Leander Boat Club

Leander Boat Club. . , Hamiltonians first developed a passion for rowing in the 1870s. Sportsmen found the natural beauty and unpredictable waters of the bay irresistible and summertime regattas drew huge crowds., Two of the earliest and most successful clubs were the Leander Rowing Club and the Nautilus Club. By 1895, however, a combination of factors, including the new bicycling craze, had led to the collapse of both organizations., The Leander Boat Club was revived in 1927 when four local rowing enthusiasts - Jack McAllister, Alexander Muir, Seppi DuMoulin and Russell Frost - raised enough funds to build and equip a new clubhouse. , To promote the sport, they enlisted the help of Robert Hunter, a popular teacher and rowing coach. Hunter inspired his crews with the credo "mileage makes champions" - making them row until it hurt and then row some more. On July 30, 1927, the talented young club won the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta., Since then, a steady stream of champions has worn the red-and-white singlet of the Leander Boat Club. Leander rowers have been strong competitors at numerous Pan American Games, the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, World Championships, and the Olympics., A fierce rivalry existed between Leander and the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club. In 1932, the Argos were so heavily favoured to represent Canada at the Los Angeles Olympics that they had already been fitted for their uniforms. But, in a huge upset, the Leander Boat Club defeated them during the trials. Clad in their oversized blazers, grey flannels, singlets, and shorts, the Leander crew went on to win the bronze medal in front of more than 100,000 spectators. Less than half a boat length separated them from the American gold-medal winners., Today's club boasts five separate rowing programs: high school; competitive; masters; recreational; and corporate heart and stroke fundraiser teams. In this way, Leander continues to encourage rowers of all ages to participate in and love this challenging sport.