James Cardwell Gardner

Who was James Cardwell Gardner?

James Cardwell Gardner, also known by his nickname Jumps Gardner, was an English doctor and amateur rower who won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta and the Wingfield Sculls and rowed for Cambridge in the Boat Race in 1888, 1889 and 1890.

Gardner was born at Bunbury, Cheshire, the son of Rev. James Cardwell Gardner, vicar of Butler's Marston Warwickshire. He was educated at Rugby School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Gardner won the Colquhoun Sculls in 1886 and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1887. Cardwell stroked the winning Cambridge crews in the Boat Race in 1888 and 1889, although they lost in 1890. In 1889 he won the Silver Goblets at Henley and in 1890 he won the Wingfield Sculls. Gardner stroked Leander Club and Thames Rowing Club crews at various regattas and played rugby for the Midland Counties. He was also a boxer and shooting champion.

Gardner became a doctor and was house physician and resident house surgeon at St George's Hospital. He was later in general practice at Amersham and was Medical Officer of Health for Amersham and Justice of the Peace for Buckinghamshire. In sporting activities he played association football and golf, captained Amersham cricket team until he was 60 and was secretary of the Old Berkeley Hunt.