The Royal St. John’s Regatta has been cancelled for this year, but it’s not the first time.
According to the official Regatta website, a number of Royal deaths likely postponed the event in the early to mid-1800s, although there is no documentation to prove that.
The first documented instance of the Regatta being cancelled was in 1861, when political unrest caused worry that a riot may break out at the mass gathering. There wouldn’t be another Regatta for a full decade until 1871.
The next time the event didn’t go ahead was 1892, when the capital city region was still recovering from The Great Fire, and Quidi Vidi Lake was lined with tents for homeless families.
World War I caused another major disruption in the Regatta with no races between 1915 and 1918. When the event resumed in 1919, it was dubbed a celebratory “Victory Regatta” for Britain.
The Regatta was once again cancelled in 1940 when World War II broke out in Europe, but resumed a year later at the urging of military officials. That would mark the last time until the current pandemic when world circumstances forced the cancellation of North America’s longest-running sports event.
In addition to the St. John’s event being scrubbed, Labrador West has cancelled its rowing event on Jean Lake. More cancellations are expected in the coming days.
