best known as a Rugby Union football player.