Kennebecasis Rowing Club, 1980

by: Dr. Bonnycastle

THIS MEMO IS FOR THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRIP TO NEWCASTLE AND "FOR THE PARTICULAR INFORMATION OF THOSE WHO HLPED THE CLUB FINANCE IT, AND WITH APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT."

THE TYNE TRIP - A REPORT

Thanks to fine support from some thirty friends of Rowing, the Kennebecasis Powing Club was able to accept an invitation to attend the 900th anniversary of the founding of the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and so repay an ancient debt to the Tyne Rowing Club.

Our hearty crew consisting of Mark (Captain) and David Allan and H. E. and Brian Flood, with coach Keith Ratcliff left Renforth on May 28, flew to Prestwick, rented a van and arrived safely at Newcastle the next day.

The crew was well received and royally entertained being guests at a civic luncheon where they presented greetings from the City of Saint John. They were also guests at a Rotary Club luncheon where they presented a pennant from the Saint John Rotary Club. Mark appeared on the Tely!

Our club was entered in two classes in the Tyne regatta, Senior A and Senior B. They were loaned a "four" and a cox was found. The top crew in the regatta was considered to be the University of Durham, one of the best clubs in the North and they were the eventual winners of-both our events. Kennebecasis placed second in both races, in one by some two feet and the second by slightly more. This made for an excellent start.

The crew then proceeded south to the London area with eyes on the Peterborough regatta. Here we were less successful due largely to the "loan" boat being rather problematical. There was serious trouble in steering causing off-course travel, hitting a buoy and moving spectators back from their seats on the bleachers.

Fortunately our coach was able to find out the trouble, unsuspected at first. Some new parts were acquired, the boat re-rigged, repaired and made more suitable to our oarsmen.

Next came the regatta at Reading, a major club regatta. Here we competed in Senior B. Our crew was now rounding into shape and greatly improved. We walked away with this event and were recipients of the gold medals.

Well received everywhere, royally entertained by all, our young oarsmen made an impressive showing and achieved all that we hoped for and even more than some of us expected.

From all accounts our rowers and their coach proved excellent ambassadors for Canada and showed that Rowing is flourishing in Renforth in 1980 as it was in 1871.

Thanks to good financial support by the recipients of this report and to the oarsmen paying their own expenses, other than direct travel, we should break even on the trip. A special thanks to Coach Ratcliff whose knowledge of Rowing in England made everything go smoothly both on and off the water.

Altogether, an excellent venture, thank you.

Cordially,

KENNEBECASIS ROWING CLUB INC.

C. H. Bonnycastle

President K.R.C.

Kennebecasis Rowing Club Inc.

P.O. BOX 68

ROTHESAY, N.B.

E05 2W0

-OFFICERS-

C.H. BONNYCASTLE, PRESIDENT

ROBT. HUTCHINSON, VICE PRESIDENT

F. CHARLES EMMERSON, SECRETARY

W.W. GARDINER, TREASURER

-PATRONS-

J.B.M. BAXTER, M.L.A.

ROBERT CORBETT, M.P.

RODMAN LOGAN, M.L.A.

BRENDA ROBERTSON, M.L.A.

MAYOR SAMUEL DAVIS

HONORARY PRESIDENT: DONALD W. ARMSTRONG