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.
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. 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.
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.
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: Ronny Whitten
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 YearCrewTimeRaceCoxswainStroke543211885Outer Cove9:20.00FishermanWalter PowerJames HickeyNix PowerMichael HanlonMike StackWalter Power Jr.William Power1901Outer Cove9:13.80FishermanWalter PowerJohn WhelanDan McCarthyDenis McCarthyDenis CrokeJohn NugentMartin Boland1981Smith Stockley9:12.04ClubJim RingRandy RingJohn BarringtonTom PowerBrian CranfordBill HolwellPaul Ring1982Outer Cove9:03.48AmateurMike PowerAndrew BolandBert HickeyCampbell FeehanGerard RyanJim HibbsOwen Devereaux1989RNC / Lakeshore Homes9:00.96AmateurBill HickeyCampbell FeehanGerard RyanAlbert GibbonsBrian CranfordBill HolwellJim Carroll1991Smith Stockley – Outer Cove8:59.42AmateurRich BaileyJim HibbsJohn BarringtonKen PowerDavid KellyPaul BolandBert Hickey1997Butternut8:57.10AmateurMike SummersMike JardineJohn HandriganChris BartonSean BudgellAlbert GibbonsPerry Cahill2007Crosbie Industrial Services8:54.06AmateurMark HaywardBrent HickeyAdam KavanaghRon WhittenEd WilliamsJames CadiganDarryl Ryan2007Crosbie Industrial Services8:51.32ChampionshipMark HaywardBrent HickeyAdam KavanaghRon WhittenEd WilliamsJames CadiganDarryl Ryan
Female YearCrewTimeRaceCoxswainStroke543211981Master Tire5:15.57Race #2Rich BaileyMichelle RiceDeanne KearneyDiane RocheAnita O'DonnellMargo WalshPaula Whitney1989OZFM5:14.97AmateurMike SummersSiobhan DuffAllison CarrollLeona RockwoodJackie GellatelyCarol PerryPatti Pittman1990OZFM5:08.34ChampionshipMike SummersSiobhan DuffJackie GellatelyLeona RockwoodNancy LittleJoanne GellatelyPatti Pittman1994OZFM4:59.52ChampionshipLes HynesSiobhan DuffKim MillerCheri WhelanTracy HoganCaroline BurryPatti Pittman2003OZFM4:56.70AmateurRich BaileySiobhan DuffTracy HoganKristine PowerJackie HandriganNicolle HamlynAmanda Hancock2018m54:56.10AmateurDean HammondKatie WaddenAlyssa DevereauxJane BrodieNancy BeatonAmanda RyanAmanda Hancock
Official race record times Source: Female Race category Time Year CrewFemale Amateur4:56.102018M5Female Mercantile5:15.821997North Atlantic PetroleumFemale Intermediate5:11.152004CompusultFemale Juvenile5:25.662002Noble DrillingFemale Midget5:48.392001Noble DrillingFemale Commercial5:33.192001Thrifty Car RentalFemale District5:29.862001CFS St. John's-Sports ShopFemale General Workers5:30.562004RJG ConstructionFemale All Comers5:45.912001Appleton RumFemale Masters5:12.532012OZFMMFemale Memorial5:31.492016Port AuthorityFemale Club5:44.232005Bella VistaFemale Service5:55.682011Labrador MotorsFemale Labour5:46.392012StatoilFemale Squirt2:37.602016FW Connolly Electrical
Male Race category Time Year CrewMale Amateur8:54.062007Crosbie Industrial ServicesMale Labour9:22.991987H.M. PenitentiaryMale Intermediate9:23.272001Academy CanadaMale Masters9:40.1120123M MastersMale Midget5:00.791995East Coast MarineMale Juvenile9:43.071989Outer Cove-East Coast MarineMale All Comers9:24.801995Concrete ProductsMale Service9:03.641991Smith Stockley-Outer CoveMale General Workers9:15.721981Smith StockleyMale Commercial9:17.791991RNC SportscraftMale Squirt2:26.902016Green Sleeves/Men’s Den
Championship TimeYearCrewCoxswainStroke54321Female4:57.782005Compusult A/Canada GamesRon BolandKatie WaddenLaura RiceRachel CoffeyValerie EarleKate ParsonsJenn SquiresMale8:51.322007Crosbie Industrial ServicesMark HaywardBrent HickeyAdam KavanaghRon WhittenEd WilliamsJames CadiganDarryl Ryan
Championship crews and times
