The Royal St. John's Regatta - 1950

1950: The Higher Levels Intermediate men's crew wins the second of two consecutive championship races. They are the only Intermediate crew ever to win a championship race.; The new Regatta Boathouse is officially opened by His Worship, Mayor H.G.R. Mews.
1953: Four new shells were ordered from Jenn-Craft, Kelowna, B.C. They were exact replicas of the original Blue Peter, based on plans drawn up by Mike Howley and City engineering staff.; First year St. Joseph's Boy Scouts publish Regatta Programme which they continue until 1976.
1954: The Pepperrell Air Police become the first American crew to win a Men's Championship Race. Their time of 9:56 is the fastest time ever recorded by U.S. Service crews.
1956: Famous Coxswain Levi "Shotty" Rogers is dubbed the "King of Coxswains".; "Shotty" Rogers steers the Patricians to victory over the Air Police and reclaim the Lieutenant Governors cup for Newfoundland.
1958: Opening of the Higgins Memorial Marquee, named after Judge William J. Higgins and his sons Gordon F. Higgins and Judge James D. Higgins, all of whom served as President of the Regatta Committee.; Coxswain Albert Joy has been called the "Ladies' Man" at Lakeside as he led five Ladies' crews to victory, including the Newfoundland Hotel crew which rowed the old women's course in the record time of 5:12.
1960: A common debate over the 9:13.80 record gets re-ignited as many people believe the course has changed and that the record was actually set in 1873, by a crew in the Terra Nova rowing in a time of 8:40.; The Newfoundland Broadcasting Company offers a $1000.00 prize for the crew able to beat 9:20, seeing as the record of 9:13.80 seems unbeatable.
1962: Regatta Committee purchases the Simms' Boats built by Richard Simms of Toronto, a former Newfoundlander. They cost $2,000 and are 50 feet long, weighing 450 pounds.
1965: Christening of the shell Caribou named for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
1973: Coxswain Levi "Shotty" Rogers inducted into Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.; The 9:13.80 crew is inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame by a nomination from the Amateur Softball Association.
1977: 100th Anniversary of the Seven Placentia Giants march into St. John's. The team from Placentia re-enact this amazing feat.; The Regatta is held a week earlier then normal due to the Canada Summer Games being held in St. John's.; Gert Reardigan becomes the first woman coxswain.
1978: Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. the Prince Philip attend the St. John's Regatta. This is the third Royal visit since 1860.; Regatta held again one week earlier to accommodate the schedule of the Royal Visit.
1981: The 1901 record of 9:13.80 finally falls to the Smith-Stockley crew who row a very impressive 9:12.04 and put an end to the speculation that the course could never be rowed in such a time. They are awarded the Lord Warden's Medals. The crew consisted of Paul King, John Barrington, Brian Cranford, Bill Holwell, Randy Ring, Tom Power and Coxswain Jim Ring.


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		1950-1981: Special Events 1950 The Higher Levels Intermediate men's crew wins the second of two consecutive championship races. They are the only Intermediate crew ever to win a championship race. The new Regatta Boathouse is officially opened by His Worship, Mayor H.G.R. Mews. 1953 Four new shells were ordered from Jenn-Craft, Kelowna, B.C. They were exact replicas of the original Blue Peter, based on plans drawn up by Mike Howley and City engineering staff. First year St. Joseph's Boy Scouts publish Regatta Programme which they continue until 1976. 1954 The Pepperrell Air Police become the first American crew to win a Men's Championship Race. Their time of 9:56 is the fastest time ever recorded by U.S. Service crews. 1956 Famous Coxswain Levi "Shotty" Rogers is dubbed the "King of Coxswains". "Shotty" Rogers steers the Patricians to victory over the Air Police and reclaim the Lieutenant Governors cup for Newfoundland. 1958 Opening of the Higgins Memorial Marquee, named after Judge William J. Higgins and his sons Gordon F. Higgins and Judge James D. Higgins, all of whom served as President of the Regatta Committee. Coxswain Albert Joy has been called the "Ladies' Man" at Lakeside as he led five Ladies' crews to victory, including the Newfoundland Hotel crew which rowed the old women's course in the record time of 5:12. 1960 A common debate over the 9:13.80 record gets re-ignited as many people believe the course has changed and that the record was actually set in 1873, by a crew in the Terra Nova rowing in a time of 8:40. The Newfoundland Broadcasting Company offers a $1000.00 prize for the crew able to beat 9:20, seeing as the record of 9:13.80 seems unbeatable. 1962 Regatta Committee purchases the Simms' Boats built by Richard Simms of Toronto, a former Newfoundlander. They cost $2,000 and are 50 feet long, weighing 450 pounds. 1965 Christening of the shell Caribou named for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. 1973 Coxswain Levi "Shotty" Rogers inducted into Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. The 9:13.80 crew is inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame by a nomination from the Amateur Softball Association. 1977 100th Anniversary of the Seven Placentia Giants march into St. John's. The team from Placentia re-enact this amazing feat. The Regatta is held a week earlier then normal due to the Canada Summer Games being held in St. John's. Gert Reardigan becomes the first woman coxswain. 1978 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. the Prince Philip attend the St. John's Regatta. This is the third Royal visit since 1860. Regatta held again one week earlier to accommodate the schedule of the Royal Visit. 1981 The 1901 record of 9:13.80 finally falls to the Smith-Stockley crew who row a very impressive 9:12.04 and put an end to the speculation that the course could never be rowed in such a time. They are awarded the Lord Warden's Medals. The crew consisted of Paul King, John Barrington, Brian Cranford, Bill Holwell, Randy Ring, Tom Power and Coxswain Jim Ring.