Every member of the crew received a small version of the large poster. The large one was three to four feet in size. It was in the front window of McCann’s Billiard Hall right into the late 1960’s when, I believe, the Pool Hall closed. This was likely the most honoured location in town for it.
As the victory was national in scale and since most of the crew went to war in a year or two, the townspeople must have felt very special about the crew members.
Anyone who’s ever paddled in a good war canoe team will know about the pain and bonding which comes with the synchronicity of the strokes over a long distance. There are no heroes. Every paddler is equal and must dig deep on every stroke.
Marlene Springer When we had the parade for John Edwards I remember I brought my air horn to the parade and I think I emptied the HOLE CANISTER the town was SO PROUD (1972)
This is the first Carleton Place Canoe Club’s all woman’s war canoe crew. Darlene Page’s grandfather was the coach–Her aunt’s also in the photo too (lady girl on the right) Her grandfather, Clarence Waugh, was in the middle standing. Darlene’s Aunt’s name was Deloris Agnel, maiden name Julian. The year would be 1940s
Men’s 1/2 Mile and Mile War Canoe team, Carleton Place Canoe Club 1907. Members were: (Left Side, looking toward the front of the canoe) H. Morphy, A. McCaw, W. Hunter, A. Dunlop, J. Winthrope, M. Lamb, A, Robertson. (Right Side) C. Lamb, W. Knox, J. Hockenall, M. Ryan, F. Milliken, G. Gordon, N. McGregor, A. Keyworth (capt.). The Carleton Place Canoe Club is visible behind the canoe and to the left is a house that was torn down, and the Navy Corps building is now in that location.
Jack Shail, Jeremy Bell, Marty Laskaris, Shane Edwards, Peter McGregor, Richard Cook, Mike Roy, Logan Trafford, Roger Gardiner. Shaking hands with Jack Shail is “Bunny” Bond. Brother of Joey and a member of the Canadian Champion war canoe of 1920. He and the Sinclair brothers always came to the annual regatta.
This image from the 1920 Canadian Canoe Association Regatta shows the war canoe team reaching shore. Events took place at Lake Park on Mississippi Lake. “Carleton Place proved a genuine surprise in the CCA Regatta held here today. The Junction town humbled the haughty Parkdales in the half mile war canoe race in a magnificent finish and were second in the mile. the romped away in the Senior Fours in another stirring finish.” – Ottawa Evening Journal, August 9, 1920.
First photo Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Second photo Below–Wendy Healey–The picture you have posted with the girls war canoe has Lisa and Louise Armour, Heather Kneen, Tracey Mills, Deanna Barry, Julie Kirkpatrick, Linda Black. Probably in the back may be myself, Wendy Armstrong, Catherine Elliot, Margot Findlay, Debbie Hine, Louise Hine etc. The war canoe changed every year…
Did you know that the Canoe Club held weekly sports in front of their club house at the foot of Charles Street: tilting jousts, four man canoe racing against the war canoe crew, crab and gunwale races were some of the events staged.
This hand drawn map from 1888, shows details of the Caldwell Property, which later became Riverside Park. It’s very interesting. The building marked as “Carriage and blacksmith shops” later served as the Canoe Club headquarters.–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
This amazing postcard was part of a recent donation. Wow! It’s a composite photo by Hammond Studios of Carleton Place, and celebrates the 1907 Carleton Place Canoe Club War Canoe CHAMPIONS OF CANADA!
The C.C.A. was held in Montreal that year, and the C.P.C.C. decisively took the half mile and the mile War Canoe events.
The town organized a “grand procession” for the boys when they returned. “Headed by the Citizen’s Band, Commodore Cram, the Mayor and council, club patrons, the victorious crew paraded from the clubhouse to town hall in a handsomely decorated and illuminated carriage, followed by a crowd of citizens and about 200 boys with torches, many in costume. The town hall was packed in every part – it was jammed inside and outside. By the time the procession arrived pandemonium reigned. ” Carleton Place Herald, Aug. 20, 1907
1977..Dartmouth…Canadian Championships…Ivan and I were going up to the Start….Frank Mills was on the balcony of the MicMac Club as we passed…he heard people laughing and guffawing about us as we passed by……we won Sr. Men’s C2 1000m by open water…. John Edwards
As the weather seems to -be turning, to the better– the paddling season draws near, this year’s Executive is attempting to get an early start on planning of activities and the purchasing of new equipment. Before the adoption of the plans drawn up can be put into motion, the annual meeting of members must take place — this meeting h open to all interested persons who wish to become members of the Club.
