Hall of Fame

1988 Hall of Fame Inductees

James (Jimmy) Ring
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"Jimmy" Ring's active association with the St. John's Annual Regatta began in 1929, when he rowed in the Intermediate Race with a crew from his beloved Quidi Vidi Village. It ended 58 years later in 1987, when he steered the Smith Stockley Crew to first places in the Amateur and Championship Races and won the Governor's Cup for the fastest time of the day 9:16:71. He was 75 years old when he participated in his last race. That in itself is a remarkable feat in any branch of sports, any where.

His last race as an oarsman was in 1963. He was 51 years old then, and he ended that phase of his career as he had begun it some 34 years earlier, rowing once again for his native Quidi Vidi in the District-Race. He didn't win that race, but it was a unique event because the crew from coxswain to No. 1 were all Rings: Brother Pat was Cox, son Paul - Stroke, nephew Bernard - No. 5, Jimmy - No. 4, son Jim - No. 3, brother Frank - No. 2 and son Claude - No. 1.

In his career as an oarsman he participated in 20 races. He had eleven 1st. places, one 2nd. place, five 3rd. places and three 4th. places.- Two of his 1st. places were championships.

However his career as an oarsman was far overshadowed by his career as a coxswain. From 1938 to 1987 he steered in a total of 61 races. He had 29 1st. places of which 7 were championship wins, and for seven years his crews won the Governor's Cup for the fastest time of the day. He had eleven 2nd. place wins, thirteen 3rd. places and eight 4th. places.

In 1977, at the age of 65, he won the Mercantile Race, with a crew rowing under the name of the Crosbie Group. While the winning time in that race was not too impressive, because of adverse pond conditions, Jimmy recognized that the crew had great potential. He led his crew to believe that if they really wanted to - if they were willing to get down to business and follow a rigorous schedule of conditioning and training, - if they were prepared to sacrifice their free time, and devote themselves to rowing, they could accomplish great things. He acquired an old life boat, rigged it up with oars etc., and loaded it with several tons of sand bags, and moored it in Quidi Vidi Harbour. Every suitable day, during the fall, winter and spring, he trained that crew for hours, in Quidi Vidi Harbour, and sometimes outside in the ocean.

This was the start of the great Smith Stockley Crews which for the next four years won the championship, and in each of those years had the fastest time for the day. In 1981, he won the Club Race in the time of 9:12:04, beating a record which was made back in 1901 by the Outer Cove Fishermen, a record which was generally accepted as being unbeatable. That is, until Jimmy's inspiration and determination proved otherwise.

This feat in itself established Jimmy as a legend in the annals of the Annual Regatta. In breaking the 80 year old record, his crew won the gold medals which had been presented to the Regatta Committee back in 1910, by the Lord Warden of the Cinq Ports, to be awarded to the crew beating the 9;13:80 record. The crew also received a congratulatory letter from Her Majesty the Queen Mother for this accomplishment, and this is displayed proudly in his home amongst a myriad of other pictures and trophies which are visible mementos of his many victories on Quidi Vidi Lake.

Following his victory in 1981, he went into semi retirement for three years. He returned in 1985 again with a crew sponsored by Smith Stockley, and for the next three years he won the Championship Race and posted the fastest time for the day each year. His last race was a Championship win in 1987, a most fitting way to end a remarkable career which spanned nearly sixty years.

Jimmy, "Skipper" Ring, during his lifetime, endeared himself to Regatta fans and others, for his dedication, inspiration and determination to the sport he loved so much. He is a most deserving candidate for membership in the Regatta Hall of Fame.