He became the World Sculling Champion in 1868 and was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper and Robert Chambers.

He was born to James and Jane Renforth in New Pandon Street in the Manors district of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The work involved swinging a heavy hammer to strike pieces hot metal of positioned by the smith.

The job was physically demanding, but developed his upper body muscles and his stamina, something that served him well in his later career.

In 1866, Renforth was employed on the demolition of the old Tyne Bridge, ferrying men and materials back and forth.

This may have first given him the idea to take up competitive rowing as a means to make more money and help support his wife and child.

His career took a marked upward turn when he entered for a sculling race at the Thames Regatta in 1868.

Kelley was the current World Sculling Champion and Renforth was the obvious contender, so a match was arranged between the two men.

In 1869, Renforth became the landlord of the Belted Will Inn on Scotswood Road, Newcastle, a career move that both Clasper and Chambers had made before him.

After six months, in 1870, he moved on, to take over the Sir Charles Napier Inn, Queen Street, Newcastle.

A challenge was received from Canada to race a crew of four fishermen from Saint John, New Brunswick.

The race was held at Lachine, near Montreal, Quebec, in September, and the Tyne crew won easily.

In 1871, he accepted another challenge from the Canadians to race in Canada, and the crew prepared to travel to Saint John, New Brunswick.

An account of his final race and subsequent death was published in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle on 12 July 1871: His body was brought home to Tyneside and he was buried in St Edmund's Cemetery, Gateshead.