This will take place on April 2 at Almonte High School at 7.30 p.m. This year’s Executive is made up of the following: Greg Merrithew Commodore; Les Ladoticeur. Vice Commodore; Doug. Walker, Treasurer; Eileen Pommerville, Secretary. As last year was considered a success in recreational paddling, the Executive feels that emphasis this year should be put on family recreation and pleasure canoeing.
Also this year the Club will be organizing week-end excursions. If interest in this type of canoeing is high, the Executive will consider purchasing some more pleasure canoes. Also, it has come to the Executive’s attention that past members of the Club have expressed their desire in competing in Eastern Ontario regattas in a War Canoe and in a C4 (four man canoe). However, these crafts could not be acquired if there was not enough demand shown for them.
This year competitive members have already begun training so as to try and gain entry into the Canada Games. Any person wishing to compete in Flat Water Racing or wanting further info about the Club should contact Greg Mrtrithew.Many people in this area do not know just how big a sport competitive racing is in Canada. For their information the Almonte Canoe Club belongs to the Canadian Canoe Association. This Association is a Government Sponsored program, and is one of the highest ranking sports organisations to receive financial assistance from the Government. Also, Just recently the Provincial Government formed an organization called Canoe Ontario for the purpose of giving financial assistance to groups to Ontario for the sport in the province. With all this assistance being given to the sport, it would be only right to have as many people involved in it as possible.
Dave Findlay was very hopeful to get the great Almonte athletes turned toward the water. Getting the two towns to ‘egg each other on’ would surely produce more champions at high levels.
The first regatta was at the fairgrounds but there was a shallow rock ledge in the river which wasn’t good for racing.
Second regatta was up the river at Russell Turner’s farm.
All fun!
Click to read clipping.. someone asked me about the Almonte Canoe Club that once existed.The Almonte Canoe Club was founded in 1967 as the Almonte Municipal Recreation Club and took out associate membership with assistance from Carleton Place’s Dave Findlay. The following year saw full membership and a name change to the Almonte Canoe Club. They hosted a succesful regatta in 1968 and competed in the Eastern Ontario Division for five years until 1973, failing to rejuvenate the club afterwards. There was another canoe club in existence at the time known as the Mississippi Mobile Canoe Club. This organisation, originally known as the White Ensign Canoe Club, took out associate membership in 1971, a status that remained inconsistent for the next five years before disappearing altogether.
Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 15 Sep 1967, Fri, Page 1
In July 28 of 2019 we had the first Carleton Place Amazing Race held at the Market Square and in the same month in 1956 the Carleton Place Canoe Club had the first annual 7 mile race from Almonte to the Carleton Place Town Hall. The only notable person from Carleton Place to ever come near the top every year during those races was Dave Findlay. In 1959 the Chamber of Commerce took over and in 1963– the Annual Seven-Mile Road Race ran under the sponsorship of the Carleton Place Chamber of Commerce. That year, three additional events were added. The top award given out was the Queens Hotel Trophy which was allegedly filled with beer.
The Carleton Place Canoe Club. Pictured here are the first two clubhouses – the first was originally the blacksmith shop for the Caldwell Sawmill, located at what is now Riverside Park
Just thought you might be interested in posting this photo since there was so much interest about Joie & Bunny Bond.
Bunny was an enthusiastic supporter of CPCC. He was in one of the great war canoe crews of the which achieved a Dominion Championship. This was a big achievement for a sport dominated by clubs from Toronto and Montreal. In the canoeing world in Canada, everyone knows about Carleton Place!
