Royal St. John's Regatta

The Royal St. John's Regatta is North America's oldest annual sporting event with documented proof of 1816 boat races. There is credible contention that St. John's regattas were held even earlier than 1816, likely in the 18th century. The races of 1818 were held on September 22 in order to coincide with the 57th anniversary of King George III's official coronation on September 22, 1761. It is from this date that the Regatta Committee takes its anniversary. In August 2018 the Royal St. John's Regatta celebrated its 200th anniversary.

Royal St. John's Regatta
AbbreviationRSJR
Formation1816
TypeOrganizations based in Canada with royal patronage
Legal statusactive
Purposeadvocate and public voice, educator and network
HeadquartersSt. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Region served
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Official language
English
Websitehttp://www.stjohnsregatta.ca/

Held on Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John's, Newfoundland, the Regatta is scheduled for the first Wednesday of August. If weather and wind conditions are not suitable, the event is postponed until the next suitable day. Since Regatta Day is a civic holiday in St. John's (replacing the Civic Holiday observed in most other Canadian provinces on the first Monday in August), this means that the weather actually determines whether or not workers have the day off – a matter sometimes complicated by late-night partying associated with the end of the George Street Festival the night before. This has led to the coining of the term "Regatta Roulette" where people head to George Street Festival or party elsewhere the night before and hope the weather is nice enough for the Regatta (and the holiday) the next day.

Crews row six-member, coxswained, fixed-seat racing shells that are as identical as possible and are the property of the Royal St. John's Regatta Committee. Men's crews row a 2.450 km course, women's row a 1.225 km course, and all crews are required to turn buoys and return to the start-finish line.

A growing number of people, local and foreign, visit Quidi Vidi Lake each year for the event, averaging around 50,000 in recent years. It has also become a popular spot for both provincial and federal politicians to meet the public. Aside from the rowing competitions, the Royal St. John's Regatta is well known for its lakeside entertainment. The Regatta host hundreds of booths operated by individuals and organizations, ranging from various games of chance to food and drink.

History

There are records of rowing competitions in St. John's since at least 1816.

The regatta has long-standing ties with the Canadian monarchy: The regatta has been visited by members of the Royal Family, including Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward) in 1860 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1978.[1] It has been cancelled due to the death of any monarch, and any year a coronation has taken place or a milestone jubilee celebrated, the regatta has been held in honour of the monarch. Its royal designation was incorporated in 1993, which prompted changes in the event and the development of a new crest. Don Johnson, Frederick Russell and Geoff Carnell collaborated in the effort to get permission to use the Royal prefix for the Regatta.[2]

The first women's race in the St. John's Regatta was held in 1856. The winning crew of Quidi Vidi women was inducted into the Regatta Hall of Fame in recognition of their feat. It was nearly 100 years before women participated again. Beginning in 1949, women have rowed in nearly every Regatta, though a women's championship race was not introduced until 1979.[3]

Regatta Start, St. John's, Newfoundland

Course records and record holders

Male Course Record: 8:51.32 (Crosbie Industrial Services 2007 - Championship Race)

Members:

Cox: Mark Hayward

Stroke: Brent Hickey

5: Adam Kavanagh

4: Ron Witten

3: Ed Williams

2: James Cadigan

1: Darryl Ryan

Coach: Bert Hickey

Female Course Record: 4:56.10 (M5 2018 - Amateur Race)

Members:

