The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, organized in 1872, was the first national governing body of the sport of rowing in the United States, and the first American sports organization to publish a definition of "amateur". Before the NAAO, regattas across the country used different definitions of amateur, making it impossible to hold a national amateur championship regatta. The NAAO's first national championship regatta was held in 1873 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Beginning in 1916, the Julius H. Barnes Points Trophy was awarded to the club scoring the most points over the course of the championship regatta.
In 1982, the NAAO was merged with the National Women's Rowing Association to form the United States Rowing Association.
National Championship Regattas
The following regattas were over one and one half miles (except the 1891 regatta in Washington, DC, which was one quarter mile) YearCityChampionship senior single scullsStarting in 1899, the senior single sculls was first held open to all but the prior year's championship. The winner then rowed against the current champion for the title. For years prior to 1899, this table shows the winner of the senior single sculls. 1873 PhiladelphiaCharles Meyers 1874 Troy, NYFrank E. Yates 1875 Troy, NYCharles E. Courtney 1876 PhiladelphiaFrank E. Yates 1877 DetroitGeorge W. Lee 1878 Newark, NJGeorge W. Lee 1879 Saratoga, NYF.J. Mumford 1880 PhiladelphiaF.J. Mumford 1881 Washington, DCF.E. Holmes 1882 DetroitF.E. Holmes 1883 Newark, NJJohn Laing 1884 Watkins, NYJohn Laing 1885 BostonDaniel J. Murphy 1886 Albany, NYMartin F. Monahan 1887 Jamestown, NYJ.F. Corbett 1888 Sunbury, PAC.G. Psotta 1889 Pullman, ILD. Donohue 1890 Worcester, MAWilliam Caffrey 1891 Washington, DCWilliam Caffrey 1892 Saratoga, NYJohn J. Ryan 1893 DetroitJohn J. Ryan 1894 Saratoga, NYFerdinand Koenig 1895 Saratoga, NYJ.J. Whitehead 1896 Saratoga, NYW.D. McDowell 1897 PhiladelphiaJoseph Maguire 1898 PhiladelphiaEdward Ten Eyck 1899 BostonEdward Ten Eyck 1900 New York CityJohn Rumouhr 1901 PhiladelphiaEdward Ten Eyck 1902 Worcester, MAConstance Titus 1903 Worcester, MAConstance Titus 1904 St. Louis, MOFrank Greer 1905 BaltimoreFrank Greer 1906 Worcester, MAConstance Titus 1907 PhiladelphiaHarry S. Bennett
Additional reading Spalding Athletic Library issued Official Rowing Guide in May 1896. Frederick R Fortmeyer (secretary of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen) compiled the 86 page guide. It also includes laws governing the association.Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, May 25, 1896. Retrieved Jan 30, 2021
References