It wasn't until three years after Mr. Edward Oke made a challenge race on the Harbour that the first official Harbour Grace Regatta was underway. The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company met at the engine house about 9 a.m. wearing full uniform to walk in procession to Lady Pond where they intended to hold the Regatta. The following is an account of that eventful and historic day.

After the firemen met at the engine house it was ten before they took up their line of march with the boats on their backs and arrived about half past eleven at the pond. They immediately set to work to put the four whaleboats in readiness and collect the different crews to contest for first prize.

Shortly after twelve noon the silver bugle, which was donated to the firemen a few years back, would call the boats to the starting place. The boats used at this Regatta were the Medlock, Weasel, Hawk, and the Test. After the gun was fired the boats set out to cover the 2½-mile course with first place set in their minds. The Test came in first, Hawk second, Weasel third and the Medlock fourth. This race was contested between all firemen. The second race was the same boats but with different crews. Firemen rowed in the Test and Hawk and the other two boats were rowed by townspeople making it a challenge race. The prize for this race was $10 for first and $6 for second. Only half way up the pond the race was clearly between the two crews of firemen. Bets were made on each of the boats and it was the Hawk who came through for all those who had their bets placed on her. This race was considered by old stagers to be of the closest and best-contested races ever pulled in the country.

The fourth race was rowed by the Juveniles for a watch and chain for the first boat. The Test came in first, the Hawk second and the Weasel third.

The Regatta was a two-day event then so on Wednesday, July 23rd, the races were once again underway. All the races of this day were closely contested. The results of Wednesday's races could not be found. After all the excitement and commotion of the two-day events the boats were hauled up and sent to St. John's, thus, closing the Regatta for another year.

The attendance for the first Harbour Grace Regatta was the largest the people of Harbour Grace had ever seen. Some very important people among the crowd included: Hon. Speaker A. Shea, Esq. Mr. Ambrose Shea, Speaker of the House of Assembly from 1853-1859 was also elected to represent the District of Harbour Grace in the legislature in 1873, 1874, 1878 and 1882. He was appointed Governor of Newfoundland in 1886. He was here a year before he became Governor of the Bahamas in 1887. Another notable man that was in attendance was Mr. Fenwick who was the engineer of the St. John's Water Company.

The late historian, Arthur Fox, wrote, "The band at the first Regatta was no doubt the British Irish Society or The Avalon Band. The firemen carried the boats on their backs all the way to the pond and their blue uniforms and red facings added color to the occasion and had a very lively effect. The Regatta grounds were dotted by a large number of tents and the whole scene was gaily decorated for the towns first derby day."

It is interesting to note that on July 22, 1862 it was planned for the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company to spend a day at Brigus and to travel there by steamer that was kindly placed at the company's disposal by Mr. Makison. Why the firemen were going to Brigus is not recorded. The change in plans on that day resulted in the first Harbour Grace Regatta and since then the Regatta has become an annual event in Harbour Grace. The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company which was established in 1830 is now known as the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade. This Brigade has to be commended for their efforts in keeping the Annual Harbour Grace Regatta tradition alive in Harbour Grace for over 100 years.

The Regatta of 1864

The Third Annual Harbour Grace Regatta took place on Thursday and Friday, July 28th and 29th. The same tradition from the very first Regatta followed with the Fire Company meeting at the engine house at nine in the morning and proceeding to Lady Pond where they immediately set to work to put the different boats in readiness for the great struggle of strength and skill.

Boats used at this Regatta were the four-oared whaleboats named the Test, Union, Hawk, and the Victor. The six-oared gigs were the Weasel, Minnie Clyde, and the Albert. The race results from Thursday are as follows:

Race One

All the four-oared whaleboats took part in this race. Prizes for this race was $12 for first place and $8 for second. The Test took first place, Union took second, Hawk took third and the Victor took fourth.

Race Two

This was the race for the six-oared gigs. Prize for first was $25 and $10 for second. The Weasel rowed in for first place and was followed by the Minnie Clyde and Albert for second and third place respectively.

Race Three

This race was for the six-oared amateur group. The Albert took 1st place for $14 and the Minnie Clyde took second for $7. The Weasel took third.

The gigs were unable to compete in the first race because of high winds.