Cox: Dean Hammond

Stroke: Katie Wadden

5: Alyssa Devereaux

4: Jane Brodie

3: Nancy Beaton

2: Amanda Ryan

1: Amanda Hancock

Spare: Maria Clift

Course Record Progression

Male
Year Crew Time Race Coxswain Stroke 5 4 3 2 1
1885 Outer Cove 9:20.00 Fisherman Walter Power James Hickey Nix Power Michael Hanlon Mike Stack Walter Power Jr. William Power
1901 Outer Cove 9:13.80 Fisherman Walter Power John Whelan Dan McCarthy Denis McCarthy Denis Croke John Nugent Martin Boland
1981 Smith Stockley 9:12.04 Club Jim Ring Randy Ring John Barrington Tom Power Brian Cranford Bill Holwell Paul Ring
1982 Outer Cove 9:03.48 Amateur Mike Power Andrew Boland Bert Hickey Campbell Feehan Gerard Ryan Jim Hibbs Owen Devereaux
1989 RNC / Lakeshore Homes 9:00.96 Amateur Bill Hickey Campbell Feehan Gerard Ryan Albert Gibbons Brian Cranford Bill Holwell Jim Carroll
1991 Smith Stockley - Outer Cove 8:59.42 Amateur Rich Bailey Jim Hibbs John Barrington Ken Power David Kelly Paul Boland Bert Hickey
1997 Butternut 8:57.10 Amateur Mike Summers Mike Jardine John Handrigan Chris Barton Sean Budgell Albert Gibbons Perry Cahill
2007 Crosbie Industrial Services 8:54.06 Amateur Mark Hayward Brent Hickey Adam Kavanagh Ron Whitten Ed Williams James Cadigan Darryl Ryan
2007 Crosbie Industrial Services 8:51.32 Championship Mark Hayward Brent Hickey Adam Kavanagh Ron Whitten Ed Williams James Cadigan Darryl Ryan

Female
Year Crew Time Race Coxswain Stroke 5 4 3 2 1
1981 Master Tire 5:15.57 Race #2 Rich Bailey Michelle Rice Deanne Kearney Diane Roche Anita O'Donnell Margo Walsh Paula Whitney
1989 OZFM 5:14.97 Amateur Mike Summers Siobhan Duff Allison Carroll Leona Rockwood Jackie Gellately Carol Perry Patti Pittman
1990 OZFM 5:08.34 Championship Mike Summers Siobhan Duff Jackie Gellately Leona Rockwood Nancy Little Joanne Gellately Patti Pittman
1994 OZFM 4:59.52 Championship Les Hynes Siobhan Duff Kim Miller Cheri Whelan Tracy Hogan Caroline Burry Patti Pittman
2003 OZFM 4:56.70 Amateur Rich Bailey Siobhan Duff Tracy Hogan Kristine Power Jackie Handrigan Nicolle Hamlyn Amanda Hancock;
2018 m5 4:56.10 Amateur Dean Hammond Katie Wadden Alyssa Devereaux Jane Brodie Nancy Beaton Amanda Ryan Amanda Hancock

Official Race Record Times [4]

Female
Race Category Time Year Crew
Female Amateur 4:56.10 2018 M5
Female Mercantile 5:15.82 1997 North Atlantic Petroleum
Female Intermediate 5:11.15 2004 Compusult
Female Juvenile 5:25.66 2002 Noble Drilling
Female Midget 5:48.39 2001 Noble Drilling
Female Commercial 5:33.19 2001 Thrifty Car Rental
Female District 5:29.86 2001 CFS St. John's-Sports Shop
Female General Workers 5:30.56 2004 RJG Construction
Female All Comers 5:45.91 2001 Appleton Rum
Female Masters 5:12.53 2012 OZFMM
Female Memorial 5:31.49 2016 Port Authority
Female Club 5:44.23 2005 Bella Vista
Female Service 5:55.68 2011 Labrador Motors
Female Labour 5:46.39 2012 Statoil
Female Squirt 2:37.60 2016 FW Connolly Electrical

Male
Race Category Time Year Crew
Male Amateur 8:54.06 2007 Crosbie Industrial Services
Male Labour 9:22.99 1987 H.M. Penitentiary
Male Intermediate 9:23.27 2001 Academy Canada
Male Masters 9:40.11 2012 3M Masters
Male Midget 5:00.79 1995 East Coast Marine
Male Juvenile 9:43.07 1989 Outer Cove-East Coast Marine
Male All Comers 9:24.80 1995 Concrete Products
Male Service 9:03.64 1991 Smith Stockley-Outer Cove
Male General Workers 9:15.72 1981 Smith Stockley
Male Commercial 9:17.79 1991 RNC Sportscraft
Male Squirt 2:26.90 2016 Green Sleeves/Men’s Den

Championship
Time Year Crew Coxswain Stroke 5 4 3 2 1
Female 4:57.78 2005 Compusult A/Canada Games Ron Boland Katie Wadden Laura Rice Rachel Coffey Valerie Earle Kate Parsons Jenn Squires
Male 8:51.32 2007 Crosbie Industrial Services Mark Hayward Brent Hickey Adam Kavanagh Ron Whitten Ed Williams James Cadigan Darryl Ryan

