The
Ste.
Anne Boating Club was founded as
early as 1878 when they held their first annual regatta
(Montreal Gazette, August 26) which ran until at least
1893. There appears to have been a St. Ann's Amateur Sports
Club (sic) as early as 1874 when their August 1 aquatics
day was reported in the paper. The first canoe race at
their home regatta was in 1880, won by the Abbott brothers.
Women entered races as early as 1882 and by 1885, Ste.
Anne's was promoting canoeing more actively than the other
Montreal-area clubs. The first C15 (war canoe) race appears
on the 1891 race card. 1897 appears to be the last year
that they participated in the racing circuit amongst the
Montreal-based clubs. That same year, after a general
meeting in July, a new organisation was formed: Ste.
Anne Canoe Club. A St. Hyacinthe
Boating Club competed at the Ste. Anne regatta
in 1893 but was never a member of the CCA. |
