He was a founding member of the Australian National University Boat Club when rowing commenced at that institution in 1964.
He raced in their colours at the 1968 Australian Rowing Championships contesting the coxless pair national title.
[8] Jelbart first made state selection for Victoria in the senior men's eight of 1968 contesting the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.
[2] Australian representation first came for Jelbart in 1970 when the stern four plus Jelbart and the coxswain of the winning Victorian Kings Cup eight were selected as the nucleus of the Australian eight to race at the 1970 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines Canada.
In 1978 Jelbart made another Australian representative appearance when he raced in a coxed pair at the 1978 World Rowing Championships with Bill Dankbaar and Brent Parsons.