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.