1977

12 Oarsmen Among 55 Members

New Fredericton Club Has Unlimited Potential

FREDERICTON - Professor G. Barry Thompson of the University of New Brunswick has had an interest since 1959, the interest to form a rowing club in the City of Fredericton. All it took was somebody else to show an interest.

That somebody turned out to be Rothesay’s Erle Bergh, president of the newly formed New Brunswick Rowing Association. As a result of Bergh’s call to Thompson during the winter, the new Fredericton Rowing Club has become an actuality.

An appeal to the city itself for interested members was made, said Thompson, through an advertisement in the local newspaper. "We ran the ad in late June because we wanted to see just how much interest there was," recalls Thompson.

"At our first organizational meeting, about 40 people, ranging from senior aged people to 14 years-old showed up. Five or six people who said they had considerable rowing experience were there."

What resulted was an executive made up of Thompson as the president, Ron Marshall as the vice-president, Gary Stairs as the treasurer, John Bamford as the secretary and Gary Brown and Derwin Spencer as club captains and boatmen. Total membership in the club now is 55. "These are people who signed up as having a definite interest in the club."

Among the 55 members, 12 of which are actual oarsmen (one ladies crew, one male crew and one senior citizen’s crew), Thompson says there are a few individuals with extensive rowing backgrounds.

These include people such as Tony Rhinelander, who rowed stroke for the Oxford University Rowing teams of England, Dave Bonham, former member of the Toronto Argonaut team, John Bell, a man with 19 years of rowing experience in England and Pete Pearce.

But despite the allotment of impressive personnel available to the club, there are problems, many problems. Thompson realizes this.

With only one boat, that being the same straight four given to the Kennebecasis Club by the MicMac club in 1972 (Kennebecasis have now given it to the Fredericton club), equipment, or the lack of it, poses a serious obstacle.

"A major concern will be to get enough equipment to keep everybody happy." Thompson stresses, "as well, we’re going to have to get a boat house. We need to properly store our racing shells." Currently, the Club, a month and one-half old, is operating out of the Fredericton Boat Club facilities.

The 30 year-old Spencer, who rowed nine years with the Toronto Argonaut club, echoes Thompson’s sentiments. He indicated the club hopes to acquire two new boats by next spring, an endeavor that will cost $6,000. As well, Spencer stressed the need for a coach’s boat with motor.

Both Thompson and Spencer agree the facility at the Fredericton Boat Club is fully adequate in satisfying the needs of the Rowing Club.

Thompson is looking for the new provincial association to help in the way of meeting the financial burden the club will face in these, the formative years. "The Association permits us to have representation on the Sports Fredericton in New Brunswick. It also makes us eligible to receive appropriate Sport N.B. grants and assistance from the provincial governing bodies."

Money problems aside, both Thompson and Spencer are confident rowing will be successful in Fredericton area. The potential for rowers, particularly with the University of New Brunswick, is unlimited, says the president.

Spencer says he is hoping for a lot of interest from UNB.

"We’ve also had a bit of interest expressed by the High School in Fredericton. We plan to pursue that in the fall."

As well as providing the ready made grounds for potential rowers, the City itself is and ideal one for the sport.

"The water is excellent for rowers and for spectators, the vantage points when we plan to start running regattas, is perfect," said Spencer.

It’s hoped Fredericton can stage their initial Regatta next year.

The present aim of the club - "We going to try and get a couple of strong crews for the Regatta in Saint John on Aug. 23," Spencer said.