George Whelch

Last updated April 03, 2019

George Edwin Whelch (December 1879 – 6 October 1960) was one of six New Zealand oarsman who attempted to win the World Professional Single Sculls title. He was born near Akaroa where he lived for most of his life. In 1903 he married Sarah Gundy and they had two children.

New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.

The World Sculling Championship (1863–1957), evolved from the Championship of the Thames for professional scullers.

Akaroa is a small town on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name. The name Akaroa is Kāi Tahu Māori for "Long Harbour", which would be spelled "Whangaroa" in standard Māori.

Amateur Record

Whelch had won the Dominion (i.e. New Zealand) single sculls Championship three times (once against William Webb), and twice won the double sculls rowing bow with Jack Woodill. By 1908 he had started in fifty-six regatta events, of which he won forty-six and had come second in a further seven. He then turned professional.

William Webb (rower) New Zealand rower and World Champion sculler

William Charles Webb was the first New Zealander to hold the professional World Sculling Championship title. He was also known as Bill or Billy Webb.

New Zealand Champion

His first professional race, for the Australian title, was in Newcastle, Australia, against Ben Thoroughgood who won by three lengths despite a game attempt by Whelch to overtake him. William Webb had gained the New Zealand professional single sculls title in December 1906 and in August 1907 had won the World Title. Whelch then challenged Webb for the New Zealand title but Webb declined as he did not wish to risk a loss on a lesser title which would have damaged his reputation as World Champion. Webb therefore forfeited the New Zealand title to Whelch. He (Whelch) formalised this position by later winning a race which was for the New Zealand Sculling Championship, held at Akaroa in April 1909. His opponent was William (Billy) Fogwell of New South Wales. Both Whelch and Fogwell had been associated as training partners with William Webb and Richard Arnst respectively during the earlier Whanganui races for the World Championship. See also World Sculling Championship (Professional)

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas. It is the hub of the Greater Newcastle area which includes most parts of the local government areas of City of Newcastle, City of Lake Macquarie, City of Cessnock, City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council.

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 25 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

The New Zealand Sculling Championship was the professional Single Sculls Championship of New Zealand held between 1881 and the 1930s. The Championship declined following the First World War and with the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

World Title Challenge

Whelch challenged Arnst for the World Title who had taken it off Webb. The usual competition rules were agreed to for a stake of £300 a side with the match being scheduled for 2 April 1910. Unusually it was agreed to run the race on Akaroa Harbour as normally such races were held on rivers. The course was stated to be a little over three miles long. Akaroa was the home town of Whelch. Bad weather delayed the race for a couple of days which disappointed the large crowd who had gathered. When the race did finally get underway Whelch gained the initial advantage but Arnst was able to overcome the deficit and went on to win easily.^[1] Whelch, despite not winning had not disgraced himself; he had simply been beaten by a better man.

Akaroa Harbour is part of Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

New Zealand Title Defence

A year later, in April 1911, Whelch and Fogwell met again at Akaroa for the New Zealand Championship and a stake of £200 a side. Fogwell won. Holders of national titles were not always citizens of the country concerned. Whelch then retired from active racing but gave service as coach to the Akaroa Rowing Club for many years.

1910 Match Commemorated

The World Title match was commemorated in 1986 by the Akaroa Rowing Club in the form of a trophy. The club instigated the Arnst/Whelch Memorial Trophy which consists of a miniature single sculls boat and oars made of copper, mounted on a granite base and all enclosed in a glass and rimu case. It was competed for annually by single scullers over a three-mile course from The Kaik to the wharf; a very similar course to that of the 1910 race.

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References

↑ "The world professional sculling title", nzhistory.net.nz

The Evening Post newspaper. Issues of 17 March 1909, 21 April 1909, 12, 17, & 23 March 1910, 1, 4, & 5 April 1910, 15, 17, 18, & 20 April 1911.

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[1] "The world professional sculling title", nzhistory.net.nz