Original Cover of the 1996 Regatta 125 Program

Chris Flood and Wayne MacFarlane, multiple gold-medallists

Jon Gogan, Canada Games double gold medallist

John Oxley, Canada Games gold medallist

Peter Oxley, Canada Games gold medallist

Kirsten Campbell and Angela Bate, Canadian Champions

The Kennebeccasis

The Kennebeccasis sculpture is a symbolic representation of place and culture.

"Places are reservoirs of human content"

"Culture is what defines place and its meaning to people"

-L. Lippard

Our place is a geographical position within our country, that of Atlantic Canada, and specifically the Kennebecasis River. The villages of Renforth, East Riverside/Kingshurst and Rothesay and the City of Saint John were the places of my youth. They shaped my life as well as the lives of all who live in these communities.

Saint John's "Great Race" of 1871 marked the three villages along its route, and thus became a historical catalyst which fused the concept for The Kennebeccasis sculpture.

Research at the New Brunswick Museum yielded documentation for the sculptural form based on the racing shell of the famous Saint John scullers, the Paris Four. In 1867, the Saint John crew challenged and beat the world champion English crew at the races in Paris, France, thus becoming known as the "Paris Four". The news of their win eclipsed even the news of the formation of the new Dominion of Canada.

The proposed sculpture, fabricated in bronze, will take the essential proportion and numerous details from the Paris Four shell rowed in the Great Race of 1871. The archives give a detailed account of this magnificent event, a rematch between the English crew and the Saint John crew. Twenty-five thousand people lined the three-mile route along the Kennebecasis River to watch this important moment in history.

The bronze element of the sculpture - the boat form - will be combined with two large pieces of granite - a natural, local geological element. The symbolic boat will span the two rocks like a bridge with a passage beneath created by an open space between the rocks. The granite will be covered with carving. The carving will include histories such as those of the Great Race, the Kennebecasis itself and the surrounding area; as well as maps, names of people involved with the project and art-related images.

To coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Great Race, I proudly join the people of Renforth, East Riverside/Kingshurst, Rothesay and Saint John to mark out place for today, for yesterday and for tomorrow.

Marlene (Robinson) Hilton-Moore

The two c's spelling differentiates the sculpture from the river. The Plan of the Course for the Anglo-Canadian Boat Race, Aug 23rd, 1871 and the Royal Kennebecasis Yacht Club charter serve as precedents.

Ed Winchester:

Bronze medallist at the 1996 World Rowing Championships in Scotland.

Member of the Canadian National Lightweight Rowing Team.

Sean Moore:

Member of the 1993 Canada Games Rowing Team.

Former medallist at the Canadian Rowing Championships.

Chris Flood & Wayne MacFarlane:

Gold and bronze medallists at the 1985 Canada Games (gold - men's pair; bronze - men's coxed four)

Silver and bronze medallists at the 1987 Pan-American Championships (silver - lightweight pair; bronze - lightweight four)

7th place finish at the 1991 Worlds in Vienna (men's lightweight four)

8th place finish at the 1989 World Championships in Yugoslavia (men's lightweight eight)

The Kennebecasis Rowing Club is proud to be hosting The Great Boat Race and the Wallace Ross Memorial Singles Race in conjunction with Regatta 125. We will be providing the equipment for the two races. The club has a long history of success having placed 6 athletes on Canada's International, World Championship and Olympic teams. Just recently Ed Winchester of the Kennebecasis Rowing Club won a bronze medal with Canada's eight man shell at the World Rowing Championships in Scotland. For The Great Boat Race our club's entry includes 3 former and current National Team members in Chris Flood, Wayne MacFarlane and Edward Winchester. The four man crew is completed with former Canada Games team member Sean Moore. Our team has thrown down the gauntlet to the Tyne crew of England for a place in history and the rights to the Great Boat Race gold medal.

The Captain's Dinner on May 10, 1996 held at the Riverside Country Club, was attended by 150 people. Dr. Harry Flood and Lorne Kilpatrick were inducted as honourary oarsmen of the Kennebecasis Rowing Club for appreciation of their years of dedication and service.

They join the list of the following people:

Dr. C.H. Bormycastle (1985)

J.D. McKenna (1992)

P.W. Oland (1989)

D.A. Macfarlane (1993)

R.L. Duffley (1990)

J.A. Potter (1993)

F.C. (Charlie) Emmerson (1991)

W.G. (Fred) Demers (1994)

P.G. Emmerson (1991)

R. Laskey (1995)

J.M. Grant (1992)

B. Hutchinson (1995)

Harry has been an integral part of the community. His voluntary service includes being President of the Kennebecasis Rowing & Canoe Club, chairman of the Renforth Rowing Regatta, venue manager for the 1985 Canada Summer Games, chairman of the Bicentennial Regatta, and current organizer of the re-enactment of The Great Boat Race.

Lorne is being recognized for his contributions as a coach and athlete. As a rower Lorne has garnered medals in provincial regattas while competing for the Kennebecasis Rowing Club. He later turned to coaching where his women's crews had many medal winning performances in provincial and Maritime competitions throughout the 1970's. These rowers also went on to compete successfully at the Canadian Championships and Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

Kennebecasis Rowing Club

A History of Tradition-Pulling with the Community

1985

- Canada Games Gold Medallists, Open Pair

- Canadian Schoolboy Championships- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

1986

- Canadian National Championships- 1st Open Pair

- Canadian National Championships- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

- Royal Canadian Henley Regatta- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

1987

- Silver Medallists Pan American Games (Indianapolis, USA) Lightweight Pairs Event

1988

- Canadian National Championships- 1st Open Pair

- Royal Canadian Henley Regatta- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

1991

- World Championships (Vienna, Austria)- 7th Lightweight Four

1992

- World Championships - 4th Lightweight Eight (Chris Flood)

1989

- Double Gold Medallist Canada Games- 1st Canada Games Open Pair with Jamie Cleveland, 1st Canada Games Open Double with Jeff Smith

- Canadian National Championships- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair with Jamie Cleveland

1985

- Canada Games Gold Medallists Open Quadruple Sculls with Don Dickison, Dave Dickison

1991

- Canadian National Championships- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

- Eastern Canadian Championships- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

1992

- Canadian National Championships- 1st Senior Lightweight Pair

- Royal Canadian Henley Regatta- 1st Intermediate Lightweight Pair, 1st Intermediate Heavyweight Pair