Charles A. Messenger

Charles Amos Messenger, a professional sculler, was born ca. 1855 in London where his family was well known in aquatic circles. His father James was a noted sculler and boat builder who in 1854 won the World Sculling Championship from Tom Cole (rower). James held the title for four years until beaten by the well known sculler Harry Kelley.

Charles Messenger went to Victoria, Australia where he frequently competed in regattas and matches. In July 1878 he rowed for the Sculling Championship of Victoria. His opponent was Christie, and the race was held on the lower Yarra River. Messenger won easily.

His principal performances in Sydney were in a waterman's skiff race at the national regatta where he rowed third to Power (15 lbs) and Pearce (55 lbs). In the third division of the Walker Whiskey race, he finished third to Michael Rush (rower) and R. Edwards. At the Grafton 1881 regatta, he started in the outrigger race against Rush and Elias C. Laycock, and was badly beaten.

In 1882 Messenger travelled to Auckland in New Zealand where he competed under the assumed name of ‘Carter.’ His trainer was Harry Floyd who was associated with many of the Sydney scullers. At the Mercury Bay regatta on 26 January 1882, Messenger beat A White in an outrigger race. A later match race between them for £100 a side had the same result as did another race at the Auckland Regatta. Later it was revealed who ‘Carter’ was. In March 1882 Messenger and William Hearn raced in Wellington for the Single Sculls Championship of New Zealand. See New Zealand Sculling Championship. The stake was £100 a side and Hearn won without any trouble. Messenger’s rowing weight was 11 stone (70 kg)

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