National Association of Amateur Oarsmen

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The association's flag NAAO flag.jpg
The association's flag

The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, organized in 1872, was the first national governing body of the sport of rowing in the United States, and the first American sports organization to publish a definition of "amateur". Before the NAAO, regattas across the country used different definitions of amateur, making it impossible to hold a national amateur championship regatta. [1] The NAAO's first national championship regatta was held in 1873 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. [2] Beginning in 1916, the Julius H. Barnes Points Trophy was awarded to the club scoring the most points over the course of the championship regatta. [3]

Contents

In 1982, the NAAO was merged with the National Women's Rowing Association to form the United States Rowing Association.

National Championship Regattas

Awards presented to winners of the national championships NAAO awards.jpg
Awards presented to winners of the national championships

The following regattas were over one and one half miles (except the 1891 regatta in Washington, DC, which was one quarter mile)

YearCityChampionship senior single sculls [4]
1873Philadelphia Charles Meyers
1874Troy, NY Frank E. Yates
1875Troy, NY Charles E. Courtney
1876Philadelphia Frank E. Yates
1877Detroit George W. Lee
1878Newark, NJ George W. Lee
1879Saratoga, NY F.J. Mumford
1880Philadelphia F.J. Mumford
1881Washington, DC F.E. Holmes
1882Detroit F.E. Holmes
1883Newark, NJ John Laing
1884Watkins, NY John Laing
1885Boston Daniel J. Murphy
1886Albany, NY Martin F. Monahan
1887Jamestown, NY [5] J.F. Corbett
1888Sunbury, PA C.G. Psotta
1889Pullman, IL D. Donohue
1890Worcester, MA William Caffrey
1891Washington, DC William Caffrey
1892Saratoga, NY John J. Ryan
1893Detroit John J. Ryan
1894Saratoga, NY Ferdinand Koenig
1895Saratoga, NY J.J. Whitehead
1896Saratoga, NY W.D. McDowell
1897Philadelphia Joseph Maguire
1898Philadelphia Edward Ten Eyck
1899Boston Edward Ten Eyck
1900New York City John Rumouhr
1901Philadelphia Edward Ten Eyck
1902Worcester, MA Constance Titus
1903Worcester, MA Constance Titus
1904St. Louis, MO Frank Greer
1905Baltimore Frank Greer
1906Worcester, MA Constance Titus
1907Philadelphia Harry S. Bennett [6]

Additional reading

Spalding Athletic Library issued Official Rowing Guide in May 1896. Frederick R Fortmeyer (secretary of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen) compiled the 86 page guide. It also includes laws governing the association. [7]

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References

  1. A History of American Amateur Athletics and Aquatics: With the Records. Outing Company. 1888. p. 153.
  2. "Rowing on the Schuykill – Second Day of the Amateur Oarsmen's Regatta". The New York Times. October 9, 1873. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  3. "Many Entered in Races at Duluth – At Least 150 Oarsmen Will Compete in Annual Regatta of National Association – New Trophy Cup Offered – J.H. Barnes Gives Challenge Award to be Contested on Point Scores". The New York Times. July 17, 1916. p. 9. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  4. Starting in 1899, the senior single sculls was first held open to all but the prior year's championship. The winner then rowed against the current champion for the title. For years prior to 1899, this table shows the winner of the senior single sculls.
  5. A History of American Amateur Athletics and Aquatics: With the Records. Outing Company. 1888. p. 162.
  6. National association of amateur oarsmen (1908). Minutes. p. 124.
  7. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, May 25, 1896. Retrieved Jan 30, 2021