The English Sculling Championship developed out of informal competitions between working watermen on rivers such as the Thames and the Tyne.
The first recognised Champion was Charles Campbell (rower) who beat John Williams in September 1831 on the Thames.
To bring order out of chaos the proprietors of the “Daily Chronicle” offered a silver cup as an emblem for the English Championship and stated that it was first to be rowed for in an open regatta.
The regatta was held on the Tyne in March 1877 and the cup was won by Robert W. Boyd when he beat W. Nicholson of Stockton.
To encourage the sport the proprietors of the London “Sportsman” gave another cup to be raced for on similar conditions.
The following year in September he defended his English title against a challenger from Australia, James Wray.