A Holiday Poem (A revival from years past)
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Boathouse
The ergs were a humming to the sounds of Struass.
The shells were slung on the stretchers with care
In hopes that St. Nick could some-how repair.
Another erg done had my legs feeling like led
What was I thinking. I must be losing my head.
The splits from my session had me jumping for joy
My bet with Fleming; he would soon be a poor boy.
When all of a sudden there rose such a clatter
I grabbed an oar before pursuing the matter
Away to the dock; I ran like a flash
Bad hip and all, I knew I would soon crash.
When what to my weary eyes should appear
Was Mr. Peter Walsh the ARA’s fearless leader.
More rapid than eagles; his coaches they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name
Oh Marchuk and McGuinness you two should be proud.
5 medals at CSG; An Alberta Team that wowed!
Lets not forget; 8 National Team Athletes
And a full executive team with a VP who tweets.
The sport of rowing was in great shape here in Alberta
The provincial sport organization was in a state of euphoria.
And then in a twinkling I heard a knock on the door
The sport organization knew it could do even more.
As I drew in my hand and was turning around.
The 2023 rowing season; good times abound
And now before us the new year is now days away
And a whole new set of opportunities and challenges to weigh.
The ARA is aware that expectations are high
With athletes like you who reach for the sky.
To everyone in the ARA all the best this holiday season
2022 Year in Review (Bob and Doug McKenzie Style)
In the Year 2022 Alberta Rowing did see.
Twelve – Boats a rowing.
Eleven – Coaches Scheming
Ten – Really eight but I already have something for eight – Alberta crews winning gold at the 2022 World Master Championships.
Nine – Lets just say that eight was a really busy number in 2022. Eight Alberta Athletes winning medals at CURC’s
Eight – National Team Athletes (Andrew Hubbard, Shaye de Paiva, Eliza Dawson, Jessica Sevick, Karen Lefsrud, Curtis Ames, Kasia Gruchella Wesierski, Karissa Riley)
Seven – Alberta athletes winning medals at the 2022 National Rowing Championships (Andrew Hubbard, Karissa Riley, Gaby Yarema, Shaye de Paiva, Kaliya Javra, Ainsley Salmon, Curtis Ames
Six – Alberta Rowing Clubs Competing (Lakeland, CABC, Telford, CRC, ERC, U of A, U of C) and acknowledging that Cold Lake is looking to get going once again in 2023.
Five – CSG Medals (Men Pair, Men Quad, Men Eight, Men Four, Women Four)
Four – Long Service Award Recipients at the 2022 RCA Coaches Conference (Ray McCall, Peter Walsh, Linda Huebscher, Carolyn Taylor Smith)
Three – Alberta Regattas (Dino Sprints, ARA Erg Championships, & Alberta Open)
Two – Henley Gold Winners (Women’s four and Light women’s single)
One – CSG Gold Medal – Alberta’s first in 9 years (Axel Ewashko and Andrew Hubbard in the men’s pair)
From our Rowing Family to yours we wish everyone good health and fortune in 2023