Saint John Globe, Friday, August 25, 1922

Rowing Should be Established on a Firmer Basis

A conviction has developed among residents of St. John and among suburbanites that the time is now opportune for the establishing of rowing on a firmer, more efficient basis.

It is being realized that the present hap-hazard methods of carrying on aquatics are not producing the results which should have followed the revival of the sport in which St. John won world-wide fame.

Were it not for the showing of Hilton Belyea the city to-day would have no place in the present history of oars. His achievement is that of an individual and the credit is all his.

A great scheme is now proposed and should be put into effect. St. John may again take her rightful place in the world of aquatics.

There are a considerable number of young men here and at the suburban centres who are anxious to learn sculling and there is ample material available to produce a large number of junior and senior scullers. All that is required is equipment in the form of boathouses and practice shells.

It is suggested that a rowing club be established on the eastern side of the harbor, with a boathouse and practice shells, and that each of the Vale, Grand Bay, Westfield, Epworth Park, Sand Point, Long Reach and Pemdenec also making provision for getting into the great sport.

Fairvale, which has done so well in baseball, and which has developed great scullers, should also line up again.

Both Millidgeville and Renforth have, to a certain extent, endeavored to keep rowing to the fore but those clubs alone cannot achieve the results which should be attained in a district with a record such as St. John enjoys. They should be given greater encouragement and assistance and their example should be followed by the other places named.

Such a scheme would create keen interest in rowing, would provide an immense amount of healthful exercise and would produce scullers who would be able to uphold local traditions and local prestige.

Only by organization can St. John follow out the rowing revival which was instituted for Soldier’s Joy Day by J. Fred. Belyea. That event gave great promise of future success, but lack of proper organization caused a relapse into the old policy of getting crews together in a hurry.

That club rowing is essential to the success of the sport is evident from its history here. The Paris crew swept the waters of the world, but when they retired there were no youngsters to step into their places. The Belyea seniors were supreme in their day, but when they dropped out there were no scullers ready to take up the oars which they had put away. The Beavers had no substitutes, and so it has been all through the game.

Halifax has its rowing clubs, and Halifax has a host of scullers, senior and junior and novice. Only last week, St. Mary’s and the Northwest Arm rowed a race in time which was close to the record for that course.

St. John can also do what Halifax is doing, but St. John must first organize. The men are here, the boats are here - let's have the clubs.