King's County Record, August 17, 1977

Gold Medal winners pose with their shell at the recent Canadian national rowing championship in Montreal. From left tot right, Wayne McConnell, West Saint John; brothers David Allan and Mark Allan, Renforth; Stephen Gaunce, West Saint John, and Keith Ratcliffe, the team's coach. The crew captured the award in the "Straight four" event.

Gold medal winning oarsmen of the K.R.C. fresh from victories at the Canadian Henley in Ontario, the national rowing championship in Montreal and the Nova Scotia sprints in Darthmouth, N.S., will be competing in the Renforth Regatta on Aug.20.

At stake this time will be the prestigious Renforth Trophy which the Kennebecasis Club now hold.

Competition for the local oarsmen and the women come from the Ontario Rowing Association, the Fredericton Rowing Club, Mic Mac Rowing Club of Dartmouth, N.S. Quebec Rowing Federation and Kennebecasis Rowing Club.

Oarsmen, particularly those from Ontario and Nova Scotia will be out to avenge earlier defeats this year from up-start Kennebecasis club and with keen competition from other groups, the local Regatta promises to be the most exciting yet.

After winning the gold medals at the Henley those two young men from Renforth brothers Mark and David. Allan went to the National Championships in Montreal to do it again for a gold in the Straight pairs.

Then last Saturday they did it again in Nova Scotia. After a very tiring week Mark and David went on to Dartmouth, N.S., and came out with first place honors in the pairs.

These two brothers are hard to beat whether they’re rowing in the pairs of Straight 4.

In the Montreal National Championships the brothers teamed up with Andy Messer of Saint John and Wayne McConnell to win four medals in the heavy four.

Then on to Nova Scotia the brothers teamed up with Wayne McConnell and Mike Chapman to win a second place in the fours without a cox.

Then Mark, David, and Wayne teamed up with Paul Plume to win second place with cox. Serving as cox for this event was Theresa Sleigh.

The Kennebecasis girls captured a silver in the fours without a cox in N.S., and they also placed first in Straight fours at the International Regatta in Buffalo, N.Y. The team is made up of Mary Ellen Guidry, Sally Hutchinson, Margo Inches and Patti Kriever while Theresa Sleigh is the cox.

This last weekend wins for the two Allan brothers brings their total up to nine first place.

Come Aug. 20 these young oarsmen and women will be right out there to take first place again. So if your wondering what to do on Saturday come to the Renforth Regatta and support these young people and watch some real sportsmen and women in action.