1927

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS RIDEAU (3) NORTHERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS OTTAWA-NEW EDINBURGH (18) WESTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS BALMY BEACH (4) EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS GRAND TRUNK (15) DOMINION DAY CHAMPIONS PARKDALE (3)

Gananoque, ON; St. Lawrence River; Gananoque M&CC # Club Pts 1 RIDEAU (3) 12 2 BALMY BEACH 12 3 PARKDALE 11 4 Sudbury 6 4 Toronto 6 6 Grand Trunk 5 7 Valois 4 8 Otterburn 3 8 Gananoque 3 8 Lachine 3 11 Ottawa-New Edinburgh 1  Montreal Gazette, Aug 8, 1927 Ottawa Journal, Aug 8, 1927 Tabulation of Points The Gazette actually states that Rideau and Parkdale tied for the aggregate, failing to cross-reference with their own point totals. The 1951 articles claim that 1919 was Balmy Beach's last win, meaning they didn't win in 1927. For more details, see below.

DIVISIONAL TITLE # Division Pts 1 Western (9) 31 2 Northern 26 3 Eastern 21 4 Algonquin 6

The 1927 championship point totals are puzzling in that the occasion of a tie between Rideau Aquatic Club and Balmy Beach Canoe Club has caused some confusion in later years. The results listed in C. Fred Johnston's "100 Years of Champions" have been taken from local newspaper listings, carefully recorded by the author. I myself have taken the same results from the Montreal Gazette (Aug 8, 1927). Using these results, and using the points system purportedly used at the time (1st = 3 pts, 2nd = 2 pts, 3rd = 1 pt), Rideau and Balmy Beach tied for the title, yet only Rideau is recorded as having won the championship that year.

The problem relates directly to two earlier years (1920 and 1923) where ties occurred and the changes made as a result.

1. "100 Years of Champions" claims that the point system changed in 1926 [in time for the 1927 season]. However, newspapers report the results using the old 3/2/1 system and the minutes from the CCA AGM (photo above) indicate quite clearly that the 3/2/1 system was to be used for the final time in 1927. The May 12, 1928 CCA AGM Minutes confirm that the points system changes for the 1928 season.

2. Because there was a tie in 1920 with two clubs claiming the prize, there was a coin toss to determine the recipient of the cup. It was stated in the minutes that a policy would need to be in place soon to avoid this situation in future. Based on the 1927 minutes above, it seems that policy (whichever club obtained more firsts) was indeed in place by 1927. It can be assumed it was also in place in 1923 when Rideau won out over Toronto. (see 1923) Rideau have been awarded the win in 1927 based on four first-place finishes compared to Balmy Beach's six second-place finishes.

3. Notice how the article states that Rideau tied "Parkdale" for the club aggregate and then corrects itself to Balmy Beach a few lines later... This leads me to believe that there truly was an innocent mixup of Toronto clubs in 1923 where Toronto Canoe Club was swapped out for Parkdale Canoe Club... Thank goodness Lake Banook clubs weren't winning championships in the 1920s...

4. The AGM minutes above also seem to resolve the mystery of the first championship burgee. The minutes from 1926 state that the winning club would earn the right to "fly" the CCA burgee at their club for a year. However, a year later, it was to be presented officially for the first time to Rideau as the winner of the 1927 championships, but that the two previous winners would be compensated for the burgees they purchased. This leads me to believe that a) Toronto (1926) and Rideau (1925) may indeed have physical burgees for their wins that predate the first burgee presentation and b) other clubs prior to 1925 may have done the same, out-of-pocket, to commemorate their win. As of now, there is absolutely no evidence to support this.

1. Rideau is indeed the sole winner of the 1927 championship.

2. 1927 would not be a championship for Balmy Beach, confirming with their position that it never was.*