Saint John Globe, Wednesday, August 24, 1921

Renforth Regatta A Great Success

Fine Weather, Great Crowds, Good Races.

In a setting of unsurpassed scenic grandeur and in the glory of a perfect autumn day, the happy and prosperous people of an ancient city celebrated at Renforth on Tuesday afternoon an aquatic event which half a century ago gave St. John undying fame in the world of athletics and won for her oars everlasting prestige.

Nature has lavished most generous, even gorgeous scenic beauty on the Kennebecasis, with her broad waters vibrant to the moods of ever-changing breezes and her magnificent skyline presenting constant variety of enchantment, and on Tuesday, St. John, with her wealth of marine tradition, her ardent love for the sea and her devotion to the royal sport of boating, furnished added interest in an aquatic display which would be hard properly to describe and which compares favorably with the most pretentious outings ever held in any other waters.

Half a century ago St. John sent thousands to witness an event which was of world-wide importance; on Tuesday that event was celebrated by a greater crowd and amid a scene which for beauty surpassed that epic which gave the suburb of Renforth its name.

The outstanding feature of the anniversary observance is that St. John is still keenly interested in rowing and that her sons retain the ability to do justice to her reputation. It is strikingly evident, however, that the hard work in training and practice which made the Paris crew supreme in the world of oars is needed for the present generation before the potentialities of the local scullers can be developed properly. St. John has the men; coaching and practice is required.

Halifax co-operated most generously to make the Renforth regatta a success and the sister city, with a large representation of able oarsmen who were well trained and coached, made a most commendable showing in the Maritime championships.

The most important prize of the day, the Ross Memorial Cup, which has been characterized by experts as the most valuable and most splendid trophy ever manufactured in Canada, and one of the finest in America, was won for the first time by a local boy, Harry Giggey of the Millidgeville Summer Club. The youngster, who also took the intermediate championship unopposed, rowed well, and demonstrated that he is a powerful, skilled oarsman with a bright future. His long, sweeping stroke reminds one of the powerful drive which has carried Hilton Belyea, Maritime, New England and Canadian National Champion, to so many victories. The national champion, who was given a wonderful ovation before, during and after his victory in the senior singles, was in good form and took the title with little effort.

In point of closeness of finish and for general excitement, the boys’ race for the four-oared title was the thriller of the afternoon. The youngsters battled hard from start to finish, with the boats closely bunched and the West End Improvement League crew, which won, was hard driven over the line by Renforth. The winners owe a great deal to J. Fred. Belyea, former member of the Belyea professional champion four, as the veteran trained and coached the West Side victors. His work is good evidence of what coaching will do.

For closeness of contest, the Ross Memorial Cup race was next in importance. Grenville McCavour, who took part, was crowded twice on the run to the turning buoy and on one occasion had to stop rowing as two of his opponents had edged into his water. McCavour did not exert himself on the back stretch.

The victors in the senior and junior fours were St. Mary’s crews and they went true to form, as had been predicted.

From the spectators’ standpoint, the development of the meet was slow and general comment was that the representative contestants should have been indicated by colors, in addition to numerals. There was also dissatisfaction that the results were not announced more fully, immediately after each event.

Conservative judges of crowds estimated on Tuesday afternoon that 15,000 people attended the regatta. In addition to the automobiles parked in the reserved area, a line of autos, in some cases several deep, extended from Renforth to Riverside station.

Among those on board the Neptune, besides the officials, were His Worship Mayor Schofield, Commissioners Bullock, Jones and Frink; W. E. Scully, M. P. P., Dr. J. B. M. Baxter, K. C., M. P. P.; R. C. Irvine, representing the Montreal A. A. C.; Hon. R. J. Ritchie; A. W. Covey, President of the M. P. B. A. A. A.; Dr. Thomas Walker, L. R. Ross, Rev. R. J. Fulton; two old oarsmen of the time of the famous race fifty years ago; several officers off H. M. S. Cambrian and others.

Craft of all types of descriptions lined the course off shore for a distance of half a mile. The Neptune, which was the judges’ boat, and the Lord Beatty, which was gorgeously decorated, both carried large crowds of guests. His Lordship Bishop LeBlanc and Rev. William M. Duke were guests of Mr. Thomas Nagle on the Lord Beatty. The Wasson and the Alice R. were also in the line, together with a fleet of passenger vessels from the regular river services. Even the Maggie Miller had been requisitioned for the holiday, and the well known ferry boat was quite gay in flags and bunting.

Summary Of Contest

Junior Four-oared Shell (maritime championships)-First, North West Arm Rowing Club, composed of Arthur Hickey, William Hunter, J. L. Golden and Howard Hickey; second, Millidgeville Summer Club, composed of M. A. Turner, George White, Robert Irvine and Harry Webster; third, Renforth Athletic Association, composed of G. Richardson, E. Gunn, P. F. Lordly and Guy Lordly. Time 9.45 2-5.

Swimming Race for Boys (50 yards). (16 years and under)-First, Douglas McKinnon; second, Nicholas Bone.

Junior Single Sculls (maritime championships)-First, George Power, St. M. A. A. C.; second, Lawrence O’Connell, St. M. A. A. C.; third, James Flemming, R. A. O. C. Times 11.22 3-5.

Yachts (Sailing Race). (Distance 5 Miles)-First, Vagabond, W. Logan, 4.49.35; second, Louvina, R. B. Murray, 4.52.07. Start at 3.55.

Swimming Race for Girls (50 yards). (16 years and under)-First, Doris Dawes; second, Edith Dawes.

