I am writing in response to the absurd declaration of the St. John’s Regatta Committee’s decision to lockout the Canada Games Rowing Team from further practice at the Boathouse on Quidi Vidi Lake stating an “unfair advantage to the rowers in the St. John’s Regatta.”
Not only is this sentiment small-minded and absurd, but it flies in the faces of the young athletes who have dedicated themselves in representing our province at a national competition. Their practices are necessary for their team to become the A-list athletes required when competing on such a national scale.
My daughter has been coxswain for the team this past year. She, along with her teammates, practice daily at 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. despite school schedules and commitments to part-time jobs. These young people are responsible to pay out of pocket for all regattas outside the province and have been attending these regattas regularly. They are expensive, yet no one is fundraising nor recognizing their efforts.
They are proud to be on Team Newfoundland and are dismayed and disheartened by the lack of enthusiasm and support given by their province, especially by the St. John’s Regatta Committee. This latest decision to deny them any further access to the Boathouse ergonomic rowing machines and facilities is ridiculous. They require this winter training in order to be ready and on par with the other athletes currently training for the Canada Games in August. Is this not a city facility?
I am aghast by the city of St. John’s and the province of Newfoundland’s lack of support for these rowers and the audacity to lock them out of the only training facility that is capable of training these dedicated young people.
I implore the Regatta Committee to come to its senses and open the Boathouse for the winter training, specifically for these young rowers, who are beyond dedicated, and are showing the rest of the country the superior athletes we have in this province.
Open the Boathouse!
Karla Ivany
St. John’s
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
