Sydney Smith
Elswick Rowing Club (Vic)
1860 – Melbourne Regatta Grand Challenge Cup, bow – First
1860 – Melbourne Regatta Senior Gigs, bow – First
1860 – Melbourne Regatta Challenge Pairs, bow – First
1861 – Melbourne Regatta Grand Challenge Cup, bow – First
1862 – Melbourne Regatta Grand Challenge Cup, bow – First
Grand Challenge Cup which is now the Elswich Challenge Cup
The first amateur regatta to be conducted in Australia was the Melbourne Regatta in 1860. The founder of this regatta was 2010 inductee Prof Martin Irving. The Grand Challenge Cup for senior fours was the biggest amateur race in the land at that stage. The Elswick Rowing Club won the race in 1860, 1861 and 1862, thus winning the Challenge Cup outright. The three crews comprised four oarsmen who won the trophy at least twice each. They were the first Victorian amateur champions.
Andrew Guerin 2015