Male YearCrewTime1873Outer Cove12:05.01874Cancelled due to rain1875All Comers11:35.01876Outer Cove10:40.01877Placentia10:28.01878All Comers9:58.01879Outer Cove10:11.01880Broad Cove10:04.01881Broad Cove9:45.01882Amateurs9:21.01883Outer Cove9:45.01884Outer Cove10:13.01885Outer Cove9:20.01886Outer Cove9:35.01887Outer Cove9:40.01888Tradesmen10:08.01889Outer Cove9:52.01890Torbay9:30.01891Torbay9:42.01892Cancelled due to fire1893Outer Cove9:56.01894Outer Cove10:27.01895Torbay9:45.01896Juveniles9:58.51897Tradesmen9:45.81898Tradesmen9:30.61899S.O.E10:00.81900Torbay9:29.01901Outer Cove9:13.81902Outer Cove9:22.01903Job’s9:56.31904Blackhead9:21.31905Blackhead9:40.31906Blackhead9:34.01907Outer Cove9:53.21908Outer Cove9:45.01909Outer Cove9:38.21910Torbay9:36.61911Torbay9:45.01912L.O.A9:54.01913Torbay10:51.01914Logy Bay9:46.01915Cancelled due to war1916Cancelled due to war1917Cancelled due to war1918Cancelled due to war1919Logy Bay9:32.21920Truckmen10:06.01921Truckmen9:55.41922Outer Cove9.40.01923Outer Cove9:47.01924Truckmen9:51.01925Truckmen9:44.21926Outer Cove9:41.01927Amateurs9:50.81928Truckmen9:55.21929Labourers9:42.01930Labourers9:45.61931Fishermen9:47.01932St. Joseph’s9:44.01933Fishermen10:14.61934All Comers9:29.01935Police9:47.01936All Comers10:12.01937Police9:41.01938Police9:37.21939Police9:36.81940Cancelled due to war1941Ex-Servicemen10:20.01942Canadian Navy10:09.01943Nfld. Regiment10:07.81944Labourers9:46.61945Labourers10:00.21946Police9:55.21947U.S. Army Docks9:59.41948Labourers11:09.01949Higher Levels (Intermediate)10:45.01950Higher Levels11:11.41951Amateurs10:27.21952Labourers10:15.01953Labourers9:51.41954U.S. Air Police9:56.01955U.S. Air Police10:06.01956Patricians10:01.01957St. Bon’s10:10.01958City Police9:45.01959William Summers Jr.9:49.21960William Summers Jr.9:51.01961William Summers Jr.10:10.01962William Summers Jr.10:01.41963William Summers Jr.10:08.01964William Summers Jr.10:07.81965Jerseyside10:54.81966Newfoundland Light & Power10:03.01967Warrens Texaco10:12.21968William Summers Jr.10:27.01969Newfoundland Light & Power10:03.01970Crosbie Services9:50.01971Newfoundland Light & Power10:02.01972Crosbie Services10:06.01973NAVFAC9:51.01974NF Light & Power and Hickman’s (Dead Heat)10:10.01975Hickman’s10:02.81976Placentia9:56.81977Placentia Lion’s9:54.21978Boys Club9:52.01979Smith-Stockley10:01.31980Boys Club9:46.91981Boys and Girls Club9:23.21982Outer Cove9:12.31983Outer Cove9:05.31984Outer Cove9:21.21985Smith-Stockley9:06.21986Smith-Stockley9:19.31987Smith Stockley9:55.11988RNC-Lakeshore Homes9:29.31989RNC-Lakeshore Homes9:01.21990RNC-Lakeshore Homes9:10.01991Smith Stockley-Outer Cove8:59.41992Smith Stockley-Outer Cove9:04.51993Outer Cove-Coldwell Banker9:20.21994Smith Stockley-Outer Cove9:08.31995Butternut Bread9:01.11996RNC-Grand Banks Alliance9:22.61997Butternut9:11.11998RNC-Discovery Springs9:16.31999NTV9:15.72000NTV9:08.62001NTV9:08.42002NTV9:07.22003NF Power9:05.62004NTV9:12.72005The Independent9:04.02006Crosbie Industrial9:24.52007Crosbie Industrial8:51.32008O’Dea Earle9:22.22009East Coast Maintenance Services9:09.72010Rogers Bussey Lawyers9:32.82011Rogers Bussey Lawyers9:10.82012Rogers Bussey Lawyers9:16.62013Toyota9:23.42014Bussey Howrood Lawyers9:14.52015Max Arts. Athletics Wellness9:26.322016Outer Cove9:09.682017Outer Cove8:59.702018Outer Cove9:06.342019Fine Strokes9:04.712020Cancelled due to COVID-192021NTV9:36.992022NTV9:40.912023Fine Strokes9:15.712024Capital Home Hardware9:43.312025Capital Home Hardware9:55.242026Fine Strokes9.22.22
Female YearTeamTime1979Health Science6:11.31980General Hospital5:50.01981Dunne’s Fuel5:36.31982General Hospital5:29.11983Dunne’s Fuel5:23.71984Central Dairies5:34.21985Central Dairies5:19.11986Ryan’s Construction5:24.81987Ryan’s Construction5:53.01988OZ FM5:20.31989OZ FM5:22.11990OZ FM5:08.31991Trinity Bay Offshore5:11.01992VOCM-Hibernia5:17.81993OZ FM-Mark’s Work Warehouse5:11.71994OZ FM4:59.51995Keyin Tech5:02.01996Keyin Tech5:18.61997Keyin Tech5:10.31998OZ FM5:04.51999Keyin College5:03.62000OZ FM5:07.82001Keyin College5:11.42002OZ FM5:08.32003OZ FM4:58.72004Jungle Jim’s5:06.52005Compusult A/Canada Games4:57.82006OZ FM5:16.22007O’Dea Earle5:06.22008H.J. O’Connell Construction5:03.52009JAC Marketing & Advertising / Canada Games5:08.32010m55:05.22011m54:59.32012Roebothan McKay Marshall5:04.22013Max Girls 15:12.42014Max Athletics Women5:11.82015Roebothan McKay Marshall5:18.442016m55:10.162017m55:00.712018m54:56.102019Hyflodraulic5:02.232020Cancelled due to COVID-192021Hyflodraulic5:10.992022Hyflodraulic5:11.352023Hyflodraulic5:10.992024Volkswagen5:18.942025Volkswagen5:16.412026Volkswagen5:11.68
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