Rowing Club Information
Bob Bernard, long time member of the Ecorse Rowing Club, contributed some information about the Club’s History.
“ERC was an Olympic Development Center from 1967-1969. That’s when Rodger Sellers was head Coach. Rodger was a Canadian who lived outside of Windsor. After leaving Ecorse, he started Windsor Crew. Rodger eventually went on to become the first Executive Director of Canadian. This was a government job which was headquartered in Ottawa. We had oarsmen from all over the United States. One of the giys rowing for us went on to row for the National Team in the heavy 8. We had an intermediate that won at the U.S. Nationals In Philadelphia. We won the Senior 135 lb 8 at the Canadian Henley. We won the Junior 145 lb 8 at the Canadian Henley. The Junior 155 lb single. In 1972, we won the Junior and Senior 145 lb eight at the Canadian Henley.
In 1982 we won the Elite 155 lb pair at the United States Nationals and that same boat went on to win the Sr 155 lb pair at the Canadian Henley and in 1983, the same pair went on the repeat winning the Elite 155 lb. Pair at the United States Nationals. That same pair was leading at the Canadian Henley with 800 meters left in the race by 3 boats of open water until the boat broke. That same pair went to the Olympic Trials in 1984. Two lightweights racing heavyweights.
When the City of Ecorse was in receivership, the court appointed controller , Robert Shimmell wanted the club shutdown, but we fought and survived that low time in the cities history, Jeff Loveland and the Board of Directors worked their asses of the keep the club from going under. The city eventually force the rowing club off of site where we had been located for years to where we are now…”
“ERC was an Olympic Development Center from 1967-1969. That’s when Rodger Sellers was head Coach. Rodger was a Canadian who lived outside of Windsor. After leaving Ecorse, he started Windsor Crew. Rodger eventually went on to become the first Executive Director of Canadian. This was a government job which was headquartered in Ottawa. We had oarsmen from all over the United States. One of the giys rowing for us went on to row for the National Team in the heavy 8. We had an intermediate that won at the U.S. Nationals In Philadelphia. We won the Senior 135 lb 8 at the Canadian Henley. We won the Junior 145 lb 8 at the Canadian Henley. The Junior 155 lb single. In 1972, we won the Junior and Senior 145 lb eight at the Canadian Henley.
In 1982 we won the Elite 155 lb pair at the United States Nationals and that same boat went on to win the Sr 155 lb pair at the Canadian Henley and in 1983, the same pair went on the repeat winning the Elite 155 lb. Pair at the United States Nationals. That same pair was leading at the Canadian Henley with 800 meters left in the race by 3 boats of open water until the boat broke. That same pair went to the Olympic Trials in 1984. Two lightweights racing heavyweights.
When the City of Ecorse was in receivership, the court appointed controller , Robert Shimmell wanted the club shutdown, but we fought and survived that low time in the cities history, Jeff Loveland and the Board of Directors worked their asses of the keep the club from going under. The city eventually force the rowing club off of site where we had been located for years to where we are now…”