Rowing for Golden Memories

Men’s Varsity 8 Rowing Crew from the 1970s Returns to Homecoming for an 11th Reunion Row

There was some Trent magic on the water this past Homecoming and it wasn’t just from the varsity crews seeking podiums at Head of the Trent.

Jamie Fleming brought together members of his Men’s 8 crew from the 1970s for an amazing 11th reunion row. It was a burst of nostalgia that helped usher in the 50th Trent Homecoming weekend.

The crew had several configurations throughout the mid-’70s, starting in 1976, when several of the rowers started First Year. Other members made their way to Trent and to rowing during the next two years and rowed together through 1978 and 1979.

The Varsity 8 disbanded in 1977, due to injuries, but the remaining rowers stuck together as a coxed four, winning gold at the Ontario University Rowing Championships. In 1978, Carol Love (who would go on to coach men’s and women’s crews to provincial and national titles) took over as coach of the Trent Rowing program, helping lead the crew to silver at the Championships.

At the 1988 Head of the Trent regatta, while watching crews cross the finish line, Fleming and Rod Matheson first hatched a plan to bring the old crew back for a 10th anniversary row, which led to their first reunion row in 1989.

It was during this get-together that they realized time had not dulled their friendships.

“I think it’s the camaraderie that was developed when we were students rowing together; the early mornings, some cold and wet mornings,” says Jamie. “Also, we had some success. Really, the crew bonded over rowing.”

There were many more reunions to come.

In 2010, the 40th anniversary of the Head of the Trent Regatta, they became the first crew to race in the brand new “Tony Storey” shell (named after the former longstanding director of Alumni Affairs). This was also the year that the University unveiled the Carol Love Rowing/Paddling Tank. Many crew members had donated to the naming rights fundraising and were there to celebrate with her.

In 2019 and 2020, many of the crew donated to the Trent campus sculpture "Dead Reckoning," which features a muscular rower leaned over his oars ready to propel himself forward. The stunning sculpture, next to the Athletics Centre on the banks of the Otonabee River, celebrated 50 years of rowing at the University.

Looking back at his time rowing at Trent, Jamie still has electrifying memories:

“Rowing through the canal, you’re pretty darned tired, but you know the course, so you know that you are near the end. And, if you’ve got a coxie who has made a good course for you, you’re feeling that extra burst of energy from the roar of the crowd.”

As for the 2022 reunion row, his goals were more modest.

“If we can put a few good strokes together, that will be enough,” he smiles.

By anyone’s standards, they once again met with success.

Back row, from left to right: Joe VanRuyven, Jamie Fleming, Graham Wilkins, Tom Steele, Steve Huff, Brian Holland.
Front row, couching, from left to right: Mark Flatman, Rod Matheson, Dan Coholan, Carol Love (coach).