About Grafton Rowing Club

In 1885, at the age of 17, Jim Stanbury entered his first regatta at Greenwell Point where he rowed in 3 events, including the Double Sculls with G. Haiser. Stanbury went on to win his first single scull race at a Nowra regatta in the same year. He continued to dominate local regattas on the Shoalhaven over the next two years, resulting in the suggestion that he should try himself out against the top professionals of the time in a regatta on Lake Bathurst, on January 14, 1887.

Stanbury was living in Sydney at this time and learning more about rowing, and on June 2, 1888 he rowed Julius Wulf, who at the time was considered a promising sculler, although very rough. Stanbury won easily in 20 minutes 46 and a half seconds. He was soon matched against Henry Searle, who had recently set a new Parramatta Championship Course record when he defeated Wulf in June 1888.

The race between these two powerful young men, caused great interest. Stanbury, although only 20 years of age, was a well developed man and was made favourite for the race, which was rowed on July 13, 1888.

The first mile was rowed in 5 minutes 35 seconds, which was the new Parramatta River record for the mile. Searle went on to win the race by 1.5 boat lengths in the new Parramatta Championship Course record time of 19 minutes 53 seconds for the 3 miles and 2 furlongs, (5234 metres) distance. Searle went on to later become World Champion in October 1888.

Stanbury's rowing was full of power, but he was far from being a skilful sculler - undefeated World Professional Sculling Champion Bill Beach commented at the time, that he "never saw a man get such good pace with such bad rowing."

Peter Kemp, who had by now won the World Championship (following William Beach's retirement and subsequent forfeit to Kemp's challenge), took Stanbury in hand and coached him in the finer skills of sculling, Chris Nielsen (who was also a boat builder) was his trainer on land, and put him through a rigorous physical preparation.

During this period, John McLean from the Shoalhaven (born September 17, 1859) had been winning many races on the northern rivers of New South Wales, mainly on the Richmond and Clarence Rivers.

By now, Stanbury's reputation as a future champion had travelled overseas to countries like America, Canada, and England, where professional sculling attracted millions of fans. Among the challenges he received, was one from the Canadian champion William J. O'Connor, who suggested a race in America for a huge stake.

However, Stanbury's backers decided that their boy was not yet ready for the technical gamesmanship of the overseas sculling circuit and suggested that O'Connor should come to Australia instead. O'Connor finally came to Australia in 1890 and staged what many saw as one of the worst displays of bad sportsmanship ever seen on the Parramatta River.

William O'Connor

Stanbury and the Canadian tossed for positions. At the starter's signal the racing shells shot off over the choppy water. Near Uhr's Point, when the two shells came together briefly the huge crowd of more than 50,000 were horrified to see O'Connor stop rowing and raise an arm to the umpires to indicate a protest. After that, O'Connor made a mere pretence of covering the course. He kept just behind Stanbury, who also dropped his rating.

Stanbury crossed the finishing line first, but as soon as O'Connor left his shell, he claimed the race on a foul, saying he had been crowded. When his protest was disallowed by the stewards, he told them furiously he would see Stanbury was never paid the money. Stanbury offered to race him again. The offer was accepted grudgingly. However, at the start, O'Connor refused to toss for positions. He told the officials bluntly he won the best position last time and was going to keep it. Determined to win right from the start, O'Connor put on a paralysing spurt to take the lead. Stanbury, however, had his measure. With long powerful strokes he drove his light craft through the water. The whole shell lifted and fell at each gigantic pull from his great muscles. Foot by foot, he drew the Canadian back until there was nothing between them. Then O'Connor snapped. The will went out of his rowing. Stanbury won easily. O'Connor hardly spoke afterwards and refused to race in Australia again.

O'Connor had raced Searle for the world title on the Thames in England in September, 1889, but Searle died of typhoid in Melbourne in December, 1889 on his way home following the win. O'Connor continued racing and, despite defeating Ned Hanlan and Jake Gaudaur, never held a singles championship. He turned to double scull racing with Ned Hanlan and won the world championship in that event but lost it again to Gaudaur and Hosmer in 1892. O'Connor too then suffered an untimely death shortly after this race at the young age of 29.

Following Henry Searle's death, the World Championship reverted to previous holder Peter Kemp. Kemp successfully defended the title when he raced and defeated Neil Matterson and John McLean in the space of a few weeks in the first half of 1890.

On November 17, 1890, John McLean met Stanbury on the Parramatta River and won.

Less than a month later, McLean went on to defeat Peter Kemp on December 15, 1890 to claim the world title.