Hall of Fame

2005 Hall of Fame Inductees

Adrian Traverse
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Adrian Traverse (Posthumous)

Adrian Traverse established himself as one of the greatest organizers and Presidents in the Placentia Inter Town Regatta history. Adrian Traverse became involved in the Placentia Inter Town Regatta in the year of 1964 when he was elected President. He held this position until 1968, and records show that Adrian was the second longest person to hold the post of President.

What very few people know in the Rowing fraternity is that Adrian was the first person to have his crews sit straight up in the shells and not fall back, which was the way of rowing in St. John's in the 40's and before. Rowers at the time figured that the Placentia crews would not complete the course due to the fast quick strokes. People attending the Regattas today will notice that all crews sit straight up in their shells; they make it look effortless.

In 1965, Placentia crews came to St. John's to win six races, including the Championship, which ended the record of six consecutive titles of the William Summer's Jr. Crew. While Adrian was President of the Inter Town Regatta Committee, he made sure that Placentia had a full compliment of rowers in St. John's for the first Wednesday in August. He also arranged for an American Crew from Argentia to train to go into St. John's who also won a championship. After Adrian retired from the post of President, the crews from Placentia dropped to nil. In today's Regatta it is very rare to see a crew from the Placentia area.