Rowers hope Regatta returns this summer
Rowers hope a return to the pond for training will lead to a Regatta Day event this summer
The president of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee admits Regatta supporters probably weren’t overjoyed with last week’s announcement that the Regatta Day racing shells will return to the waters of Quidi Vidi Lake early next month.
It’s the first time in over a year rowers will be permitted to train on the Quidi Vidi race course, and that’s not a bad thing.
It’s what Brad Power didn’t say at Friday morning’s news conference that spoke volumes. What he didn’t confirm is if there’s even going to be a Regatta in August.
The Regatta Committee’s Return to Play plan for 2021 in COVID-19 starts with the Phase 1 return of the racing shells to Quidi Vidi. Phase 2 is the staging of sanctioned races such as the Time Trials and Regatta Day. A regatta with vendors and games of chance — the garden party — is Phase 3.
That fact that training is permitted to resume starting next month should not be downplayed. Veteran regatta oarsman James Cadigan agrees.
“I think it’s important to get rowers back to the pond,” said Cadigan, who has won more races on Quidi Vidi than anyone. “Rowers of all types — recreation, competitive, and people down there with families… It’s a labour of love and a big part of their life.
“A large portion of my life has been spent down there. To have that part of my life removed last year certainly changed my daily activities and my ability to commit myself to something like rowing.”
Like many top-flight regatta rowers, Cadigan is a product of the Canada Games program joining his brother Daniel, and many others. James Cadigan won a bronze medal in men’s eights at the 2005 Regina, Sask., Summer Games.
“We saw (Regatta registration) numbers go up in the early 2010s. They started to dwindle and now we’re seeing numbers go up again with our squirt age groups,” said Cadigan.
“You want to keep those young rowers engaged. We’d like to have competitive rowers at Canada Games, and in the Regatta, and the best way to do that is to keep these young rowers on the pond.”
Not only the youngsters, added Power, but all rowers. It is very, very important. As Power explained, “rowers work very, very hard. They do cross-fit training, they hit the ergometres (‘ergs’ or rowing machines), and then they get on the pond. They get into a routine and that routine is their (training) plan. Their plans were thrown for a loop over the past year or so.”
Power added, “I’ve heard of crews rowing ergs every single day since the pandemic started. That’s kept them in shape, but in order to function at a high level in fixed-seat rowing, you’ve got to be in a fixed-seat boat practicing. It’s as simple as that.”
Getting back in the boats and on the pond is critical for the continuation of the sport.
As Power concluded, “Having another one-year break with kids not doing much is not going to bode well for them, so we hope this will motivate them to come back. Once you lose them it’s hard to get them back, because there are so many things for people to be doing these days.”