The results from Friday are as follows:

Race One

The first race of the day was for the six-oared gigs consisting of all firemen. The prize for first place was $22 and $10 for second. The Albert took first place, the Weasel took second and the Minnie Clyde took third.

Race Two

This race was won by the Victor for a prize of $8. The Test took second, the Hawk third, and the Union took fourth.

Race Three

This race was the six-oared gigs once again for the tradesmen race. First place went to the Albert along with $14. The Minnie Clyde took second along with $7. The Weasel took third.

Race Four

This race was contested between the four-oared whaleboats. The Victor and Test only participated in this race. The Test took first place for a prize of $8 and the Victor took in $4.

The last race of the day was the Juveniles in the six-oared gigs. Only two boats contested, the Minnie Clyde and the Albert. The prize was $7 and the Minnie Clyde took the winnings here.

During this Regatta there were live bands in attendance for both days. This added much to the enjoyment of the large number in attendance for this great sport.

25th Anniversary of the Harbour Grace Regatta

After twenty-four successful and eventful Regattas it was time to celebrate the first quarter of a century event of this great sport. The 25th Harbour Grace Regatta held on Wednesday, July 28th, 1886 was in every respect a complete and huge success.

On July 10th an article in the Harbour Grace Standard stated, "We understand that at a meeting of the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade, a sum of money was voted by the members towards the getting up of a Regatta during the present month. It is, we learn, their intention to appeal to our citizens for a little financial assistance. It is to be hoped that this appeal will meet with a favorable response." Sufficient funds were generated for the celebration allowing the days events to get underway.

The following is an account taken from the Harbour Grace Standard of that wonderful and eventful day.

50th Harbour Grace Regatta

The anniversary of the 50th Harbour Grace Regatta was held on Wednesday, August 14th, 1912. This Wednesday morning looked very promising as the sun shone brightly, the weather was warm and the wind was fresh. The S.S. Othar arrived from Bell Island on Tuesday evening and the S.S. Mary arrived from Bell Island on Wednesday morning with oarsmen and visitors for the Regatta. All the hotels in Harbour Grace were filled with visitors from all over Newfoundland. Donnelly Hall, a local hotel, could not accommodate all that came and a number of people were cared for at private residents.

A man by the name of Albert F. Garland of Hartford, Connecticut who was just visiting here offered a cup to be competed for by the several societies in Harbour Grace. The cup was to be won three consecutive years by any one society before the trophy became their property. The secretary of the Regatta committee, Mr. William Maddigan, donated a set of medals to the crew of the boat making the best time of the day. The C.C.C band was scheduled to play at the days events. The weather was a bit of concern for all those at lakeside. Between ten and eleven there was a shower of rain that lasted only a few minutes and then the sun broke forth again.

Two races managed to get underway, the Tradesmen and the Laborer Race. In the tradesmen race the Maggie (S.O.E. Society boat) came in first, in the Laborers race the Winnie (British Society boat) lead all the others, but for some reason their prize was not awarded. Shortly after one it rained until three. This downpour ruined the pleasure of everybody and hundreds thoroughly drenched left the races and went home. The weather continued to be unfavorable and all the remaining races were postponed until Thursday.

The weather on Thursday was agreeable, the wind was fresh to moderate and the skies, which looked threatening on several occasions, withheld the rain until late at night. The C.C.C. band did not play on this day because they left by train to attend Rev. F. Ashley's garden party in Argentia. The conduct of the people was praiseworthy. There was no disorder, or unseemingly conduct reported. This was worthy of mention because of the fact that there was only Sgt. Spracklin and two constables to maintain order.

The races scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday are as follows:

** This race was for a cup donated by the Regatta committee of that time. Harbour Grace defeated Carbonear Boy Scouts for the cup.

One regrettable incident occurred for the day. That was at the last race, which was the Archibald cup race. This race was open to crews from any place on the Island. Four crews were entered: Harbour Grace, Bell Island, Carbonear, and Bristol's Hope. This race was to be contested in two heats. Harbour Grace and Bell Island rowed the course first and Bell Island won in a time of 15:14½. The committee discovered that Carbonear had a man from Freshwater as a teammate and he was ruled out as the rules disqualified him rowing in any crew except one from his own community. The Carbonear crew was dissatisfied with the ruling and refused to row the course. Bristol's Hope rowed alone making the fastest time of the day, in 14:46 ½ winning the cup and the medals.