New race without gender rules coming to 207-year-old rowing event in Newfoundland

By Canadian Press on February 20, 2025.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A centuries-old rowing race in the heart of St. John’s, N.L., is introducing a new category this year that doesn’t separate athletes by gender.

The Royal St. John’s Regatta’s open category will instead sort rowers only by age, allowing athletes of any gender to form a six-person team.

Course captain Keith White says the new category will allow transgender and non-binary athletes to compete, as well as teams of friends or co-workers of mixed genders.

He calls the move “historic,” particularly for a 207-year-old sporting event that bills itself as being “steeped in tradition.”

White says the regatta’s 50-person organizing committee voted unanimously in favour of the new category on Wednesday night.

The Royal St. John’s Regatta is said to be the oldest organized sporting event in North America, and the 207th running of the regatta will take place on July 30 on Quidi Vidi Lake, if weather permits.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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