Corio Bay celebrates 150 years of Geelong sporting pride

The Corio Bay Rowing Club (Corio Bay) marked its 150th anniversary at the weekend with a members celebration including a commemorative boat naming and book launch.

The club was established in June 1873 and has a proud history tied to some of our city’s sporting legends and major local and global events affecting the Geelong community. 

A Good Course, written by journalist and club member David Uren, records the club’s history from the first president George Belcher – an early Geelong mayor and benefactor of Belcher’s Fountain on the corner of Geringhap and Malop Streets – and enduring turbulent times including World War, recession, and pandemic, to reach its present day success.

One of the most outstanding scullers of the 1960s and 1970s, Jeff Sykes, has been a member for near 70 years and built Australia’s leading rowing boat manufacturing business, Sykes Racing, here in Geelong.  He was the principal benefactor of the new Jeff Sykes Rowing Centre and also coached World Championship rower Leisa Wilson (nee Patterson).

Leisa was honoured at the celebration event with a boat named after her, Leisa, along with boats named to remember the contribution of George Upward and a third named Corio Bay 150 to mark the anniversary.

It’s a proud history that has helped make Geelong a mecca for rowing. Corio Bay Rowing Club has been awarded the premier rowing club in the state in three of the last five years, defeating the metropolitan clubs.

Today, among the 250 members are several former Olympians and World Championship finalists, including Dick Garrard, Pam Westendorf, Phoebe Stanley, Jeff Sykes, David Ramage and Jeff Watt.  As well as the new generation of champions including Maggie Foley, Xavier Hall-Sullivan, Charlie Rahdon and youngsters Zander and Tadhg Bailey.

The 150 year commemorative book, A Good Course written by David Uren, is available from the Corio Bay Rowing Club for $40.00 plus postage, email secretary@coriobayrowing.com

My contribution to the Corio Bay Rowing Club was on a voluntary basis to support the sport I love and the fabulous members of the Club.