Harry Clasper

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harry Clasper (5 July 1812 – 1870) was a famous British professional rower and boat-builder. He is credited with having invented the outrigger and spoon-shaped oars.

Clasper was a professional oarsman and an innovative boat-builder in the middle of the 19th century, based on the River Tyne in the north of England. In the early 1840s, he developed the first working outrigger, which helped him win the Royal Thames Regatta in 1844. The following year, he won the "Championship of the World" prize, again on the River Thames.

With Matthew Taylor, Clasper produced the first true rowing shells. He was also an enthusiastic proponent of the sliding seat.

[edit] Books

• Clasper, David, Harry Clasper, Hero of the North.

[edit] External links

• Friends of Rowing History information
• Harry Clasper information
• Harry Clasper — Hero of Tyneside
• North East Rowing information
• Newcastle and Gateshead history
• The sliding seat