Championship Crews / Times

Male [5]
Year Crew Time
1873 Outer Cove 12:05.0
1874 CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN
1875 All Comers 11:35.0
1876 Outer Cove 10:40.0
1877 Placentia 10:28.0
1878 All Comers 09:58.0
1879 Outer Cove 10:11.0
1880 Broad Cove 10:04.0
1881 Broad Cove 09:45.0
1882 Amateurs 09:21.0
1883 Outer Cove 09:45.0
1884 Outer Cove 10:13.0
1885 Outer Cove 09:20.0
1886 Outer Cove 09:35.0
1887 Outer Cove 09:40.0
1888 Tradesmen 10:08.0
1889 Outer Cove 09:52.0
1890 Torbay 09:30.0
1891 Torbay 09:42.0
1892 CANCELLED DUE TO FIRE
1893 Outer Cove 09:56.0
1894 Outer Cove 10:27.0
1895 Torbay 09:45.0
1896 Juveniles 09:58.5
1897 Tradesmen 09:45.8
1898 Tradesmen 09:30.6
1899 S.O.E 10:00.8
1900 Torbay 09:29.0
1901 Outer Cove 09:13.8
1902 Outer Cove 09:22.0
1903 Job’s 09:56.3
1904 Blackhead 09:21.3
1905 Blackhead 09:40.3
1906 Blackhead 09:34.0
1907 Outer Cove 09:53.2
1908 Outer Cove 09:45.0
1909 Outer Cove 09:38.2
1910 Torbay 09:36.6
1911 Torbay 09:45.0
1912 L.O.A 09:54.0
1913 Torbay 10:51.0
1914 Logy Bay 09:46.0
1915 CANCELLED DUE TO WAR
1916 CANCELLED DUE TO WAR
1917 CANCELLED DUE TO WAR
1918 CANCELLED DUE TO WAR
1919 Logy Bay 09:32.2
1920 Truckmen 10:06.0
1921 Truckmen 09:55.4
1922 Outer Cove 09.40.0
1923 Outer Cove 09:47.0
1924 Truckmen 09:51.0
1925 Truckmen 09:44.2
1926 Outer Cove 09:41.0
1927 Amateurs 09:50.8
1928 Truckmen 09:55.2
1929 Labourers 09:42.0
1930 Labourers 09:45.6
1931 Fishermen 09:47.0
1932 St. Joseph’s 09:44.0
1933 Fishermen 10:14.6
1934 All Comers 09:29.0
1935 Police 09:47.0
1936 All Comers 10:12.0
1937 Police 09:41.0
1938 Police 09:37.2
1939 Police 09:36.8
1940 CANCELLED DUE TO WAR
1941 Ex-Servicemen 10:20.0
1942 Canadian Navy 10:09.0
1943 Nfld. Regiment 10:07.8
1944 Labourers 09:46.6
1945 Labourers 10:00.2
1946 Police 09:55.2
1947 U.S. Army Docks 09:59.4
1948 Labourers 11:09.0
1949 Higher Levels (Intermediate) 10:45.0
1950 Higher Levels 11:11.4
1951 Amateurs 10:27.2
1952 Labourers 10:15.0
1953 Labourers 09:51.4
1954 U.S. Air Police 09:56.0
1955 U.S. Air Police 10:06.0
1956 Patricians 10:01.0
1957 St. Bon’s 10:10.0
1958 City Police 09:45.0
1959 William Summers Jr. 09:49.2
1960 William Summers Jr. 09:51.0
1961 William Summers Jr. 10:10.0
1962 William Summers Jr. 10:01.4
1963 William Summers Jr. 10:08.0
1964 William Summers Jr. 10:07.8
1965 Jerseyside 10:54.8
1966 Newfoundland Light & Power 10:03.0
1967 Warrens Texaco 10:12.2
1968 William Summers Jr. 10:27.0
1969 Newfoundland Light & Power 10:03.0
1970 Crosbie Services 09:50.0
1971 Newfoundland Light & Power 10:02.0
1972 Crosbie Services 10:06.0
1973 NAVFAC 09:51.0
1974 NF Light & Power and Hickman’s (Dead Heat) 10:10.0
1975 Hickman’s 10:02.8
1976 Placentia 09:56.8
1977 Placentia Lion’s 09:54.2
1978 Boys Club 09:52.0
1979 Smith-Stockley 10:01.3
1980 Boys Club 09:46.9
1981 Boys and Girls Club 09:23.2
1982 Outer Cove 09:12.3
1983 Outer Cove 09:05.3
1984 Outer Cove 09:21.2
1985 Smith-Stockley 09:06.2
1986 Smith-Stockley 09:19.3
1987 Smith Stockley 09:55.1
1988 RNC-Lakeshore Homes 09:29.3
1989 RNC-Lakeshore Homes 09:01.2
1990 RNC-Lakeshore Homes 09:10.0
1991 Smith Stockley-Outer Cove 08:59.4
1992 Smith Stockley-Outer Cove 09:04.5
1993 Outer Cove-Coldwell Banker 09:20.2
1994 Smith Stockley-Outer Cove 09:08.3
1995 Butternut Bread 09:01.1
1996 RNC-Grand Banks Alliance 09:22.6
1997 Butternut 09:11.1
1998 RNC-Discovery Springs 09:16.3
1999 NTV 09:15.7
2000 NTV 09:08.6
2001 NTV 09:08.4
2002 NTV 09:07.2
2003 NF Power 09:05.6
2004 NTV 09:12.7
2005 The Independent 09:04.0
2006 Crosbie Industrial 09:24.5
2007 Crosbie Industrial 08:51.3
2008 O’Dea Earle 09:22.2
2009 East Coast Maintenance Services 09:09.7
2010 Rogers Bussey Lawyers 09:32.8
2011 Rogers Bussey Lawyers 09:10.8
2012 Rogers Bussey Lawyers 09:16.6
2013 Toyota 09:23.4
2014 Bussey Howrood Lawyers 09:14.5
2015 Max Arts. Athletics Wellness 09:26.32
2016 Outer Cove 09:09.68
2017 Outer Cove 08:59.70
2018 Outer Cove 09:06.34
2019 Fine Strokes 09:04.71
2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

