History of Rowing in the ACT

Celebrating 60 years

12. CGS Masters

CGS Masters Rowing was formerly CGS Old Boys. On several occasions, ‘Old Boys’ of Canberra Grammar School ( CGS) rowed under the banner of CGS Rowing Club since its inception over 60 years ago. CGS Old Boys became formally established in the early 1990s when Rick Warboys, a parent, asked the Master-in-Charge if parents could regularly row the boats refurbished by the parents following the loss of many boats in the CGS shed due to a boat trailer accident on the Hume Highway.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, CGS Old Boys participated in two Masters Games, an Australian Masters Regatta in Canberra, NSW Masters Regattas as well as local Point Score Regattas. Perhaps the most infamous event involving the ‘Old Boys’ was when their 8 unceremoniously sank in Central Basin during a stormy Australia Day Bridge to Bridge Race. The crew were ‘in drag’ as they were unable to field a proper mixed 8!

CGS Old Boys provided many Boat Race Officials (BRO) and board members to ACT Rowing Association (ACTRA) at this time.

CGS Old Boys have built five start platforms for local regattas and have provided many other support services to Rowing ACT and the BROs, the most notable being the barbeque on the 1000 m platform.

With the advent of CGS becoming co-educational, CGS Old Boys changed its name to CGS Masters Rowing and continues its main roles to support rowing at CGS and to provide parents and others with an introduction to rowing in the ACT.

Canberra Grammar School training 1983

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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.