Captain's Dinner 2020...

Sadly, there will not be a 2020 Captain’s Dinner. Another casualty in a long list of disappointments this year has produced. This Saturday, November 21st would have been our evening to recognize all our top athletes along with coach and volunteer of the year. Had the year gone the way we had hoped, we would have had special recognition for the men’s and women’s crews that competed at the Henley Royal Regatta in July and had possibly (probably!) brought home victories.

I may have said it in previous notes but once again to all the coaches and volunteers that turned out and supported the athletes that were able to row – THANK YOU!! You made a difficult year much, much better than it might have been.

And a special THANK YOU to Jim Marino! Jim retired from flying 777’s this past year and volunteered to step up and fill in for Mark Welsh. As a previous Board Member from 1990 to 2002 including 5 years as president he was very qualified. More about Jim in a future update.

And speaking of Mark Welsh, a few rowers and friends gathered in front of the workshop last June to say Thank You for 14 years of
leadership as Club Captain. I promised we would do a better job of recognition at the Captain’s Dinner… and we will… in 2021.

To our very generous Sponsors, not just for the Dinner but for their support at all our functions – THANK YOU!
 
The room would have been host to many of our athletes including masters and rec rowers, past Club Captains, Club Presidents, and assorted Dignitaries. We may even have been able to convince 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist - Sir Matthew Pinsent to make a return visit after a successful Spring 2020 Fundraising Gala he had committed to attending.

Though this may be an incomplete list of members who passed away since last year… Brian Davis, Marilyn Minards, Ingrid Edmonstone, we remember them all as great individuals and people that gave so much of their time, energy, and guidance to our Club.

---

As we have moved into November, we still have a few athletes on the water. It is unlikely we will know before next March if the Henley Royal Regatta will happen in July of 2021 but as I write this, their website is up and running.

In a spirit of optimism, several junior and senior rowers and their coaches have committed to training through the winter with the hope it will go ahead, and we can attend.

Given the current trend in COVID-19 cases, we will “hope for the best but plan for the worst” come Spring 2021.

If the high school season is cancelled but coaches are willing, we will open the Club early for the boat sizes that are permitted and those athletes – junior, senior, master, rec – that wish to row.

Next Update will be a profile of one of our long serving and most successful members! I’m sure you will enjoy it…
​
Best in Sport, 
Rick Crooker
President, St. Catharines Rowing Club

19 November, 2020