Boys’ Four-oared Shell-First, West End Improvement League, composed of Belyea, Stackhouse, Bennett and Tibbetts; second, Renforth Athletic Outing Association, composed of G. N. Price, R. Henry, D. Fowler, and M. Dalton; third, St. John Amateur Rowing Development Association, composed of N. Ring, G. Stubbs, R. White and R. Brayley. Time 5.39 1-5.

Dinghy Race-First, B. J. Heans, 5.01.47; second, E. N. Herrington, 5.02.29; third, H. W. Heans, 5.03.11.

Intermediate Single Sculls (maritime championships)-Harry Giggey, Millidgeville Summer Club rowed this race against time owing to Power’s absence. Time 12.27 2-5.

Yacht Tenders (one-half mile)-Grenville Ring won this race unopposed.

Senior Four-oared Shell-First, St. Mary’s A. A. C., composed of John O’Neill, Elfred Scallion, William Moriarity and J. Howland; second, North West Arm Rowing Club, composed of J. Calann, E. C. Briggs, H. W. Young and W. D. Melvin; third, Renforth Athletic Outing Club, composed of George Wetmore, D. W. Patterson, James Flemming and P. Patterson. Time 10.29 2-5.

Swimming Race for Ladies (open)-First, Miss Rita Carney, St. John Swimming Scows; second, Miss Teresa Ready, Y. M. C. L.

Single Sculls (Matched Race)-First, Willie Logan; second, Donald McCavour.

Senior Single Sculls, for Fulton Memorial Trophy (maritime championships)-First, Hilton Belyea, St. John Amateur Rowing Club; second, F. R. Hart, North West Arm Rowing Club. Time 11.16 2-5.

Ross Memorial Race for Young Men Under 22 Years of Age-First, Harry Giggey, Millidgeville Summer Club; second, Lawrence O’Connell, St. Mary’s A. A. C.; third, George Power, St. Mary’s A. A. C. Time 11.47 1-5.

Canoe Race (Men’s Doubles)-Renforth Athletic Outing Club, composed of Guy Lordly and P. F. Lordly, rowed this race against time owing to the withdrawal of the other contestants.

Swimming Race for Men. (100 yards Open)-First, George Burton, Y. M. C. A.; second, McGinnis, St. John Swimming Scows.

Motor Boats

In the speed boat race, the Silver Spray was disqualified for not turning the second buoy and the Anzac won first prize and the Auto Rite second. Time: Start, Silver Spray, 4.00; Auto Rite, 4.04; Anzac, 4.08; finish, Silver Spray, 4.15.30, Auto Rite, 4.22.30l Anzac, 4.21.15.

In the motor boat race, the Dash met with an accident before the time of starting the race, and the Dixie, which was also entered, did not appear on the starting line.

Officials

Referee-R. T. MacIlreith, President M. P. A. O. A.

Judges at Finish-J. L. Gowen, St. Mary’s A. A. C.; J. A. Gregory, St. John A. R. C.; Peter Clinch, St. John A. R. D. C.

Judges at Turn-Frank T. Belyea, St. John A. R. C.; J. Fraser Gregory, Millidgeville Summer Club.

Timers-W. R. Scriven, N. W. A. R. C.; J. C. Chesley, St. John A. R. C.; A. P. Paterson, Renforth A. and O. C.

Clerks of Course-Harry Ervin, M. P. A. O. A.; Fred W. Coombs, Renforth A. and O. C.; W. W. Hoyt, M. P. A. O. A.

Starter-Frank White, St. John A. R. C.

For the Power Boat Races.

Judges-Wm. Keirvin, George Palmer.

Timers-Kenneth MacRae, R. McAvity.

Starter-Commodore J. H. Barton.

Crew Disqualified

At a meeting of the Maritime Provinces Amateur Oarsmen Association, held on Tuesday evening, with R. T. MacIlreith presiding, it was decided to disqualify the junior four-oared crew representing St. Mary’s A. A. C., of Halifax, for rowing outside the flag buoy. The Assumption four-oared crew in the senior event was disqualified as well for turning from starboard to port instead of from port to starboard. Notice of motion was given that the annual meeting of the association should be held in future on the evening preceding the day of the championship meet.

Regarding the disqualification of the St. Mary’s junior crew, officials of the club Tuesday evening, expressed strong disapproval of the decision. It was always customary, they averred, to use the shore line for one side of the course, and yesterday was the first time in their experience in aquatic events that they had ever seen two buoys used for crews to pass between as a finish line.

They had received no notification, they said, of the meeting of the M. P. A. O. A., at which the decision was made, despite the fact that they were entitled to representation at that meeting. The officials said that they intended to register a protest against the decision.

On The River

As usual there was some trouble from motor boats and other craft drifting onto the course, and the police boats were kept busy to chasing them back. Early in the day their efforts were fairly effective, but towards evening the course had to be cleared before every race and in several instances boats worked well out onto the fairway while the events were on. Near the finish of the boys’ four-oared race a speed boat dashed out from behind the finish line and stirred the water so badly in front of one of the crews, drawing some very caustic comments from the other craft near the line. Another motor boat caused some delay in the starting of the Rose Memorial race by taking up its position in the middle of the course, and only moves after repeated requests from the officials. Considering the number of boats to be handled, the police did well and kept the way reasonably clear in a courteous and effective manner. However, they could not be everywhere at once, and as some of the other boats had more speed than their own they had to keep busy continually. Fortunately the great majority of craft kept well back in their own water and cooperated with the officials in giving the rowers a chance, and the scenes at the Courtenay Bay regatta, where the oarsmen were continually interfered with, were not repeated. With some few exceptions the conduct of the owners of the boats lying outside the course left nothing to be desired.