Regatta marks major step forward in women’s rowing
The man responsible for bringing women’s rowing to universities in Canada will be memorialized through a regatta held in Welland this weekend.
In its 10th year, the Tony Biernacki Sr. Memorial will hit the north course of the canal near the International Flatwater Centre on Saturday, bringing in 250 athletes from 24 clubs across Ontario and parts of the U.S.
There will be 40 races throughout the day, starting at 10 a.m. and wrapping up at 4 p.m.
In 1967, Biernacki Sr. took the lead in starting a men’s rowing team at Brock University and, in the initial stages of forming the squad, several women came out and expressed interest in the sport.
Not turning them away, a women’s team was started and was entered into the provincial championships.
By the end of the year, multiple women’s teams were representing their respective universities, according to Peter Somerwil, chair of the event.
“Until that point, there had basically been no rowing for women,” said Somerwil, who also explained that female teams didn’t start forming in high schools until about 10 years later.
“He made sure the women had equipment to train in — had a coach,” added Somerwil.
Sanctioned by Rowing Canada Aviron, the national governing body for the sport, Saturday’s regatta is a major competitive event. It is open to the public.
“It’s the second-largest masters-only regatta in Ontario,” said Somerwill, pointing out that the provincial finals are the biggest on the annual schedule.
Biernacki Sr. was the head rowing coach at Brock University from 1965 to 1980. He has numerous awards and accolades on his resume, including a silver medal at the 1959 Pan-American Games. In 1985, he won the single, double and quad at the World Masters Regatta in Toronto.
Retired from coaching in 1980, Biernacki Sr. was inducted into Brock University’s Hall of Fame in 1996.
He died in 1998.