William Hearn was a champion professional sculler of New Zealand, who emigrated to Victoria at a young age. He came to New Zealand in 1862, and had been a resident in Wellington since January 1876, nearly all the time having been employed by Messrs Greenfield and Stewart, timber merchants.
Achievements
1867, at Hokitika Regatta, won All-comers Sculling Race, £20.
1869, at Hokitika, won All-comers Sculling Race, £20; also stroked winning crew in Four-oared Race.
1870, at Hokitika Regatta, won All-comers Sculling Race, £20.
1871, at Greymouth Regatta, won All-comers Sculling Race, £20, and stroked winning crew Four-oared Race; at Hokitika Regatta
1872, at Greymouth Regatta, won All-comers Sculling Race, £20; Hokitika, won All-comers Sculling Race, £20.
1873, at Greymouth Regatta, won All-comers Sculling Race £12.
1874, at Kaiapoi Regatta, won Champion Sculls, beating three others, and rowed No. 2 in winning crew for Four-oared Champion Race of £150.
1875, at Greymouth Regatta, rowed second to Jackson in All-comers Sculling Race, for £20.
1876, at Wellington Regatta, won Champion Sculls, rowed No. 2 in Dolly Varden crew, and won Champion Out-rigged Fours, £150, and In-rigged Fours £100.
1877, at Nelson Regatta, rowed in winning crew for Champion Outrigged Fours, £150; Inrigged Fours, £75 and cup; and Out-rigged Pairs.
1877, at Wellington Regatta, won Champion Sculls; also in crews for Out-rigged Fours, In-rigged Pairs, and In-rigged Fours.
1878, at Wanganui Regatta, won Sculling Race, Four-oared In-rigged Race, and Four- oared In-rigged Race, for Ladies' Plate.
1878, at Wellington Regatta, rowed in Dolly Varden crew, winning Champion Four-oared Outrigger Race, Inrigged Fours, and Champion Sculls.
1879, rowed and defeated Wing, of Melbourne, in a match for £25 a side.
1879, at Wellington Regatta, won Champion Sculls; rowed bow, and won In-rigged Fours; same year was defeated by Charles A. Messenger over a two-mile course on the Yarra.
1880, at Wellington Regatta, won Champion Sculls;
1880, at Wanganui Regatta, won Sculling Race.
1881, in July, rowed and defeated Albert White in Port Nicholson Harbour for Championship of New Zealand and £100 a side.
1882, beat Messenger over the same course for Championship and £100 a-side.
1885, at Riverton, rowed Harrington for Championship and £100 a-side, winning easily.
1888, took part in Handicap Out-rigger Sculling Race at Grafton Regatta, Clarence River, New South Wales, the handicap being as follows : — Ned Hanlan, scratch; Neilson, 3.5 lengths; Hearn, 4.5 lengths; Henry Ernest Searle, 7.5 lengths. Result— Searle, 1; Neilson, 2; Hearn, 3. Hanlan did not start. On 3 January 1888, at same regatta, rowed in Skiff Race. Hearn, carrying top weight, finished third, the feather weight winning. There was a field of eight.
Out of 43 events mentioned Hearn was victorious in 38, and defeated in only five. Such a successful career has fallen to the lot of very few scullers, either professional or amateur. His last match was on 5 February 1890 when he raced Charles Stephenson for the Championship of New Zealand. The stake was £100 a side and Stephenson won. Hearn was set to compete in January 1907 against champion sculler Jim Stanbury but the race does not appear to have happened.
