Mr. Gary Squires

Regatta president Gary Squires, a former rower, isn't one of those opposed to change and he says he is open to new ideas.

When asked if sliding-seat races could become a permanent part of the program, he said he wouldn't rule anything out.

Maybe the Regatta Committee will be forced to turn to the sliders if the fixed-seat crew numbers continue to drop over the next few years.There's always the possibility of going back to the days when the elite crews got to row twice before the championship race.

Squires said he would be concerned if the numbers are down again next year and if there appears to be a negative trend in overall numbers.

"Our numbers have been up and down over the years and I suppose there are many reasons why, including poor weather this summer.In some cases, people are just taking a year off and will be back next season," said Squires, who believes out-migration might also be taking a toll.

"If there's an idea presented that would probably generate some more interest, I'd be open to it as an individual and I'd bring it forward (to the committee)," he said.

jbrowne@thetelegram.com

Gary Squires

Mr. Gary Squires

Gary Squires, President, Royal St. John's Regatta Committee

- Gary Squires, RSJRC President 2005-06

Past Presidents: Geoffrey Carnell, Paul Campbell, Bernard Collins, Roger Crosbie, Robert Hall, Robert Healey, Brian Henley, Chris Hickman, Michael Howley, Cluny MacPherson, Gail Malone, Donald Johnson, John O'Mara, John Perlin, Jack Reardigan, Keith Renouf, Thomas Stone, Lewis Stoyles, Gary Squires

Steve Ring, Gary Squires, Brian Squires, Chris Browne, Chris Abbott, Gerry Squires
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Cox: Ron Brennan Stoke: Gary Squires, Steve Ring, Chris Browne, Scott Wilson, Greg Mitchell, Les Hynes

That might have to be Gary Squires' mantra today.

Squires is president of Royal St. John's Regatta Committee, which debated for what he calls "45 agonizing minutes" Wednesday morning before making the decision to go ahead with the Regatta in the face of a so-so weather forecast.

Squires would have settled for a so-so day.
...
Squires expects to hear complaints from concessionaires â€" there was even talk Wednesday night of the circulation of a petition seeking to have at least some of their grounds space fees reimbursed.However, he points out that when he tells vendors that he understands their frustrations, he really means it.

"This is going to hurt the Regatta Committee, too.We have five cash wheels out there that we depend on," he said."That's a huge source of revenue.

Gary Squires
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New Royal St. John's Regatta Committee president Gary Squires calls a problem with recently-delivered racing shells "a glitch" and he expects the dilemma to be resolved shortly.

The problem is an estimated 120 unwanted pounds, which the first fibreglass shells, delivered to the boathouse late last month, were saddled with.

The Regatta Committee has ordered 10 new shells from Geange's Manufacturing, a Glenwood boat-building company which has a tradition of constructing Gander River boats.Four of the regatta racing shells have been completed and delivered, but will need adjustments based on the first boat, which has been sent back to the builder.

Squires said the committee should get a readjusted shell from Geange's sometime next week, at which time it will be looked over again.The builder is hoping to supply the Regatta with a half-dozen shells to be used in time for this year's Regatta.Squires said once the new shells have been properly standardized, the committee hopes to have at least five available for August.

"They are great shells, especially for practice, but they are not exactly what we ordered.I can't tell you what happened or why the oversight occurred, but they (Geange's Manufacturing) did acknowledge they made the mistake," Squires said.

Squires said apparently the boat builders added extra metal work in specific areas of the new shell, areas corresponding to places on the Regatta Committee's wooden shells that were getting damaged quite frequently.That , said Squires, contributed to some of the extra pounds.

Squires said the goal was to not only have the new boats to be as identical as possible to the current wooden shells, but to have them constructed with an eye on longevity and so they would require fewer repairs.

"We've spent countless hours on the wooden shells in repair work and it is getting more costly as the years go on," Squires said.
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Squires said the brown-bottom shells that arrived in 1991 will still be used for the men's and women's amateur races, as well as the championship races again this year.

He said the 10 new shells will replace all of the old ones being used now, "10 or 15 years down the road."

The City of St. John's will contribute $85,000 in new equipment and renovations to the east side of the boathouse, where a racking system for the new shells had to be built.

Other than the problem with the new shells, Squires said "everything is great" at the boathouse, which opened last Monday.

"The problem with the new shells will be solved.It's just going to set us back a few weeks," Squires said."We were hoping to have these (new) shells on the pond for practice right away, but I'm sure everything will work out.

"The crew numbers seem to be on a par with last year, so that's a good sign."

Squires, who rowed his first season with East Coast Marine in 1992, has been on the Regatta Committee since 1999.He served as director of operations before moving up to the vice-presidency and then taking over from Gail Malone, the committee's first female president, this year.

"I love Regatta Day like any true east ender," said Squires who grew up and lives a stone's throw from Quidi Vidi Lake.

Squires said Malone and other members of the committee and board of directors have helped prepare him for what to expect in his first term as Regatta boss.

He said he wants to see a balance between recreational and competitive rowers.

"I don't lean one way or the other.All aspects of racing is fine with me," he said.