Regatta-Page

THE PLACENTIA LIONS CREW 1977

In 1977 the Placentia Lions Club crew carried a regatta boat to St John’s as their forefathers did in 1877, where they won the Fishermen’s Championship. The Placentia Lions went on to win the Placentia, Harbour Grace, and St. John’s Regatta, making it the second time for the Placentia Lions Crew to win a “Triple Crown”. This was the first time in Newfoundland Rowing History for such an accomplishment. Members of the winning crew are:

(L - R, B - R) ( COX) Adrian O’Keefe, Tom Whittle, Gerard Barron, Brendan Whittle. (L - R, F -R) Anthony Whittle, Frank Lannon, Leo Collins.

THE SEVEN PLACENTIA GIANTS

JERSEYSIDE ( PLACENTIA ) CREW

It was 88 years between Championships (1877 - 1965 ) but the Placentia crew from Jerseyside brought home the spoils of victory AUG. 4, 1965 from the St. John’s Regatta.

Members of the winning crew are; ( L - R, B - R ) Tom Traverse( Cox), Frank Traverse, Joe Traverse, Tom Gardner. ( L - R, F - R) Anthony Traverse, Pat Moore, Bill Hutchings.

Over 48 Years

Regatta History

The Placentia Regatta — 1963 to the Present

The year 2012 will mark the 49th running of the Placentia Regatta. Even though the Regatta itself is only 49 years old, the sport of rowing in the Placentia area has been around for well over 100 years. Back in 1877 a determined group of Placentia fishermen carried their boat on their backs to St. John’s, won the Championship and carried their boat back home. This tremendous feat was replicated in 1977 by the Placentia Lions who carried a boat to St. John’s and won the Championship. It marked the second straight year that the Lions Crew had won the Triple Crown of Rowing, meaning they had won the men’s senior Championship in all three fixed-seat rowing Regattas (Placentia, Harbour Grace and St. John’s.)

It all began in the ‘Blockhouse’ in 1963 under the first President, Mr. Tom Hickey, as the first wooden shells rowed up the Southeast Arm and back. The event moved to its’ present home in Bond’s Path just a year later.

There have been many highlights over the years, not to mention the work of Adrian O’Keefe, Tom Traverse, and Adrian Traverse, three local men who, because of their dedication and accomplishments in the sport, have been inducted into the Royal St. John’s

Regatta Hall of Fame, joining Placentia's first inductees,

the Fishermen of 1877.

The Regatta is like a giant festival of games, food concessions, and music, all centered around a full day of six-person, fixed-seat boat races on the beautiful Southeast Arm. Today’s committee numbers 12 including a 5-member executive & interest has never been greater.