1984

Great Bicentennial Challenge Saturday

Sixteen year-old Doug Boyle of Kennebecasis Park says he has reason to be excited today.

This morning he was named as one of the five-member rowing crew who will take on the British Tyne team in Renforth this week- end in a historic re-enactment of the Great Race of 1871, part of Saturday's Greater Saint John Area Bicentennial Regatta.

He will occupy the Number Three position, sitting immediately behind the stroke.

Announced this morning by Kennebecasis Rowing and Canoe Club coach Keith Ratcliffe, the appointment has particular significance for Doug.

He will row in the same position that was occupied 113 years ago by his great-great-uncle Elijah Ross in the original race, which was the world championship between the Paris Crew of Saint John and the Renforth team of from the Tyne river.

Other oarsmen named to the Saint John rowing team this morning are Wayne Macfarlane of Kennebecasis Park, bowman; Tim Oland of Rothesay, number two and Chris Flood of Kennebecasis Park, stroke.

Twelve-year-old Mark Fawcett of Renforth will serve as coxswain.

The four oarsmen from Newcastle-on-Tyne will include Craig Routledge, bow; Neil Dunster, two, Gary Routledge, three and Tony Ballantyne, stroke. The British team's coxswain has not yet been announced. Coach is Allen Ballantyne; who is Tony's father.

Members of both teams including Mr. Boyle, were meeting the public between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today at Market Square.

Meanwhile, boat owners and yacht club members will be able to view the Great Bicentennial Challenge Race from close at hand while making their own contribution to the spectacle of the epic event.

Anchorage is to be provided that will allow private boats to form a line along the outer edge of the race course in the same colorful fashion in which the track of the Great Race was bordered 113 years ago.

The anchoring strip will stretch for one and one-half miles along the Kennebecasis shore.

The original challenge race was started at 7:0O a.m., before day- time winds made water too rough for the pin-shaped racing shells. This year's version of the race is to be held at 6:30 p.m. when there is usually a period of calm.

Kayak races are get the regatta under way with a mixed classes mass start from Renforth Wharf at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The arrival of Delancey’s Brigade at the Jeux Canada Games boathouse at 2:35 p.m. will signal the start of ribbon-cutting exercises for this facility, the first official opening of any of the 1985 Canada Games venues.

At 3 p.m. DeLancey’s fifes and drums will lead dignitaries to Renforth wharf to start up the bicentennial regatta at 3:15 p.m. Other events will include:

--3:30 p.m. Renforth Whaler Race, same course as kayak race. Saint John Y’s Mens Club chicken barbeque.

--5 p.m. March of the Great Centennial Race rowers to wharf for introduction to the public.

--5:30 p.m. Moosehead Challenge Race. Boats start individually every 15 seconds and are timed. Course is from wharf to one and one-half mile mark and return. (three miles)

--6:30 p.m. Great Bicentennial Challenge Race. Wharf to one-mile mark and return three times, a total of six miles.

--8 p.m. Close of regatta.