Bunny would come to the CPCC Annual Regattas with immaculate red and white sneakers so there would be no doubt as to his loyalty. This picture with Bunny, my Mum & Dad is taken in front of the clubhouse in use from the early ‘50’s until the new one was built in the mid-80’s. John Edwards—
Joie Bond had a brother nicknamed Bunny. She had heard his proper name once but cannot recall it. Bunny Bond dated forever into old age, with a local gal named Dorcus Bennett. Dorcus was called Dick, had a twin sister, Martha Gertrude Groves who married Allan Groves. Dorcus was Sandie’s father in law’s (Dr. Forbes Baird)assistant and after I tracked her down found out she made 600 bucks a year as an assistant in 1921. Bunny was a championship paddler with the Canoe Club in his youth.
If you have anymore memories jot them down in the comments section. Thanks!!
I love finding memories of Lanark County. This postcard I bought on EBay was from 1908. I had not seen the back at all as they had not shown it– so I was really surprised when I saw the back.
The signature of ‘Baldy’ was none other than Carleton Place’s iconic Jack ‘Baldy’ Welsh. The back of the postcard wished a Horace Merrill a Merry Christmas. So who was Horace Merrill?
War Canoe 1905 –Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum Photograph taken by Will H. Hooper. (l to r) Norm Gibson, Bob Green, Bill Sims, Billy Janoe, Jack Virtue, Harry McEwen, ___, Dr. ____, Howard Morphy, ___, ___, Tom Scott, Herb Singleton, Jack “Baldy” Welsh.
Horace Jefferson Merrill (deceased) was a Canadian senior single-blade canoe champion in 1904 and 1908-09. He was coach and captain champion of the Mile War Canoe from 1909 to 1911 and silver medalist ½ mile War Canoe from 1908 to 1911.
He was a member of the Cliffsides, first Allan Cup champions 1909. He Captained the Ottawa Senators hockey team. He was a defence man with the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) for eight seasons. Stanley Cup champs, 1919-20.
Merrill was an outstanding paddler in the decade 1902-1912. He was a member of the Rideau Canoe Club’s first war canoe crew in 1902.[3 Paddling for Ottawa Canoe Club(OCC) in 1904 he won the senior singles in the Canadian Canoe Association (CCA) competition. By 1906 he had switched to the New Edinburgh Canoe Club (NECC) and took second place in the senior singles at the CCA championship. In 1908 and 1909 he took the title as Canadian senior singles champion. In 1908, 1909 and 1910 he led the NECC war canoe crew to second place finishes in the half-mile Canadian championships. The crew came second in the mile race in 1908 and finished first in 1909, 1910, and 1911. In 1912 he served as rear commodore of the CCA.
Merrill retired to live and marry in Ottawa. He became the president of the Dadson-Merrill Press Company until his retirement from that business in 1945. He also served as a school trustee. In 1958, he suffered a stroke on an automobile trip to Florida with his wife, while driving through Cortland,New York, and was returned to Ottawa on December 19, 1958. He died a week later and is buried in Ottawa at Beechwood cemetery along with numerous other Senators players.
The famous Baldy Welsh The Carleton Place Canoe Club is the oldest continually operating club in the country and is the only surviving charter member of the Canadian Canoe Association. The club has consistently produced athletes who qualify for the highest levels of competition at the provincial, national and international level. These range from Ontario team members to Canada Summer Games team members, Junior World Championship competitors to Senior National Team members, Pan Am Games to the Olympic Games.-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.
No story of Carleton Place would be complete without more than a passing reference to W. J. “Baldy” Welsh, famous Carleton Place paddler. In 1952 he was a young 89, “Baldy”, as even the school children called him was spry and extremely active for his age. Baldy Welsh used to stand in front of the Post Office where he once lived with one of his sons who was the caretaker of the building. He used to wear a silver Maltese cross, dangling from a silver chain fastened in his coat lapel. It was something that meant a great deal to him when he won the double-blade single canoe race in Brockville on August 6,1900. The man he beat was Billy Dier, Brockville’s strong man.
