The 1996 National Concrete Canoe Competition
 

    The following few photos show some of Memorial University's brightest students during various phases of preparation for the 1996 National Concrete Canoe Competition, which was held in Montreal, Quebec, at the Olympic Basin. (The same place where the Olympic rowing events were held in 1976.)  MUN's team sent 8 members to Montreal, and despite MAJOR damage to the canoe during shipping, the team finished in second place overall.

At the Village Mall
This is a photograph of five of the members of the Montreal Team with a 4 foot model of the concrete canoe. It was on display at the National Engineering Week Celebrations at the Village Mall in St. John's in March, 1996.  The Concrete Canoe team shared a booth with CSCE, who were one of the sponsors. Pictured in the photo are (L-R) Geoff Redfern, Trina Troke, Jai Roberts, Janet Rowe, Cory Williams.  In the background is their concrete canoe display, a required element of the competition.
 
 
 
 

Official Launch
This photograph was taken at the official launch ceremony of the concrete canoe, April 30, 1996, just 9 days before the competition started.  The canoe was officially launched in the wave tank located on the first floor of the S.J. Carew (Engineering) Building.  The canoe weighs about 300 pounds (140 kg). Approximately 75 people as well as television and radio reporters were present.  Pictured is the entire Montreal team: (L-R) Roberts, Williams, Redfern (kneeling), Robert Parsons, Troke, Krista Hancock (kneeling), Rowe, and Faye Pittman.
 
 

Major Damage

This was what the team discovered when the canoe arrived in Montreal on May 10.  Note the large crack in the right side of the canoe.  This crack extended all the way to the other edge of the canoe (not visible in photo), leaving the canoe almost in two distinct pieces.









At the Awards Banquet

This picture was taken after the awards banquet, held at Ecole de Technologie Superieure (ETS), the host school.  Memorial walked away with four awards.  Memorial won awards for best overall design, best oral presentation, best slalom team, and second place overall.









The members of Memorial's 1996 Concrete Canoe team were:
 

Class of 1997
Class of 1999
Geoff Redfern
Cory Williams
Krista Hancock
Jai Roberts
Robert Parsons
Janet Rowe
Faye Pittman
Trina Troke


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Last Updated February 16, 2001 12:16:39 AM