Weldon Champneys

Who was Weldon Champneys?

Weldon Champneys was an English clergyman and rower who twice won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta.

Champneys was born in Whitechapel, the son of the Very Rev William Champneys and his wife Mary Ann Storr. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford. In 1861 he rowed bow in the Oxford crew in the Boat Race. Also in 1861 he partnered Walter Bradford Woodgate to win Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta. The pair repeated their success in 1862.

Champneys took holy orders and in 1881 was vicar of Haslingden, rural dean for Whalley and proctor in convocation for the Archdeaconry of Blackburn.

Champneys died at Haslingden at the age of 52.

Champneys married Frances Sophia Feilden in Kensington on 1879. His brother Basil Champneys was an architect and author and his brother Sir Francis Champneys, 1st Baronet a doctor. Francis Champneys was bow in Woodgate's infamous coxed four in 1868 when the cox jumped overboard.