Female [6]
YEAR TEAM TIME
1979 Health Science 06:11.3
1980 General Hospital 05:50.0
1981 Dunne’s Fuel 05:36.3
1982 General Hospital 05:29.1
1983 Dunne’s Fuel 05:23.7
1984 Central Dairies 05:34.2
1985 Central Dairies 05:19.1
1986 Ryan’s Construction 05:24.8
1987 Ryan’s Construction 05:53.0
1988 OZ FM 05:20.3
1989 OZ FM 05:22.1
1990 OZ FM 05:08.3
1991 Trinity Bay Offshore 05:11.0
1992 VOCM-Hibernia 05:17.8
1993 OZ FM-Mark’s Work Warehouse 05:11.7
1994 OZ FM 04:59.5
1995 Keyin Tech 05:02.0
1996 Keyin Tech 05:18.6
1997 Keyin Tech 05:10.3
1998 OZ FM 05:04.5
1999 Keyin College 05:03.6
2000 OZ FM 05:07.8
2001 Keyin College 05:11.4
2002 OZ FM 05:08.3
2003 OZ FM 04:58.7
2004 Jungle Jim’s 05:06.5
2005 Compusult A/Canada Games 04:57.8
2006 OZ FM 05:16.2
2007 O’Dea Earle 05:06.2
2008 H.J. O’Connell Construction 05:03.5
2009 JAC Marketing & Advertising / Canada Games 05:08.3
2010 m5 05:05.2
2011 m5 04:59.3
2012 Roebothan McKay Marshall 05:04.2
2013 Max Girls 1 05:12.4
2014 Max Athletics Women 05:11.8
2015 Roebothan McKay Marshall 05:18.44
2016 m5 05:10.16
2017 m5 05:00.71
2018 m5 04:56.10
2019 Hyflodralic 05:02.23
2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

Other events

Regatta Day is only officially recognized as a holiday in the city of St. John's and most retail establishments outside the city remain open that day. Some larger suburban stores mark the day with extravagant Boxing Day-style sales.

See also

References
  1. Department of Canadian Heritage. "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion > The Canadian Monarchy > 2005 Royal Visit > The Royal Presence in Canada - A Historical Overview". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  2. "Donald Stewart Johnson (Posthumous)". Volunteer Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  3. "1856 Quidi Vidi Women's Crew". regatta.nlpl.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  4. "Official Record Times". www.stjohnsregatta.org. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  5. "The Oldest Organized Sporting Event in North America". Royal St. John's Regatta. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  6. "The Oldest Organized Sporting Event in North America". Royal St. John's Regatta. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
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