Baldy Welsh was also on a four-man canoe crew that won a cup given by Barbara Ann Scott’s maternal grandfather, Mr. Derbyshire, in 1898. In 1952 the canoe he bought 50 years ago was still in a shed not 50 yards from the Post Office. Baldy Welsh was proud of the fact that his three sons, Jim, Frank and Emmet , served the First World War and his four grandsons, Jack, J. D., Tom and William, all served overseas in the Second World War.
Besides being a great paddler in his day, Baldy Welsh also found time for baseball, hockey and lacrosse. He retired from the CPR shop in Carleton Place in 1929 after 22 years spent painting locomotives and tenders. About all he had to show for it was his long service pass but he made good use of it. He never missed a regatta and after some big sporting event in Ottawa, the sports writers usually included a line that said:
“Among those heard and seen cheering loudly at the game was Baldy Welsh of Carleton Place.”
The former paddler was born of Irish stock and his father came from Tipperary, his mother from Cork so Baldy Welsh was Irish and make no mistake about it. He was a natural to play a leading role in “My Wild Irish Rose,” staged by the local Carleton Place dramatists in 1920. Baldy’s eyes lighted up when he recalled how he played the part of Colum McCormack, a prosperous farmer of County Kildare, and how he led a male chorus in a bonafied show-stopper.
Baldy Welsh was modestly proud of a story written about him in the Ottawa Citizen by Austin Cross, back in 1945. He discussed the old stone schoolhouse (Central School) on Bridge Street, and recalled the day in 1870 when it was opened.
Before that, he said, he went to the old frame school across the “school lane.” Half of the old school was moved to a corner a block away on Victoria Street where it is now a terrace dwelling. Baldy, of course, liked best to tell of his paddling- prowess of years ago.
As you know the Balderson Cow is nicknamed Baldy Welsh after Carleton Place’s iconic paddler from the Canoe Club. The Storyland Bunny is now named the Storyland Ballygiblin Bunny now he is residing in Carleton Place. Thanks Ted Hurdis and a high five from Lynette Stanfield!
Captain Paul Boyton was an American showman and adventurer, known for his dangerous and original water stunts. Boyton helped establish the United States Life-Saving Service and became captain of the New Jersey Life Saving Service. Boyton’s life-saving expertise led him to the inventor Clark S. Merriman. Merriman had recently invented a life preserving suit, which was made from India rubber and was inflatable. Boyton took it upon himself to test the suit.
Captain Boyton first tested the suit when he was dropped over the side of a steamer into the Irish sea in the midst of a gale. Boyton then set his sights on crossing the English Channel with the aid of the suit.
On 10th April 1875, Boyton bravely stepped into the water at Dover with only a double-bladed paddle and headed out to sea. He was closely tailed by reporters in the steam tug Rambler.
In preparation for the crossing, Boyton had fitted a square canvas into the left boot of the suit. The canvas was supposed to act as a sail. Boyton also adopted the unusual diet of beaten eggs, a couple of cherry brandies and a cigar, believing this would successfully keep him going.
Unfortunately, his efforts were to no avail. The crossing was eventually abandoned when the weather worsened. The pilot of the French boat became concerned for Boyton’s safety and he threatened to surrender all charge of his boat if Boyton failed to come aboard. Eventually, Boyton agreed to quit, but only after making the reporters sign a declaration that the decision to quit was not his.
Although Boyton had not crossed the channel, he had been in the water for 15 hours and had covered 50 miles. The stunt had achieved its aim: Boyton had proved the seaworthiness of the life preserving suit.
Six weeks later, Boyton stepped into the water at Boulogne to attempt another crossing and successfully landed in Dover twenty-three and a half hours later at 2.30am at Fan Bay near South Foreland. The trip was a success: Boyton had an uneventful crossing aside from meeting a porpoise four miles off Dover. This was the first successful crossing of the Channel by any person, but Boyton had been helped by his life preserving suit. He could not say he was the first swimmer to cross the Channel unaided.
