Albert Goodyear

 

Balmain Rowing Club's Dinner

 

Mr Albert Goodyear, although last on the list of speakers, stood by no means least in the members estimation. He had taught them how to row, and owing to his efforts the club had since he joined won 10 out of 13 contests which spoke more than all the speakers could utter in his praise. The result of Mr Goodyears tuition was that for form in rowing the BRC could not be surpassed by any club in the colony.

 

Mr Goodyear rose and said he was perhaps better able to row than talk, but he could safely say that if desire to do anything ever held him, it was to-night in having the power sufficiently to thank them for their generous approval of his efforts which to him had been a labour of love. He heartily thanked them and would never forget their kindness and good feeling so warmly expressed that night.

 

Balmain Observer - Saturday 6 February 1886

 

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Mr Albert Goodyear, who was unanimously elected to the position of captain of the Balmain Rowing club, in the room of Mr F Smith MLA, who resigned, had a career of some note in amateur aquatic circles in the old country. Mr Goodyear was taught rowing under the auspices of the new London Rowing club, and his first win of importance was the juniors race in the Barnes regatta of 1873. He pulled in club’s senior races with varying success up to 1876, His best race on the Thames being in the Thames challenge eight at the Hornley regatta. On that occasion he pulled bow in the winning boat. Shortly after his arrival in the capital of New South Wales he joined the Balmain Rowing Club, and took a quiet part in pushing that club to the front. At the Balmain regatta, in 188? he pulled No. 2 in the Mercantile senior fours; and his crew won easily from the Sydney Rowing club representatives. In the following year he left for Cape Colony. He there joined the Civil Service Rowing Club where he found in a very backward state. Members gladly intrust the guidance of affairs to him, with the result that he coached and stroked the Cape boat to victory in the interprovincial fours race; but he was unfortunately disqualified on a trivial technical point. He, however, piloted the Cape men a good first in the racing cutter fours.

 

On leaving Cape Town he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had been chairman of the Civil Service Rowing Club achieving the premier position on the water; that an association had been formed, a series of regattas arranged, and an interprovincial race instituted; and that gene all activity pervaded all rowing circles where stagnation had hitherto prevailed. Sydney, however, presented too many attraction to such an enthusiastic lover of aquatics; and we next find the subject of this sketch, an active member of the Balmain Rowing club. To his experience on all rowing matters, and his indefatigable exertions in coaching members for the several races, must in a great measure be attributed the success of his club since 1885, when it won the maiden fours and double sculls races. Since that date the club has been represented in almost every open event; and a considerable number of winds has been scored, including first and second places in the senior fours at the last Balmain regatta. Mr Goodyear is deservedly popular with rowing men and particularly with members of his own club; and it is therefore to be wondered at that the club has selected him as it representative at the Rowing Association and on all important occasions, and, when a vacancy occurred, unanimously elected him as the working head of the club.

 

Australian Town and Country - 16 March 1887