Saint John Times Globe, August 1996

Rowers Arrive: The rivals in a long-awaited rematch of the international race that killed 1871's 'Michael Jordan' finally have a chance to eye each other.

By: Andrew Aster

Times Globe staff writer

Four young rowers from Tyne Rowing Club got a warm welcome as they arrived at the Saint John Airport Saturday evening.

But a healthy tension hung in the air just the same. After all, this rematch has been a long time coming.

These men are back to re-enact the fateful 1871 day on the Kennebecasis River when English sculling champion James Renforth dropped dead at the oar as his team was trying to defend its world title against a New Brunswick crew. More than a century later, the upcoming weekend's Regatta 125: An anniversary of Victory will be a showdown of sorts and both the Tyneside and Renforth teams want to win.

"Our crew is taking this quite seriously. We have the home advantage and we're quite psyched," said Gregory Zed, past mayor of Renforth, which was renamed in honour of the fallen rower, and chairman of the race committee. He was busy at the airport on Saturday helping hang a sign that said, "Welcome British Rowing Team."

And then they arrived, big-shouldered under their Tyne Rowing Club jackets: David Hartshorne, 29, Al Johnston, 32, Brian Nutall, 26, and Brad Hardwick, 22.

"Right now we're in the dark about our opponents and the course," said Mr. Johnston, 32, second seat for the team and a computer specialist by trade. "It's a three-mile course so we'll have to divide it evenly and keep it steady. That way, in case they're faster we can react."

"We have no idea how we'll do," said Mr. Hartshorne, steersman for the team. "We'll just give it our best shot."

One factor the rowers are a bit leery about is that they won't be using their own equipment, said Mr. Johnston. They'll be using shells and oars borrowed from the Kennebecasis Rowing Club.

The British team has been training hard on the River Tyne at Newburn, rowing four days a week.

Brian Flood, a home-team rower and host for the visiting team, said the key to success is "training like an animal."

Mr. Flood was part of the Saint John crew when it went to Tyneside in 1981, the 600th anniversary of the town. He was given a personal tour of James Renforth's grave with Mr. Renforth's grandson.

"He was quite surprised about what a big deal rowing was," said Mr. Flood. "But at the time, in 1871, there was no basketball and baseball was barely out of the chute. People were betting $100,000 on the race and in today's dollars that would be millions.

"James Renforth would have been like their Michael Jordan."

Mr. Johnston said there has been lots of English press coverage of the return match in Canada. His teammate, Mr. Hardwick, brought along newspapers from Newcastle to show the coverage back home.

Jude Carson, one of the hosts waiting at the airport, had mixed feelings about welcoming the rowers.

"I know I'll end up liking them, " she said. "But then I don't know if I could shout 'Go, go!' during the race.

"We asked if we could host one of the shorter rowers," the Renforth woman added, laughing. "We weren't sure we'd have a long enough bed. " Both Mr. Johnston and Mr. Nutall stand six-foot, five-inches tall.

Mr. Flood was also glad to be part of the welcoming committee, but he too spoke in the spirit of friendly competition.

"They better be good because our team is tough," he said.

Mr. Hardwick had an amiable answer: "We just want to bring home the trophy."

The re-enactment of the Great Boat Race of 1871 sets off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. from the Renforth wharf.