Hanlan was born to Irish parents; one of two sons and two daughters. His mother was Mary Gibbs, his father, John, was first a fisherman and later a hotel keeper on the Toronto Islands. The Hanlan family originally lived at the east end of Toronto Island, but a severe storm in 1865 pushed their little house into the harbour. It washed ashore near the north end of Gibraltar Point, at the island’s west end. A few years later, Ned’s father built a small hotel there, and the area started becoming known as Hanlan’s Point, long before Ned became famous. Young Hanlan used to row several kilometres every day across the harbour to go to and from George Street public school, Toronto. He developed speed to bring freshly caught fish to sell at market before other fishermen arrived to compete.[2][3]
Sculling
It seemed only a matter of time before he would try competitive rowing, for regattas were held virtually on his doorstep. In 1871, when he was 16, Hanlan entered his first race, for three-man crews of “fishermen,” who were considered professionals because they were thought to have an occupational advantage over the amateur gentlemen. His boat was unsuccessful. But the amateur rules were changing: increasingly the receipt of money prizes, rather than ascriptive class status, was becoming the criterion of professionalism. Hanlan was accepted into amateur competition in 1873 and here he quickly shone. In his first singles race he won the championship of Toronto bay. Then, in 1874, wearing the blue shirt and red headband which became his trademark, he beat the redoubtable Thomas Loudon three times in succession – once for a side bet of $100, a sizeable risk for him – and won the prestigious Dufferin Medal. The following year he took the Ontario championship.
These victories and a growing calendar of rich stake races led a group of Torontonians in 1876 to form a syndicate club to back him as a professional. The club’s first decision was to purchase a sleek English-made shell and equip it with two recent innovations, a sliding seat and swivel oarlocks. Both helped the rower lengthen the stroke, and thereby the pull on the water. The sliding seat was particularly important. Before its introduction, rowers seeking greater reach had to move across the stationary seat on greased chamois pants, an awkward, often painful manoeuvre.
Hanlan quickly rewarded the confidence and technological astuteness of his investors. In September 1876 thousands watched the “Boy in Blue” capture the professional singles in the highly publicized Centennial Regatta in Philadelphia. Although many “laughed at his ambition,” according to a contemporary American newspaper, he beat most of North America’s best scullers on a three-mile (5 km) course with a turn in the record time of 21 minutes 9½ seconds, winning a purse of $800 for himself and a bounteous betting harvest for his supporters. Hanlan and his club next set their sights on national championships. These had to be won through the “challenge system,” which governed most 19th-century sports, rather than participate in an annual event called a championship, in which any qualified athlete could compete, reigning champions held their titles until they were defeated in a negotiated one-on-one challenge. Obtaining a challenge was often as difficult as the event itself. Fortunately, Hanlan’s growing celebrity and his solid backing made him financially attractive as an opponent and he was able to get the challenges he wanted without undue delays.
To win the Canadian championship (and stakes of $1,000) in 1877, he beat New Brunswicker Wallace Ross over five miles (8 km) with a turn before 25,000 spectators in Toronto bay. The following year he took the American title from Pittsburgh’s highly regarded Ephraim (Evan) Morris over a five-mile (8 km) course with a turn on the treacherous Allegheny River, an outcome that delighted his supporters, who had bet upwards of $300,000. See also American Sculling Championship. In 1879 he captured the English Sculling Championship, beating William Elliott (rower) by 11 lengths over a three-and-one-half-mile stretch of the Tyne.
World Champion
With this triple crown the Hanlan Club disbanded, its mission accomplished. But the oarsman himself had one more goal, the World Championship, held by Australian Edward Trickett. On 15 Nov. 1880 he raced him on the Thames River’s historic Putney to Mortlake Championship Course of about four and a quarter miles. Some 100,000 spectators lined the banks. Harry Kelley piloted the Australian, and Bright performed the same office for Hanlan, but the race seemed to be over before they reached Hammersmith Bridge. The Canadian won in a time of 26 minutes-12 seconds and three lengths ahead, and thus he gained the World Title. The Stake was £400. In doing so he became Canada’s first world sporting champion in an individual or singles event. News of Hanlan’s success, spread by telegraph and newspaper, touched off a rare moment of communion among English-speaking Canadians. His victory also enriched “hundreds” of Ontarians “from Judges to peanut vendors” (Toronto Globe) who had backed him with cabled wagers.
