Chambers first appeared in a rowing contest at the age of 21, when he was beaten in a sculling race by a competitor named Hicks.

However his performances improved until he was drawn against the veteran oarsman Harry Clasper in the second heat of the Tyne sculling championship, in 1855.

Chambers took part in the sculling competition and lost in the final to teammate John Hawkes Clasper.

His perseverance in this and other races earned him the nickname "Honest Bob", showing how people admired a competitor who gave a brave, whole-hearted performance.

The race was close for the first mile, but then Chambers began to pull away from Kelley and finally won by 200 yards.

He was the first oarsman from the provinces to win this prestigious title and his backers rewarded him with a purse of 100 gold sovereigns.

In 1863 the Australian sculling champion, Richard A. W. Green, travelled to England for a match with Chambers, to be rowed on the Thames, from Putney to Mortlake i.e. the Championship Course.

Kelley retired but Chambers then won the title back in an open race with Joseph Sadler in 1866.

At the time, he was the landlord of the King's Head pub, St Anthony's in Newcastle and, in an attempt to improve his health, he briefly moved to Croft Spa near Darlington.

He was buried in Walker Churchyard and a magnificent memorial was erected over his grave, showing him in repose, with sculling oar lying alongside him.