Saint John Times Globe, Thursday August 15, 1996

Oar in hand, our writer learns what it will take for our rowers to keep the glory they earned 125 years ago in the first Great Race. Be warned, England: Our boys are race-ready.

By Alison Hughes

Anyone watching as Canadians gathered rowing medals at the Olympics had to be impressed by the coordinated grace of the teams.

Twos, fours, and eights stroked together in perfect unison, propelling their sleek sculls forward through the water.

Although the sport obviously requires immense strength and excellent conditioning, the movement of oars through water looked simple enough. Dip, pull, lift - not much different from your average dory, you'd think.

Think again.

Having recently taken oar in hand, I can tell you how hard it is. Silken Laumann I'm not.

For stability's sake, I was slipped into an eight person scull. There was a coxswain steering from the stern, but from my position in the bow seat, he was merely a distant voice.

What I could hear, however, was recreational rowing coach Marc Lewis bellowing instructions. "Slow the slide down! I want to see a hard fast stroke and slow recovery," he yelled. "Come in and out to the same place every stroke. You're moving your arms in a circle," he instructed me.

Uh-huh. I proceeded to "catch crabs" a rowing euphemism for getting the oar stuck in the water mid-stroke. It was less than graceful and made me appreciate the coordinated, if not perfect, strokes of my seven patient oar-mates. Most of them had less than two months experience, but they already worked as a team.

As we returned to shore, a double scull shot past, barely skimming the surface. Sean Moore, third seat in the upcoming Regatta 125's "Great Race" re-enactment, and training partner Peter Oxley were working out.

The other "Great Race" team members, Chris Flood (second seat), Wayne MacFarlane (bow) and Ed Winchester (stroke) are currently away at competitions. Mr. Flood and Mr. MacFarlane are past Pan-American medal winners for Canada. This week, Mr. Winchester won a bronze medal for Canada at the World Championships in Europe.

Choosing the team for the Saint John versus Tyneside, England match was a lengthy process. Rowers from around the province paired up with each other in a series of heats. Times were added up and the four fastest cumulative times won. As a result, the teammates live in Moncton, Woodstock, and West Saint John, with Mr. Flood returning to race from the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Moore, a former Canadian titleholder, is the only member from the original 1871 team's Carleton (West Saint John) turf. He started rowing in 1990, while he was attending ST. Malachy's High School. My friends were into it and it seemed like a lot of fun. Also the local guys had done really well in 1989 and I'd heard about them," he recalls.

Mr. Moore practices eight to ten times a week and would like to be doing more. Although this means 6:00 a.m. mornings and late nights, before and after work, he doesn't mind.

"It's such fun and there's such good people around here," he says. "We train against each other and that's the best way to do it."

At 22 years of age, Mr. Moore is the youngest team member. In lightweight mens, competitors often peak late, anywhere between thirty and forty.

"These guys have so much depth and experience," he says of his teammates. "Myself, being the younger member of the crew, I can feed off them and learn."

The race slated for Saturday, Aug.24 is 6,000 metres long, three times as arduous as the Olympic events. Spectators will see the teams leave the Renforth wharf starting line, row 1,500 metres before making the sprint to the finish again. According to Mr. Moore, that length is to a lightweight team's advantage.

"I'm happy that it's longer because I hear that (the Tyneside four) are larger and heavier," he says. "So we may be more aerobically fit even though they have the size edge."

The Tyne Rowing Club is represented by David Hartshorn (bow), Al Johnston (second seat), Brian Nutall (third seat), and Brad Hardwick (stroke). With two of the rowers measuring in a 6'5", and weighting 14.5 and 15 stone, they are definitely the larger crew. They will be arriving at the airport on Saturday, at 5:30 p.m., and the public is invited to help welcome them.

Gregory Zed, past mayor of Renforth, was thrilled when he finally got the British club to agree to race. Just making contact with English rowers was a process that took over a year.

Ed Farren, Saint John's Economic Development Officer, turned out to have the needed contacts from friends he had made while studying in England.

"Ed said, 'Leave it to me,'" Mr. Zed recalls, "and sure enough in January, 1995, he came back with the contact information for the Tyne Rowing Club."

To organize the Regatta, Mr. Zed looked to the young people who had sparked his interest in rowing in the first place. With the help of student employment grants, he hired on Tracey Fraser, a physical education major, and Mike Malone, a public relations student. Brendan Kilfoil is coordinating operations as vice-president of administration.

"It's youth on a mission," Mr. Zed says. "The Regatta is really a coming together of dedicated youth and a caring community in a partnership."

So far, plans are progressing smoothly. The only factor that can't be predicted is the weather. Mr. Zed hopes that the weather will be calm and smooth, but is prepared to hold the race on the following day if necessary.

Other than that, he has only one wish.

"I believe that we are going to be surrounded by people who are genuinely interested in the race and its outcome," he reflects. "I'd just like to see as many people as possible come from all around the province to celebrate."

If Regatta 125 equals the original 1871 attendance of 15,000 people, everyone will be happy.

Of course, Mr. Moore, it wouldn't hurt if our men win. We have a tradition to uphold.