No blaze of glory for the Blue Peter
When I first viewed the above picture, on record at the archives, of the 1901 Outer Cove crew, I was puzzled.
A close look at the faces of the men revealed that they were well above the age for rowing. It seemed their record-breaking race was even a greater feat than they were credited with. After taking my research a little farther, I discovered the amusing story behind the picture.
On the day the picture was taken, the call had gone out to the 1901 record-making Outer Cove crew to turn up at Quidi Vidi Lake for the historic photo. When the messenger arrived in Outer Cove, he found that was not likely to happen. The men were busy at the wharf getting ready to set out for the fishing grounds.
When they learned the boat was being retired from the regatta, and this was their last chance for a picture to be taken in it on the lake, they agreed to do it - but only if transportation to and from St. John’s could be arranged.
A call was made to the Committee which immediately sent a taxi to Outer Cove. By the time it arrived, another major problem had developed.
Not all the crew could be assembled because rower Dan Mccarthy had gone to Boston to seek work. Rather than leave his seat vacant, someone suggested they get a volunteer to take his place in the boat.
Unable to find one at that time of day, and with most men already gone fishing, the invitation fell upon Mr. Bishop, the taxi driver sent from St. John’s. That substitute was the taxi driver, a Mr. Bishop, who agreed to take Mccarthy’s seat in the boat. He is shown in the picture third from the right. The intention was to superimpose Mccarthy’s likeness over Bishop’s, but it was never done.
Most famous boat in Regatta history
The most famous boat in Regatta history is no doubt the Blue Peter. Its claim to fame was twofold: first it was the best race shell to be built for almost a century, and secondly it was the shell used by the Outer Cove crew in 1901 when it recorded the 9:13, the fastest time in Regatta history until broken eight decades later.
Regrettably, it did not get the send-off it deserved, to be taken from the pond in a blaze of glory and fanfare. The boat that earned the 1901 Outer Cove Crew its place in history had been shunned by them at the 1922 Regatta.
Unfortunately, it was retired from the Regatta in 1922 and was placed on public display at the CLB Armoury, where it remained on display until 1992 when fire destroyed the building and its contents.
Sadly the Outer Cove crew did not row it at the 1922 Regatta. As a result, the last race for the Blue Peter took place at the famous Father Pippy Quidi Vidi Regatta, which was held annually on the Wednesday following the Regatta.
The last crew to row the Blue Peter at the St. John’s Regatta was the Cold Storage crew. In that race, Outer Cove rowed in the Cadet, Logy Bay rowed the Guard and the Mixed Trade crew rowed the Nellie R.
Outer Cove won the championship in the time of 9:40.
Blue Peter honoured at Father Pippy Regatta
Father Pippy of St. Joseph’s Parish on Quidi Vidi Road sought and obtained approval from the owners of the Blue Peter to use it as a drawing card for the 1922 Father Pippy Regatta. Crowds turned up for the event held on Wednesday, August 9, between 3-6 p.m.
That last race for the Blue Peter was a notable occasion. It took place in the Intermediate Juvenile Race, with the Hussey Crew competing against crews from St. Joseph’s and St. Bon’s.
It proved a fitting race for the old war horse, which was competing against two strongly competitive crews.
The boats turned the buoys at the same time and the stint up the pond remained close. Crowds on shore cheered and the band played the traditional Up the Pond.
On the home stretch, the crew of the Blue Peter with a sudden surge of energy swiftly took over the lead. Amid cheers, squeals and whistle-blowing, the Blue Peter crossed the finish line after completing successfully its last race on Quidi Vidi. The crew was T. Hallett, cox; P. Taylor, G. Harvey, G. Whittle, A. Curnew, T. Cook and F. Whitten. Traditionally, in that period, only the crews recording the best times at the St. John’s Regatta a week before competed in the annual Father Pippy Regatta.
For the record books
For the record books, in 1901 Outer Cove broke the standing record made by an Outer Cove crew in 1885. In that race, they rowed in the Myrtle in a time of 9:20. They broke the previous record held by the Amateurs rowing in the Cora in 1882, which recorded the time of 9:21.
An added achievement for the Blue Peter was that at the St. John’s Regatta, it was part of only four know races in Regatta history that ended in a dead heat. That race was fought between Flatrock and Portugal Cove, and ended in the time tied at 10:32 minutes.