The Town of
Torbay, Newfoundland
Poems
Torbay Time, 9:29
I wonder how many remember
The Regata nineteen thirty-four,
The fishermen's race in particular
Was won by the old Nellie R,
When the gun was fired the Nellie R lifted
And swiftly had taken the lead,
The Torbay men's minds were on winning,
While the coxswain's on time gave no heed.
Now the buoy was turned less than four minutes,
The time would be made about nine
They were on their way home in great fashion,
Not knowing they were ahead of quick time.
When they got just accross from the bandstand
The cox said, "We're close to the time."
He then called and said, "Come on Copper",
But Copper said, "Too late for fime."
The Torbay men's boat was just moving
While Copper was waving his hand,
Outer Cove was behind and they knew it
That Torbay would first hit the strand.
When the Cox said, "We're close to the record,"
The people could see the quick splash,
The knew 'twas too late for nine-thirteen
But Torbay put out for the dash.
The old Nellie R most went under
As they tried to make up for lost time,
Each man in the boat knew "twas hopeless
Than to try and beat time nine-thirteen.
When they crossed o'er the line time was given,
Each man in the boat hung his head
They knew they could've beaten nine-thirteen,
But brought nine-twenty-nine there instead.
But sixteen short seconds behind it
Disheartened the crew form Torbay,
They rowed to the boathouse discouraged,
For they knew now where the mistake lay.
What a hand they did get when they landed
The people cheered, clapped and they sang,
It lightened the hearts of the rewmen
Nine-twenty-nine through the crowd rang.
I'll give you the names of the crewmen
Who rowed that nine-twenty-nine time,
Ill start form the bow to thw strokeman
And try to bring it to a rhyme,
No. 1 it was pulled by Gus Morey,
Henry Codner had pulled No. 2,
No. 3 was in Will Codner's two hands,
No. 4 Jess Codner's twice two.
Bill Gosse who was next to the strikeman
No. 5 was the car he pulled on,
Bob Codner the strokeman pulled oar 6,
This crew crossed the line first and won.
There's a record down there in the Boathouse
Where Copper rowed twenty-nine times,
They won twenty-eight of those races,
Determined, brute-strength, pride and mind.
Cyril Eustace
Back to Poems
Back to Home Page
Shelley O'Brien
28 Doyle's & Quigley's Lane
Torbay, NF
A1K 1A7
email:
shelley_obrien30@hotmail.com
