Robert Chambers

25th August 1866

Bell's Life reported: R. Chambers and Teasdale Wilson - R. Chambers, the promising sculler of Wallsend and Teasdale Wilson of Sandgate, Newcastle have been matched to row a right-away race of two miles in Clasper’s open boats, for a stake of £50. The contest is to take place on the Tyne on Monday 10th September and £5 a side is now down with Mr. J. Taylor who has been appointed final stakeholder. The second deposit of £5 is due at Mr. Taylor’s house, Ropery Banks Hotel on Monday evening and the third and last deposit of £15 a side is to be made at Mr. Nanson’s Sun Inn, Side, on Sept 1st. The race is to be rowed an hour and a half before high water.

15th July 1871

Cheltenham Chronicle reported: The English Champion Four, which are matched with the St. John (New Brunswick) crew on the 23rd of next month, left Newcastle for America on Wednesday last. About 3,000 people assembled to bid them farewell. James Percy (bow), Robert Chambers (2), Henry Kelly (3) and James Renforth (Stroke) is the present arrangement of the crew, while John Bright accompanies them as spare man. All seemed very well and confident.

9th September 1871

Illustrated London News reported: The body of the late James Renforth arrived at Newcastle on Wednesday last, and was met by several thousand people. The funeral will probably take place on Sunday. No traces of poison were discovered in the stomach, and there can be little doubt that his death arose from natural causes. The misfortunes of Renforth’s crew do not seem to have terminated with the death of their leader, for they lost the great four-oared race at Halifax Regatta owing to a most provoking mistake. Chambers had taken Renforth’s seat as stroke, and John Bright, the spare man, filled the vacant place as No. 2; and this arrangement answered so well that at half distance (the race was six miles) they held a lead of 150 yards. After rounding the turning point, however, they got out of the course, losing at least 200 yards, and enabling Winship’s four to go to the front; and, in spite of the most desperate exertions, Chambers’s men could never recover their lost ground. The great sculling prize was won pretty easily by Joseph Sadler, Kelley being only third, and it is now clear that the former will be the future sculling champion of England.

23rd November 1871
The Times reported: The Championship of the Tyne - This Wednesday afternoon, the great four-oared race for the Championship and a stake of £400 between the Chambers crew (James Percy, John Bright, Harry Kelly, Robert Chambers); and the Adelaide crew James Taylor, J.H. Sadler, Robert Bagnall, Thomas Winship) was rowed from the High Level Bridge Newcastle to Lemington Point, the course being 4 1/2 miles and it resulted in a victory for the Adelaide Winship crew. These two crews of Tyne oarsmen rowed in several races in the United States and British America during the past summer with varied fortunes. After the death of James Renforth at St. Johns, his crew with their odd man pulled several matches upon the lakes and great rivers of America but with very ill fortune. When the crews returned to England, it was determined to test which was the better and this match was made, but the ill luck which attended the Renforth crew or the Chambers crew appears to have followed them home, for it was stated in the beginning of the week that Percy was suffering from illness and it was feared that Bright was strong enough for his seat.

The betting has been about 5 to 4 in favour of the Chambers crew, however, but a limited amount of money was invested. The morning broke fine but as the day advanced it became overcast and gloomy but after 12 o'clock sleet and rain fell copiously. The race would have been started at twenty minutes past 11 but as consequence of something having gone wrong with the Adelaide's rudder, it was fully an hour after that time before the men got away - as is usual with a great race on the Tyne. Notwithstanding the bad state of the weather, there were immense crowds of persons upon the bridges and bank overlooking the course, and on board numerous steamers upon the river. There was a south-west wind, the water was comparatively smooth and a first rate course was kept.

Mr. J.H. Clasper of Oxford was the Referee and Chambers crew won the choice of sides. The two crews being placed in position, a start was made about twenty minutes past 12. Winship's crew showed some signs of hesitation at the start, which enabled Chambers crew to get well away with about half a length advantage, which they maintained to Wylie's Quay, pulling a long powerful stroke. They maintained this lead to the Skinner Burn. Winship's four had now settled down to a short, sharp regular stroke and putting on a splendid spurt, they rapidly drew upon Chamber's crew. The latter, however, effectually replied and still held their lead at the Grindstone Quay.

A fine smooth stretch of water now lay before the competitors and as money had been invested and depended upon the lead to the Redheugh Bridge, both crews redoubled their exertions in order to accomplish this result for their backers. Between the foot of the bridge and the quay there was a severe struggle, one of the most brilliant sights ever witnessed on the Tyne. Continuing their short stroke with extraordinary rapidity the Winship four inch by inch overhauled their opponents and drew level. Chambers crew never varied their splendid long stroke, while on the other hand, the Winship crew pulled a very quick stroke and the result of this was that they sent their boat gradually in advance, shooting underneath the bridge by a quarter of a length. Winship's crew therefore drew the first money for their backers. They maintained this lead to the Shot Tower.