The Evening Times-Globe, July 24, 1974

St Catherinnes, Ontario - The Royal Canadian Henley regatta, which starts today, is the biggest in the 92-year history of the national rowing championships.

More than 1,000 oarsmen, scullers and oarswomen from 55 Canadian, United States and Mexican rowing clubs have filed 494 entries to produce 112 races spread over five days of competition.

As a result, the Henley will go to five days for the first time since the regatta began with five events in 1880. The record entry has forced the scheduling afternoon heats today prior to the opening ceremonies.

"It's just fantastic," said Claude Saunders of Hamilton, regatta chairman for the Canadian Association of Amateur Oarsmen. "I’ve never seen an entry like this."

"We've got crews in from the East Coast, from Mexico, from the western United States and just about everywhere in between."

What has pleased Saunders and his committee most is evidence that many U.S. clubs and colleges here in the past are back with "everything in the shellhouse this time."

"It's obvious that we're able to give them the kind of racing they want."

The biggest increase in entries comes in women’s events. There are six women's eights, 17 women's cox fours and six women's singles.

There are five entries logged for the Henley's newest race, quadruple sculls, and a special FISA lightweight eight exhibition Saturday has drawn six crews while an exhibition women's double the same afternoon will see four boats in.

New Brunswick will be represented in the regatta by competitors from the Kennebecasis Rowing Club of Rothesay. The Kennebecasis Club is entered in two heavyweight events - with and without a coxswain - and two junior lightweight events - with and without a coxswain. As usual, the St. Catharines Rowing Club has the largest entry of the 55 competing clubs. The cerise and blue will send 55 boats to the starting gates in quest of a 14th consecutive Maple Leaf Trophy, emblematic of the Henley points title. The championship single always draws top interest, and this year's event is shaping up as a classic. Topping the entries are defending champion Jim Dietz of the New York Athletic Club and 1974 Diamond Sculls champion Sean Drea of Philadelphia Undine. Dietz has won the race in six of the last seven years and earlier this season defeated some of Europe's top scullers at the Nottingham International. But a week later he lost to Drea in a heat of the Diamonds at Henley and the Irishman, who sculled for Ireland at the 1970 worlds here, went on to take the title.