Charles Stephenson (rower), Date of Birth, Place of Birth
TweetCharles Stephenson (rower)
New Zealand rower
Date of Birth: 20-Mar-1865
Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Profession: rower
Nationality: New Zealand
Zodiac Sign: Pisces 
About Charles Stephenson (rower)
- Charles Stephenson (born 20 March 1865) 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 boatman on the river, and so he got his first lessons in rowing.
- For three years he was in the service of the Hon.
- E.
- Mitchelson, at Dargaville, and during that time got a good deal of rough practice in rowing.
- His first race was rowed, with J.
- Wilson as a partner, in the pairs at the Wairoa Regatta in April 1887.
- Their principal opponents were the Brothers Brown, who were recognised at the time as the "bosses" of the river.
- To the surprise of everyone young Stephenson and his mate won easily.
- The Browns were not satisfied with their defeat, and a match was made with their conquerors for £50 a-side, to come off a month after the regatta.
- This had the same result, and Stephenson's reputation began to grow.
- In January 1888, he was one of the Northern Wairoa Whaleboat Crew which finished third at Auckland Anniversary Regatta.
- Waitemata winning and North Shore rowing second.
- After this he went back to the bush; but in November 1888, he and two friends left the Wairoa, intending to go to Tasmania.
- Stephenson, however, got no further than Sydney, where he determined to try his luck as a professional sculler. The Spencer Brothers, who brought out Searle and Matterson, finding that he gave good promise, took him 'up' and backed him against Joe Kemp, brother of the ex-champion, for £100 a-side.
- The match was rowed over the Parramatta course on 30 August 1889, and resulted in a three lengths win for Stephenson, the time for the first mile being 5min 43sec, and the full distance being rowed in 20min 24.5sec.
- On 30 October 1889 Stephenson sustained a defeat by John McLean, who beat him by three lengths, after a good race, over the same course, in 21min 53sec.
- For this match Stephenson was backed by Mr Warby, of Sydney, who was his chief supporter for a match for the Championship of New Zealand.
- His opponent was William Hearn.
- Stephenson was thus, as compared with his opponent, a novice sculler but he won by three lengths in a time of 22min 22.75sec.
- The race was run in Wellington on 5 February 1890. Stephenson next defended his title against Tom Sullivan on the Parramatta River, Sydney on 11 May 1891.
- The stake was £100 a side.
- Stephenson was defeated by Sullivan.
- See also New Zealand Sculling Championship. Stephenson then travelled overseas.
- On 1 September 1892 he raced Ned Hanlan in a two miles race in Toronto, Canada and he (Stephenson) lost by two lengths.
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