Alf Felton
| Alfred D. Felton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 August 1889 Walker St, North Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Died | 15 December 1951 (aged 62) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Title | World champion sculler |
| Term | 1919 - 1920 |
| Predecessor | Ernest Barry |
| Successor | Ernest Barry |
Alfred D Felton, known as "Alf", was the first Australian after World War I to win the professional World Sculling Championship. Before the war seven other Australians had held the title.
Felton was born in Walker Street, North Sydney, on 28 August 1889. After he grew up he was employed as a blacksmith’s striker which helped develop his handsome physique and strength for rowing. By eighteen years of age he stood six feet two inches tall and weighed thirteen and a half stone. He became a pupil of former world champion Peter Kemp. Felton was involved in the normal smaller regattas and match races that were the bread and butter of the professional scullers. His first races of note were those held at Foxton, New Zealand when he was chosen as one of nine men from Australia to represent their country at the Foxton Handicap Races held on 2 and 3 December 1909. Eight New Zealand men made up the field and Felton was successful in beating all to take the £150 first prize and a cup valued at £25.
From these races Felton gained the reputation of a dashing sprinter and there was some doubt about his stamina in races longer than two miles. In June 1911 he raced Frank Hagney over the full length of the Parramatta course of about three and a quarter miles. He won easily. In April 1912 he beat William (Billy) Fogwell for the Northern Rivers (NSW) Championship. However he was criticised for delaying the start of the race by over an hour.
Felton was involved in an unpleasant affair at the end of 1912. Harry Pearce had been the Australian Champion since 1909 and had challenged Ernest Barry for the world title. Not long before Pearce’s departure for England, Felton, Charles Towns, and Jim Paddon all challenged Pearce for his Australian Championship. The lateness of the challenges was intended to force Pearce to forfeit his domestic title so that the challengers could decide among themselves who should be the new champion. Rather than jeopardise his World Title chances Pearce forfeited his title which was then claimed by Felton. Felton and Towns raced in January 1913 and the match was described as a midget verses a giant. Towns was much smaller and weighed less than Felton who won the race by four lengths. Yet because of high winds which blew Towns off course the question of whom was the better was not really answered. It was somewhat answered when Jim Paddon handsomely beat Felton by two minutes in a race held in February 1913. Thus Felton lost the local championship. Pearce and Felton had an actual race in Sydney in September 1914 for £200 a side but no championship was involved. Pearce initially led by after one mile Felton took the advantage and won comfortably in a time of 20m.30s. See Also Australian Sculling Championship.
...
Wikipedia