1973

By Marty Phillips, Staff Writer

Munch those steerburgers . . . enter the multiplicity of events or just lounge around and watch what went on. The choices were many Saturday at the annual Renforth Regatta.

If your interests ran the gamut from entering the canoe races or the sailing competition or the swimming to the Bavarian style beer garden to just plan girl watching, then you had a busy day.

Because all that went on and more.

Heavy cold fog and a stiff breeze for most of the day didn't dampen the spirits although it may have chilled bodies. Pondered rumors that the sun was going to break through to add even more zest to the days activities just didn't materialize. However, it did get a little warmer as the afternoon progressed.

Dr. H. C. Bonnycastle, chairman of the Renforth Regatta Committee for this year, got things moving at the opening ceremonies which included a parade from Colwell's Store to the site of the Regatta.

Fundy-Royal MP Gordon Fairweather was on hand to add his blessings as was MLA Mayor Robert Lockhart was also present for the early morning opening ceremonies.

A big attraction and one that drew a lot of interest was the ticket sale on a live steer. With the price of meat these days there were those present who wouldn't mind winning with the possibility of having the steer sliced and packed for the deep freeze. You could also have the off one win in thetaTH TH animal alive if you so desired (provided you are the winner) or simply take the cash equivalent of the prize.

Events held during the day long festivity included swimming races for the young of limb, sabling races on the bay, and racing shell races at an interprovincial level. The local entries, a coxed four crew and a straight four crew from the Kennebecasis Rowing and Canoe Club, managed to pull off one win in the five races held during the morning and afternoon.

That's not bad when you consider more experienced Quebec crews managed to snare all other four top spots. The local boys have nothing to be ashamed of, however, and praise for their abilities was running high during the day.

Canoe tilting, a fast moving fun sport in which opponents take to the gunwales of separate canoes and try to push, pull or otherwise manage to land the other fellow or girl into the river, captures a lot of attention and smiles.

It's certainly a hilarious sport to watch and to participate in.

The Queen was present for the Renforth Regatta, too. She, her entourage and a charming and very pretty group of Rockettes were on hand all day Saturday and provided a pleasant break and eased the eyestrain of watching all the other activities.

Of course, with every Regatta goes the hamburgers the hot dogs, ice cream and all the niceties kids keep buying and never seem to fill up on.

Anguished moms and dads were continually shelling out and watching dubiously as their children always seemed to find room for that one more Steerburger or glass of pop.

Fred Tobias conducted a water safety show as a windup to the days activities at the wharf. "I was horrified at the number of breaches of water safety here today," he said starting out, then kindly pitched in to explain just what everybody was doing wrong.

But, like everybody else, he was pleased that nobody managed to get hurt.

The Bavarian style beer garden drew a lot of attention Saturday afternoon and during the times of quiet, riotous singing and laughter sifted down to the water from the Renforth Community Club.

A dance for Renforth Community Club and their guests was the last event in the Renforth Regatta, a regatta that managed to be a success in spite of the weather.