National Association of Amateur Oarsmen

The association's flag

The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, organized in 1872, was the first national governing body of the sport of rowing in the United States, and the first American sports organization to publish a definition of "amateur". Before the NAAO, regattas across the country used different definitions of amateur, making it impossible to hold a national amateur championship regatta.[1] The NAAO's first national championship regatta was held in 1873 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.[2] Beginning in 1916, the Julius H. Barnes Points Trophy was awarded to the club scoring the most points over the course of the championship regatta.[3]

In 1982, the NAAO was merged with the National Women's Rowing Association to form the United States Rowing Association.

National Championship Regattas

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Awards presented to winners of the national championships

The following regattas were over one and one half miles (except the 1891 regatta in Washington, DC, which was one quarter mile)

Year City Championship senior single sculls[4]
1873 Philadelphia Charles Meyers
1874 Troy, NY Frank E. Yates
1875 Troy, NY Charles E. Courtney
1876 Philadelphia Frank E. Yates
1877 Detroit George W. Lee
1878 Newark, NJ George W. Lee
1879 Saratoga, NY F.J. Mumford
1880 Philadelphia F.J. Mumford
1881 Washington, DC F.E. Holmes
1882 Detroit F.E. Holmes
1883 Newark, NJ John Laing
1884 Watkins, NY John Laing
1885 Boston Daniel J. Murphy
1886 Albany, NY Martin F. Monahan
1887 Jamestown, NY[5] J.F. Corbett
1888 Sunbury, PA C.G. Psotta
1889 Pullman, IL D. Donohue
1890 Worcester, MA William Caffrey
1891 Washington, DC William Caffrey
1892 Saratoga, NY John J. Ryan
1893 Detroit John J. Ryan
1894 Saratoga, NY Ferdinand Koenig
1895 Saratoga, NY J.J. Whitehead
1896 Saratoga, NY W.D. McDowell
1897 Philadelphia Joseph Maguire
1898 Philadelphia Edward Ten Eyck
1899 Boston Edward Ten Eyck
1900 New York City John Rumouhr
1901 Philadelphia Edward Ten Eyck
1902 Worcester, MA Constance Titus
1903 Worcester, MA Constance Titus
1904 St. Louis, MO Frank Greer
1905 Baltimore Frank Greer
1906 Worcester, MA Constance Titus
1907 Philadelphia Harry S. Bennett[6]

Additional reading

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Spalding Athletic Library issued Official Rowing Guide in May 1896. Frederick R Fortmeyer (secretary of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen) compiled the 86 page guide. It also includes laws governing the association.[7]

References

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  1. ^ A History of American Amateur Athletics and Aquatics: With the Records. Outing Company. 1888. p. 153.
  2. ^ "Rowing on the Schuykill – Second Day of the Amateur Oarsmen's Regatta". The New York Times. October 9, 1873. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  3. ^ "Many Entered in Races at Duluth – At Least 150 Oarsmen Will Compete in Annual Regatta of National Association – New Trophy Cup Offered – J.H. Barnes Gives Challenge Award to be Contested on Point Scores". The New York Times. July 17, 1916. p. 9. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Starting in 1899, the senior single sculls was first held open to all but the prior year's championship. The winner then rowed against the current champion for the title. For years prior to 1899, this table shows the winner of the senior single sculls.
  5. ^ A History of American Amateur Athletics and Aquatics: With the Records. Outing Company. 1888. p. 162.
  6. ^ National association of amateur oarsmen (1908). Minutes. p. 124.
  7. ^ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, May 25, 1896. [1] Retrieved Jan 30, 2021