Good showing for rowing

The Labrador West Rowing Association has its Annual General Meeting in the bag and is rearin to go for Regatta.

President Nick McGrath said he was very pleasantly surprised when the AGM last week attracted about 30 peoplea much larger number than the norm of about 10 or 12.

We had a lot of new people attend this years meeting and its always nice to see new blood showing an interest, remarked McGrath. I think that more and more people are developing an interest in rowing and last week we had a number of people show up that havent rowed before. Its great to see.

Youth is one group the association is hoping to attract more of as they begin a fresh year. We are hoping to get more interest in the age 14-20 group, said McGrath. We have a new poster that we will put in the youth centre in the hope of getting more involved in the Regatta which is the main event for the year for us.

He noted the minimum age to row is 14.

The volunteer group will be in high gear for the next six weeks leading up to this years annual Regatta (July 27).

McGrath hopes that some changes the association is working on will bring growth to the concession portion of the event.

In the past, he explained, concession booths were restricted to non-profit organizations, but this year it will be opened up for private citizens or small businesses as well as those who wish to take advantage of the customer base on Regatta Day.

The cost of acquiring a booth space will be lowered this year as well.

We havent decided on what the cost will be, but it will be lower than previous years, McGrath explained. The previous cost of a booth was $150 plus an additional $50 for cleanup fee.

Weather permitting, live entertainment will be on the Jean Lake field as well and McGrath invites any local musicians interested in putting forth talent to contact him at 944-2386 or Harold Clarke at 944-5780.

As the interest in the Regatta seems to be on the rise, McGrath is hoping for a great turnout of rowers again this yearanywhere from 35 to 40 teams he says is a good number.

With the dock ready to go in the water this week and a coxswain clinic and boat safety course to soon follow, he says rowers should be on the lake very soon practicing for the big day of competition.







SIDEBAR

Labrador West Rowing Association Executive:



PresidentNick McGrath

Vice-presidentMatt Stacey

TreasurerBrad Banfield

SecretarySonya Pritchett



New Directors

Beth-Ann Pinsent

Kerri Tarrant