New Zealand Sculling Championship

On 1 February 1881 Albert White of Mercury Bay offered to scull any person in New Zealand for the professional Championship of the country and for either £100 or £200.

Additionally William Hearn of Wellington, New Zealand also wanted a chance but could not raise the £100 and so offered £50.

On 26 March 1882 another race was held at Wellington for the Championship with Hearn rowing Charles A. Messenger from Victoria for a £100 a side.

Harrington rowed close to the shore and struck an underwater snag, which punctured his boat and caused him to retire.

On 5 February 1890 Charles Stephenson of Auckland, who had recently defeated Joseph Kemp on the Parramatta River, challenged Hearn in September 1889 to a championship match.

Sullivan took his chance and passed the opposition and stayed in front to the end easily winning by six lengths and in a time of 23m.33s.

On 26 December 1906 William Webb beat Jim Stanbury of Australia, the ex-world champion, on the Whanganui River.

The challenger performed much better than in the previous encounter and Fogwell crossed the line two lengths to the good in a time of 20m.01s.

In March 1914 a title match had been arranged between Fogwell and New Zealander Pat Hannan which was to be rowed in Sydney.

For unknown reasons the match was declared off and that Fogwell said he would hand the Title over to Hannan who then claimed to be Champion.

Hannan won but in a return match scheduled the following month he had to forfeit because of injury and Fogwell became the holder.

In October 1922 Pat Hannan beat Fred "Jumbo" Wells on the Wairau River for the NZ Championship.

The next match appears to have been between Pat Hannan and James Mason and was held on the Whanganui River on 27 November 1926.