Frederick J Edwards
Coxed for Melbourne Rowing Club and Warehousemen Rowing Club (VIC) and rowed for Victoria Rowing Club then Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC)
One of the seven sons of James Edwards, boatbuilder. Many of James' sons coxed and coached club crews, probably to make them well known and trusted within the sport. It also assisted their rowing club tenants. He was educated at Scotch College Melbourne and coxed some of their crews from a very young age.
The Edwards brothers
Left to right - Standing: Charles H Edwards, Herbert C Edwards, Frederick J Edwards and Arthur Edwards
Seated: Sydney A Edwards, Robert D Edwards, Frank Edwards
Fred was successful in making the transition to rowing and competed successful at the senior level and then as the Victorian Professional Sculling Champion.
In his Australasian article on the family of 19 November 1938 page 21, R W E Wilmot provided the following background on Fred:
Fred steered Scotch College to victory in the Sumner Cup and was coxswain for Victoria in the last intercolonial race in fours and the first three crews in eights. He also rowed behind W. W. Senior in the Grand Challenge in 1884 for the Victoria Club, and behind R. D. Booth for Melbourne in 1888, his younger brother, Bertie, being the coxswain on each occasion.
Note to readers: There is a possibility of some confusion by the author between the brothers Fred and Frank Edwards who both coxed and attended Scotch College. Both started coxing at a very young age and so continued for more years than you would expect in modern times. The use of initials in most records makes it difficult to differentiate between the two at times. However, the record below is thought to be accurate.
Known rowing record
1874 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig Four, cox - First
1874 - Intercolonial Four Championship, cox - Second
1875 - APS Head of the River, First crew, cox - First
1875 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Four, cox - First
1876 - APS Head of the River, First crew, cox - First
1876 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, cox - First
1876 - Hobson Bay Regatta, Maiden Gig, cox - first
1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Four, cox - First
1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, cox - First
1877 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, cox - First
1877 - Albert Park Regatta, Maiden Four, cox - First
1877 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, cox - First
1877 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Four, cox - First
1877 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Junior Four, cox - First
1878 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, cox - First
1878 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Eight, cox - First
1878 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Junior Four, cox - First
1878 - Intercolonial Championship Men's Eight, cox - First
1879 - APS Head of the River, First crew, cox - First
1879 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Junior Eight, cox - First
1879 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Junior Four, cox - First
1879 - Intercolonial Championship Men's Eight, cox - Second
1880 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, cox - First
1880 - Intercolonial Championship Men's Eight, cox - First
1882 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eights for non-labourers, cox - First
1882 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Eight for non-manual labourers, four seat - First
1882 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, cox - First
1883 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Maiden Eight, cox - First
1884 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, two seat - First
1884 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Junior Four, stroke - First
1884 - Gelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First
1892 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Senior Four, stroke - First
1886 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First
1886 - Albert Park Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First
1886 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First
1887 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Maiden Scull - First
1888 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, bow - First
1889 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Scull - First
1892 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Senior Four, stroke - First
Andrew Guerin
January 2023