Scene 1. Introduction

MEDIUM WIDE: A rowing team rows on a lake in the morning sun.

VOICE:

The annual Royal St. John’s Regatta is North America’s oldest continuing annual sporting event. On the first Wednesday in August, more than 100 rowing crews compete to be the fastest crew on the pond.

WIDE: Crowds of people walking through concessions.

VOICE:

A mid-week civic holiday, the Regatta attracts up to 40,000 people annually. More than 250 booths and concessions blanket the shoreline of Quidi Vidi Lake and add greatly to the races being rowed on the Lake. The booths and concessions are operated by charitable, athletic, church and fraternal organizations, and by enterprising individuals.

CUT-IN: Kids playing a game of chance and wining a prize.

CUT-IN: A man passes cotton candy to a smiling young girl.

Voice:

The Regatta has been about socializing as much as it has been about amateur sport. It is widely known as "The Largest Garden Party in the World" and draws attention from all over. Concession stands, wheels of fortune, games of chance, food and fun are just as much part of the history of the Regatta as the races.

SCENE 2. The Boats:

MEDIUM: Images of shells

VOICE:

The fixed seat rowing shells are unique. There are six rowers plus a coxswain. The races start and finish at the same spot which requires all the crews to "turn the buoys" at the halfway point of the race. Crews range in age from 14 to senior citizens. Men's crews row a 2.450 km course, women's crews row a 1.225 km course.

Scene 3. History:

MONTAGE: Images of historical crews and St. John's Harbour.

Voice:

The earliest verifiable documentation of St. John's boat races is August 1816. Many historians believe that rowing and sailing competitions between various ship crews and the local populace actually pre-date this time.

In its early days the boat races were held over a space of three days, and old-fashioned gigs and yawls and long boats were manned by sailors and fishermen who won cash prizes and bragging rights.

Scene 4. Royal Visits:

MONTAGE: Stock footage of Queen Elizabeth visiting the Royal St. John's Regatta in 1978.

Voice:

The Regatta has been visited by members of the Royal Family, including Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward) in 1860 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1978. It has been canceled due to the death of any Monarch, and any year a Coronation has taken place or a milestone Jubilee celebrated, the Regatta is held in honour of the Monarch.

Scene 5: Women Rowing in the Regatta:

MONTAGE: Images of Women's Rowing Crews from the St. John's Regatta.

VOICE:

In 1856, a crew of women from Quidi Vidi competed against a crew from Southside, St. John's on the waters of Quidi Vidi Lake. Although St. John's had held an annual regatta (Royal St. John's Regatta) since 1818, this race was the first of its kind. It was almost another century before women participated again in the St. John's Regatta. In 1941, members of the American military took part in the races, including crews of WAF (Women in the Air Force). Further initiatives to include women in the races were rebuffed. A 1945 newspaper column "Notes on the Regatta" reported the decision of the Regatta Committee not to include a "Ladies' Race" in the Victory Regatta. In 1949, the decision was overturned, and four crews of women competed in the historic event. The spectators gathered to cheer the women on numbered well over 8,000, one of the largest crowds reported at Quidi Vidi Lake.

Scene 6. The Outer Cove Fisherman's Crew 1901:

PAN: Photo of 1901 rowing crew.

VOICE:

On August 7th 1901, the Outer Cove Fishermen's Crew with the racing shell "Blue Peter" rowed Quidi Vidi lake in a record time of 9 minutes 13.45 seconds. The crew consisted of: Martin Boland, John Nugent, Denis Croke, Denis McCarthy, Daniel McCarthy, John Whelan and Walter Power. This record was held for 80 years until it was broken in 1981 by the Smith Stockley rowing crew.

PAN: A photo of the 1982 rowing crew.

VOICE:

This win was a huge blow to the people of Outer Cove. In the fall of 1981, two brothers Mike and Bill Power put together six men whose sole intention was bringing the record back to Outer Cove. This crew was coxed by Mike Power and included Andrew Boland, Bert Hickey, Campbell Feehan, Gerald Ryan, Jim Hibbs, and Owen Devereaux. In the regatta of 1982, the Outer Cove men's crew gave the most dominating performance in a single race, covering the course in an astounding 9:03.48. After reestablishing the record and winning the Men's Championship Race later that day, the pride was back in Outer Cove. In 2000 this crew was inducted into the Royal St. John's Regatta Hall of Fame.

INTERVIEW: Past rowers from the 1982 rowing crew.

scene 7. Cancellations:

VOICE:

From 1861 to 1870 there were no Regattas held due to political and religious strife within the country of Newfoundland. It was feared that such a gathering would instigate riot and unrest among the many peoples of the country leading to more turmoil and anger.

INSERT: Images of the Fire of 1892

VOICE:

After the fire of 1892, there was no Regatta held because the shores of Quidi Vidi were used as temporary housing for those who lost their homes.

INSERT: Images of troops during WWI.

VOICE:

In 1914 the Regatta was held, but was blackened by the news that war had erupted in Europe, and that Newfoundlanders would be shipping overseas to aid in the war effort with Britain. Out of respect for those fighting in the war, no Regattas were held from 1915 to 1918. There was no event again in 1940, continuing with the theme of "No Regatta during War time". However, American, Canadian and Newfoundland military commanders believed that it would be an excellent distraction from the war and a perfect opportunity to keep their men in shape by continuing with the Regatta, and it was subsequently reinstated in 1941.