1980

The overseas trip for the Kennebecasis Rowing Club oarsmen will be both an educational and historic one.

Modern day rowing originated in England at the prestigious Royal Henley Regatta was first held on the River Thames near London in 1839.

In 1867 at France four Saint Johners stunned an elite rowing community by winning the World's four-oared championship over an English crew from Newcastle-on-Tyne in the northeast of England, approximately 30 miles from the Scotland border.

In 1869 the Saint John, "Paris" crew and the English crew met in Lachine, Que. in a controversial meet which the Newcastle-on-Tyne boat won.

The "race to end all races" between the two crews, was to be held in 1871 on the Kennebecasis River, but James F. Renforth of the English crew suffered a heart seizure during the race and died.

This year the invitation came to the Kennebecasis club to take part in the anniversary celebrations of Newcaitle-on-Tyne's 900th birthday.

The Tyne river, approximately 80 miles long, is dotted with rowing clubs like on the River Thames.

"For about a three month period during...the summer there are regattas every weekend," said Kennebecasis Club coach Keith Ratcliffe, born just outside London.

"About every half mile on the rivers there are three or four rowing clubs," he said.

The Kennebecasis oarsmen, all of whom are hoped to be billeted in the homes of the English oarsmen, will use equipment loaned by English clubs.

The oarsmen hope to be in the water on the Kennebecasis River in two weeks. Over the winter months they were involved in rigorous training programs in building up legs, arms and back muscles.

"When we prepare for a major regatta we’re in the water twice a day, do some running and weight lifting," said David Allen who, with his brother, Mark, won gold medals in 1977 at the Canadian Henley in St. Catharines, Ont. in the pairs.

Allen, 19, hopes the Kennebecasis club can put forth good performances and come home with medals to show for its winnings.

"If we could win a couple of races it would give us more prospective on the rowing community other than just Canada and the United States and Mexico, which we see every year at the Canadian Henley."

McConnell, 24, a Dalhousie resident employed at N.B. International Paper, has followed a strict winter training program and will be looking to buy a single or double scull while in England.

"I worked out during the winter with a fellow I know would be interested in helping start a program in Dalhousie. That’s why I want the boat."

"If I was to organize a club in Dalhousie I would be able to continue training over the summer. I don’t know how long I’ll be working here."