Evening Times Globe, August 1, 1979

Six To Ontario

Things are beginning to look up again for members of the Kennebecasis Rowing Club.

And it’s all due to last year’s rebuilding programs.

Since turning in stellar performances two years ago at the Canadian championship and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta things haven’t been all that bright and rosy.

But this year there’s hope for strong performances at the national championship Saturday and Sunday in Welland, Ont. and the Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ont. Aug. 9-12.

Six male rowers from the Kennebecasis Club will join five women from Fredericton and represent New Brunswick at the competitions.

"Our rowers have been training six days a week for the last seven months," said club captain Serge Bergeron.

"They should be peaking right around now and we’re hopeful they’ll do well," he added.

In Maritime regattas this summer, the Kennebecasis rowers have shown continual improvement.

They finished third in Dartmouth, N.S., second at Renforth and first in Fredericton, giving them the lead in overall points against Fredericton and two Dartmouth clubs.

"The main thrust of our peaking period has been provided by our lightweight crew," Bergeron said. "We expect they’ll be our best representative."

The lightweight crew is coached by David Allan, who, with brother Mark, won gold medals in pairs two years ago at the Canadian championship and at the Henley.

Members of the fours are John Allan, David’s brother, Rick Cassidy and brothers Henry and Brian Flood. Dan McGuire is the coxswain.

The Flood brothers will also compete in pairs and Andy Boyles in single sculling.

Members of the women’s team are Mary Kay Stangroom, Michelle Brewer, Cathy Peckum and Karen Frawer, all of the capital. The cox is Linda MacDonald.

Stangroom and Brewer will also compete in pairs.

Bergeron said the Flood brothers won two of three of the pairs events against David and John Allan in the Maritime regattas earlier this summer.

"Despite this being their first year of competition," he said, "they (Floods) have done quite well. The Allans weren’t quite ready physically for that kind of racing but the Flood brothers have shown a lot of potential."