John McLean was one of seven Australians who each won the World Sculling Championship (Professional)

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...

 between 1876 and 1907. He was born at Shoalhaven

Shoalhaven

The City of Shoalhaven is a Local Government Area in south-eastern New South Wales , Australia, two hours south of Sydney. It is more or less conterminous with an area referred to as The Shoalhaven. It is on the Pacific Ocean and the Princes Highway and is the terminus of the South Coast line...

, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, on the 17 September 1859.

Early Sculling

His first appearance as an oarsman was made at Richmond River, where in 1883 he won a skiff race. Up until 1888 he was prominent in the smaller regattas and working his way up in the ranks. In that year he beat Perkins, an English sculler, for £300 on the Parramatta River

Parramatta River

The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....

, Sydney. In October 1889 he beat Charles Stephenson (rower)

Charles Stephenson (rower)

Charles Stephenson was a New Zealand rower. He was born in Hobson Street, Auckland. He passed most of his boyhood at the Thames, and after leaving school went to the Northern Wairoa district, where he took to a bushman's life. His work in the kauri bushes was varied by an occasional spell as a...

, the New Zealand Champion, on the Richmond River, by four lengths.

In early 1890 McLean was described as “the coming man” i.e. commentators believed he would win the Championship. By the time of the second Title attempt he had won twenty-two of his thirty-one single sculls races. He stood at about six feet tall and was a finely built man.
In late March 1890 McLean raced Neil Matterson (who about a month later sculled and lost to Kemp for the World Title.) After the start McLean edged ahead and at the mile post was four lengths ahead. After this it was no contest and he was an easy winner.

First Attempt at the Championship

Having beaten the lower ranked men his attention turned the top men of the day. He wanted to row one of Edward Hanlan, Peter Kemp (rower)

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...

, or Canadian William O’Connor. The challenge that was accepted was from Peter Kemp, the World Champion. The Title race took place on the 15th of May 1890 on the Parramatta River and the stake was £200 a side. The normal championship distance was three and a quarter miles. After the start a great race ensued to Uhr’s Point and then Kemp took the lead. Despite a brilliant spurt by McLean he was unable to pass the leader who “won as he liked” by six lengths in a time of 23m.46s.

World Champion

As a preliminary to the Championship he raced Jim Stanbury on the 17 November 1890. No title was involved; it was a straight out money race at £200 a side. This was reasonably typical of professional rowing at the time. The race over the Parramatta course was easily won by McLean in 23m43.5s. It was stated that Stanbury was unwell.

John McLean believed he was good enough to be the World Champion and again challenged Kemp to a race. The date agreed to was the 15th of December 1890 and once again it was held on the Parramatta River with the stake set at £200 a side. Kemp got away better at the start and was soon had a lead of half a length. Both boats came close together and McLean fouled Kemp who stopped rowing for a couple of strokes. McLean took advantage of this and went half a length ahead. However Kemp soon got underway and spurted and was quickly ahead again. McLean then made an effort and slipped ahead. He sculled well and despite the best work of Kemp he was unable to overtake McLean who finished six lengths ahead in a time of 22m.13s. The referee decided the foul in McLean’s favour.

First Defence

Champions did not have long to rest on their laurels and McLean was soon challenged for his Title by James (Jim) Stanbury, another Australian. The agreed date for the match was 28 April 1891 which was again to be held on the Parramatta River. The stake was the usual £200 a side. At the start Stanbury caught the water first and immediately forged ahead. After a mile he was three lengths in front and although McLean rowed for all he was worth he could not get level with the leader. Towards the finish Stanbury spurted and passed the judge an easy winner. His time was 22m.18s.

Final Title Race

Often when one sculler was beaten by another he was offered a return match. This occurred between McLean and Stanbury and the re-match was set down for the 7th of July 1891 with almost the same terms and conditions as before. The Parramatta course was about 600 yards shorter that that for the previous match. From the start both boats were fairly even for the first mile or so. McLean then began to lose ground and gradually the Champion drew away from the challenger. Stanbury maintained his position and easily crossed the line some three lengths to the good in a time of 18m.25s.

External References

‘Wanganui Herald’ newspaper 31 Jan 1890, 29 March 1890, 16 May 1890, 18 Nov 1890, 16 Jan 1891, 29 April 1891, 8 Jly 1891,

‘Otago Witness’ newspaper 18 Dec 1890.

‘Poverty Bay Herald’ newspaper 3 Jan 1891.

Auckland ‘Observer’ newspaper 17 Jan 1891.

• Seven Australian World Champion Scullers, ISBN 978-0-473-17699-0, published 2010.

World Single Sculls Championship History http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-pro-sculling