Defending the Title
Lithograph of C. E. Courtney & Ned Hanlan in Toronto Bay
Hanlan was an active champion, accepting frequent challenges and racing often against the larger fields of non-title regattas. Defending his United States title against the latest American hope was particularly lucrative. In 1878 he had won an unprecedented $10,000 by defeating Charles Edward Courtney at Lachine, Que. Two years later Hanlan beat him again in Washington, D.C., winning $6,000. Although it was the champion’s prerogative to veto the site of any match, he never insisted on home advantage.
On the 14th of February 1881 he defended his World Title against another Australian, Elias C. Laycock, on the Thames on the Championship Course. This race also carried the Championship of England and the “Sportsman’s” (magazine) Challenge Cup. Hanlan won easily by about four lengths. His next defence was on 3 April 1882 against Englishman Robert W Boyd but this time the race was on the Tyne. The race was fairly close at the start but Hanlan was never troubled and won by seven lengths. His time was 21m.06s and he created a Tyne record for covering the first mile in 5m.45s.
Just a month or so later on the 1st of May he met Trickett again on the Thames. Trickett used a new boat weighing only twenty-nine pounds. The stake was £500 a side. However, the race was very one sided and Hanlan won so far ahead that he then turned around and rowed back to Trickett, turned around again and beat him a second time to the finish line. Hanlan was well known for these sorts of pranks which often humiliated his opponents.
The following year, (1883) after a bout with typhoid which had led to reports of his death, Hanlan turned back challenges in the United States from James Kennedy, an American, (on 30 May), and Wallace Ross of Canada, (on 18 July). There is some debate about these two races as they are not recorded in the list of Championship Races such as the one published in 1930 by the British Rowing Almanac nor in other publications. There is no doubt that the races took place. The Kennedy match was for $2500 a side and was rowed in Boston over three miles (5 km). Wallace Ross had beaten Hanlan in an earlier non-title match and thus claimed to be the unofficial World Champion. To try to make it official Ross challenged Hanlan and the match took place in New York. Hanlan won and made a record time in the process by taking fifty seconds off the previous best time for the four mile (6 km) course. These two matches were the only World Championship matches ever held in the USA other than one in 1932.
In 1884 Hanlan again beat Laycock, this time on the Nepean River, near Sydney in New South Wales. Again Hanlan was not seriously tested and kept his boat in front just enough to win in a time of 22m.45s. Strangely enough, of the twelve Championship races that Hanlan rowed none of them were raced in Canada. For further details of his Championship races see World Sculling Championship.
Sculling Style
Hanlan’s genius was a superbly efficient stroke – he was the father of the modern technique. He took full advantage of the sliding seat, not only to obtain greater reach but to drive with the large muscles of the legs in a coordinated, fluid motion so that the power of his whole body was marshalled into every stroke. This movement was no easy task in a frail, tipsy shell. Novices were discouraged from employing the slider for many years, and many of his rivals who did use it pulled primarily with their arms. Hanlan, who was only 5 feet 8¾ inches tall, weighed a mere 150 pounds in most of his races, yet his powerful stroke enabled him to beat larger, stronger men. While he rarely rowed at more than 36 strokes per minute, compared with as many as 42 for his rivals, he usually led from the start, often toying with opponents. During his championship race against Morris he slowed down, and twice stopped altogether, to enable the American to make a race of it; he still won by three lengths. He competed with icy calm and, although the term had yet to be coined, was a master at “psyching out” opponents with timely taunts. He had no qualms about humiliating those he disliked. When racing the arrogant Trickett he chatted with spectators and blew them kisses, stopped and waited, faked a collapse, and rowed in zigzags while the Australian laboured in his wake. On one occasion Hanlan crossed the line so far in front that he leisurely rowed back to his opponent and then beat him to the finish line a second time.
