Fort William Junior 4's Rowing Crew (1938)
Fort William Junior 4's Rowing Crew (1938) was a four-man rowing crew from the Fort William Rowing Club that won the Junior 4's title at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in 1938. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.[1]
Overview
Season
The 1938 Fort William Rowing Club crew represented Fort William at the 56th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. The group consisted of Murray Teeple, George Nickerson, Jim Miller, and George Moors. Both Jim Miller and George Nickerson had previously developed their Rowing abilities while living in Kenora. The crew entered the Junior 4's category, marking a significant moment as they sought to become the first team from Northwestern Ontario to win at this event.[1]
To reach the final, the crew competed in the second heat of the preliminary round. They successfully qualified by racing against opponents from Lachine, Quebec and Buffalo, New York. In the championship heat, the Fort William oarsmen faced off against teams representing Winnipeg, the University of Toronto, and Lachine.[1]
During the final race, the crew established an early lead over the course, which measured one mile and 550 yards. They finished with a time of 6 minutes and 59 seconds, crossing the line four boat lengths ahead of the second-place Winnipeg squad. This victory served as a redemption for the crew, as they had lost to the same Winnipeg team only one week earlier at the Northwestern International Rowing Association Regatta.[1]
The time set by the Fort William crew was the fastest ever recorded for the Junior 4's final on the St. Catharines course since the event moved there in 1903. Their record for the course remained standing for 14 years following their 1938 victory.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Murray Teeple | stroke | |
| George Nickerson | player | |
| Jim Miller | player | |
| George Moors | bow |
Honours and achievements
- First Northwestern Ontario crew to win a team title at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta
- Winners of the 56th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta Junior 4's championship
- Set a course record for the Junior 4's at St. Catharines that stood for 14 years
- Completed the mile and 550 yard course in 6 minutes and 59 seconds[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Fort William Junior 4's Rowing Crew", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/9bdbafe9-b191-4992-b96b-9a8088a8afbb (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.