Edward Williams
Ballarat Rowing Club (VIC)
Thomas Colles wrote an essay on rowing in Victoria in 1860s which was included in John Lang's book The Victorian Oarsman and which included the following insights into Williams.
A noted Ballarat oarsman. Whenever his city was represented in big races, Ned Williams was to the fore for many years. He went on with rowing till comparatively late in life, but whenever he appeared at the starting post his opponents could count on ding dong work before the race was over.
He is credited as being a founder of rowing in Ballarat and a founder of the Ballarat Regatta. In the introduction to the Ballarat Regatta section in John Lang's The Victorian Oarsman, the following description appears:
The first regatta was held on 3rd February, 1802, on Lake Burrumbeet through the work chiefly of Messrs. R. McLaren, W. Clarke, and Edward Williams. This last-named gentleman has been described as the father of rowing in the Ballarat district. He was a native of Bristol, England, and commenced rowing in 1851. Throughout his connection with rowing in Victoria till the Corio Bay Regatta in 1873, Mr. Williams was a successful oarsman.
Known rowing record
1862 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First
1863 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First
1863 - Ballarat Regatta, Double Scull, stroke - First
1863 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First
1864 - Melbourne Regatta, Challenge Pairs, bow - first
1864 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, stroke- First
1864 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First
1865 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1865 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First
1865 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1865 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First
1866 - Melbourne Regatta, Challenge Pairs, bow - first
1866 - Melbourne Regatta, Junior Gig for youths under 18 Years, three seat - First
1866 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1866 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1866 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Pair, bow - First
1867 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1867 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, two seat - First
1867 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Pair, stroke - First
1869 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First
1870 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1872 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1872 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First
1873 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Gig, three seat - First
1873 - Ballarat Regatta, Single Scull - First
1873 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Gig, stroke - First
1873 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Senior Gig, stroke - First
Andrew Guerin
January 2023