Championship Loss
Hanlan’s main occupation for many years continued to be rowing. He held his world title until 16 August 1884, when he was defeated by Australian Bill Beach on the Parramatta River near Sydney, Australia. Hanlan’s friends put the blame for the loss on a second bout with typhoid, the debilitating effects of almost eight months of foreign travel, and a near collision during the race with a chartered steamer, but the muscular blacksmith was an exceptional opponent. Unlike Hanlan’s other challengers, Beach had mastered the use of the sliding seat; he also outweighed the defending champion by 50 pounds. Hanlan stayed another seven months for a rematch. On 28 March 1885 Beach sculled against Ned Hanlan, again for a stake of £500 a side and the Title. A large crowd came to the by now usual course on the Parramatta River. This race was one of the better ones as for most of the distance there was little between them. The racing was close and exciting and approaching the finishing post both boats were almost bow to bow. Beach put in a final terrific effort and increased his advantage and won amidst wild excitement by the spectators.
Ned Hanlan was determined to beat Beach to regain the Title and issued another challenge. The race which took place on the 26 November 1887 was held on the Nepean River, near Sydney. Special trains ran from Sydney, Bathurst and Goulburn to take thousands of spectators to the course. The race was again close although Beach was always in the lead even though he was closely pressed by Hanlan. For the third time Beach defeated Hanlan for the World Championship. Beach then retired and Peter Kemp became the Tile Holder.
The next Hanlan Title race was scheduled for 5 May 1888 and was again raced on the Parramatta River against Peter Kemp (rower). This time the stake was £500 a side which was a huge sum of money in those days compared to ordinary wages. Great interest in the race was again taken by the public. The men got away to a clean start with Kemp taking a small lead early although Hanlan soon levelled. First one, then the other, had the advantage but neither gained much until at Putney a foul occurred and Hanlan took the advantage and shot out four lengths to the good. Kemp then made a most determined effort and was soon only half a length behind. Hanlan spurted again but Kemp kept up and was soon level. Hanlan then showed some signs of distress and slipped behind but then made another effort to overcome the leader. However Kemp sculled away and won by a length in a time of 21m.26s. Hanlan entered a protest over being fouled by Kemp but later withdrew it. The race was considered to be one of the finest ever rowed on that river.
Hanlan must have still fancied his chances and issued another yet another challenge against Kemp. This was accepted and the race was scheduled for 28 September 1888. It was unusual to have had this many Championship races over such a short time. Often a year or longer would pass between these races. Again the stake was £500 a side and was again raced on the Parramatta River. The result was an easy win by nine lengths to Kemp despite Hanlan claiming a foul. The referee disallowed the foul deciding that Hanlan was to blame. Kemp’s time was 20m.30s. This was Hanlan’s last World Title race of the twelve he competed in. Hanlan raced more times for the Title than anyone else and had won seven of them. Only Bill Beach had as many wins although over fewer races. The next Canadian to hold the world championship would be Jake Gaudaur Snr., in 1896.
Despite having lost his American title to John Teemer in 1885, Hanlan was far from finished. Although he chose opponents with increasing care, he raced with success and drew large crowds to his exhibitions for another decade. In 1891 he teamed up with fellow Torontonian (and new American champion) William Joseph O’Connor to win the American doubles championship, only to lose it the following year to Gaudaur and an American, George Hosmer. After O’Connor died in 1892, Hanlan raced with other partners but never again took a major doubles title. During his career he won more than 300 races, including exhibitions, and suffered fewer than a dozen defeats.
As befits a sporting hero Hanlan was affable, handsome, hard-working, and generally honest. (After a brief scrape with the law – he escaped arrest for bootlegging outside his father’s hotel in 1876 by rowing out to a cross-lake ferry, only to return in glory following his victory in Philadelphia – he managed to avoid the scandals which plagued his rivals.) When newspapers in the United States claimed him as an American because of his successes there, he stressed his Canadian identity. His confident victories against the best rowers from the United States and Britain seemed to confirm the wisdom of the attempt to build a new northern nation, and the vitality of its rising cities and towns. The Globe called him Canada’s best immigration agent.
Diminutive compared to his competition at the height of 5 feet 8.75 inches (1.75 m) and normal race weight of 150 pounds (68 kg) and familiar blue shirt, Hanlan was called “the Boy in Blue”.
