John Robert Hymes

John Robert Hymes was a professional sculler from Stockton.

May 1877
Bell's Life reported:
John Robert Hymes of Stockton and John Bright of the Mushroom were matched to row from the Mansion House to Scotswood Suspension Bridge for £200. Bright, in his day, was considered to be one of the best open-boat rowers on the Tyne, but the race on this occasion took place in best boats, and his youthful opponent, who was looked upon as a most promising sculler, won as he liked, Bright being completely done with before they had gone a mile.

July 1877
Bell's Life reported:
We understand that John Robert Hymes of Stockton has already gone into residence at Mrs. Pankhurst's, the Bulls Head, Barnes, to complete his preparation for his match against William Spencer of Chelsea. The north countryman is attended by Fred Symes of London. Each man must deposit £25 on August 3rd, before 4pm, at this office.

March 1878
Bell's Life reported:
Dissatisfied with his recent defeat, John Robert Hymes of Stockton has thrown down the gauntlet to John Hawdon of Delaval for another race, and the latter has accepted the challenge. The men have signed articles to row in best-and-best boats from the low end of the Dunston Gangway to the rails at the end of John Hepplewhite's house, a distance of about a mile, on the 30th March for £25 a side. It is intended that the race shall be rowed on reasonably smooth water and power is vested in the Referee to order the race to be rowed either upriver between the above points of the flood tide or downriver on the ebb tide, according to the state of the water. The first deposit of £10 a side is now in the hands of William Blakey of the Adelaide Hotel, Newcastle, who is the appointed stakeholder, and the final deposit of £15 a side falls due at that gentleman's house on Friday March 29th. Mr. John Blenkinsop of the Northern Rowing Club is appointed Umpire and he is also empowered to name a distance judge.