R Ward

Elswick Rowing Club, then Warehousemen Rowing Club and finally Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC)

Ward had a long and successful rowing career starting as a coxswain with the Elswick Rowing Club before taking up rowing with the Warehousemen Rowing Club. He finally raced with the most successful club of the period, Melbourne and gaining intercolonial selection in the intercolonial eights race of 1878.

Not only was he successful, but he raced in two momentous regattas in the history of the sport, the very first Melbourne Regatta in 1860 and the first intercolonial eights race in 1878, winning on both occasions.

Known rowing record

1860 - First Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four for the Grand Challenge Cup, cox - First (Elswick RC)

1860 - First Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig Four for the Silver Cup, cox - First

1860 - First Melbourne Regatta, Junior Pair, cox - First

1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, stroke - First

1871 - Warehousemen Challenge Cup in fours, bow - First (Warehousemen RC)

1872 - Melbourne Regatta, Maiden Gig Four, bow - First

1873 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Four, bow - First

1874 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig Four, bow - First

1876 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, bow - First (Melbourne RC)

1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, bow - First

1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First

1877 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, bow - First

1877 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First

1878 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, bow - First

1878 - Intercolonial Championship Men's Eight, bow - First

Andrew Guerin
January 2023

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.