He married on 19 December 1877 Margaret Gordon Sutherland of Pictou, Nova Scotia; they had two sons and six daughters. Following his career as an athlete, Hanlan became a hotelier like his father, and eventually became involved in municipal politics as an alderman of Toronto. He was the first head coach of the University of Toronto Rowing Club in 1897. In 1900, he decided to leave and coach the crew of Columbia University, New York for some years [4]. Ned died of pneumonia at age 52. Ten thousand Torontonians thronged to pay their final respects at the church where his body lay in state. Hanlan was laid to rest at Toronto Necropolis.
In the autum of 1926, a 9-foot (2.7 m) bronze statue sculpted by Emanuel Hahn of a moustachioed, muscular, shirtless Hanlan, shown clad only in surprisingly revealing trunks, was unveiled on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. This monument was relocated twice, once to the main entrance of the Marine Museum on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition grounds then later to a site near the ferry dock at Hanlan’s Point in 2004.[5] In 1980, a postage stamp was issued in his honour commemorating the centenary of his first world championship.[6] In addition, the Ned Hanlan Steamboat is named after him. A road in Vaughan, Ontario, Hanlan Road, is named after him. Gaudaur Road, named after a fellow World Champion, runs off Hanlan Road. There is also a Hanlan Street in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia. It is near several other streets named after rowers. Ned Hanlan was inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame.
In popular culture
Actor Nicolas Cage portrayed Hanlan in the 1986 film The Boy in Blue
(l to r) Norm Gibson, Bob Green, Bill Sims, Billy Janoe, Jack Virtue, Harry McEwen, ___, Dr. ____, Howard Morphy, ___, ___, Tom Scott, Herb Singleton, Jack “Baldy” Welsh.
The Carleton Place War Canoe Team of 1905, competing in the local Regatta on August 29th.
Our Canoe Club has a long history of war canoe racing. Supporting the current paddlers with a donation towards a new canoe would be a wonderful way to honour their history.
This extraordinary photo was taken in 1919. A parade was held to welcome home those from town who had fought in the First World War. The Carleton Place Canoe Club put together this float and paddled their way down Bridge Street. — withCarleton Place Canoe Club.
Through the winter of 1876 Ross went to England and had a shell built by Swaddler and Winship. In June, 1877 hemet Fred Plaisted of New York on the Kennebecasis and defeated him over a three mile course. In July he defeated Warren Smith of Halifax for the championship of the Maritime Provinces over a three smile course on the Kennebecasis. In August, Ross issued a challenge to row any man in the Dominion. The challenge was accepted by Ned Hanlan and the two met in Toronto harbour for $1000. a side. Over the five mile course with turn Hanlan easily defeated Ross. The next year Ross again challenged Hanlan and in July they met on the Kennebecasis over a five mile course with turn for $1000. a side. For a mile it was one of the finest races ever witnessed. At the mile Ross led, but shortly after upset and Hanlan won.
In 1879 Ross was “rowed down” by Warren Smith in Bedford Basin. He was also later beaten by James Ridley of Saratoga Springs, New York. However, in an International Regatta in 1880 at Providence, Rhode Island, from a field of ten starters including Ned Hanlan of Toronto, Jas Riley of Saratoga Springs, Fred Plaisted of Boston and Ten Eych of New York, Ross rowed well and finished first for a purse of $3000. Later that year Ross went to England and participated in the “Hop Bitters” race. He won the first two heats, but was placed second in the finals. In December, he rowed Trickett for $1000 a side and won. While still in England he trained Ned Hanlan for his race against Laycock. In 1881 in a regatta in Toronto, Ross defeated Hosmer, Smith, Ten Eych, McKay and Plaisted in the trial heat and then defeated Conely, Courtney, Ten Eych and Hamm in the final to win a $1500. purse. In 1884 Ross defeated Buhear of England but lost to William Black for the world championship. He retired from sculling after this and it is interesting to note that he made a world wide reputation in the exhibition of swordsmanship for several years after.
Memories of Chatter.. thanks to Lorraine Nephin- Bruce Sadler’s vintage Canadian newspapers
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