Donald Gibb has filled me in about an exclusive group who meet each year at the World Rowing Masters Championships.
He writes…
I rummaged in my photo archives and found a nice picture which may be of interest. It shows the oldest crew (J4x) at the WRMR 2008 in Trakai, Lithuania, after the award ceremony.
See from left to right:
- Charles Eugster (89), Switzerland (he stopped competitive rowing a few years ago, don’t know if he is still alive)
- Laurie Hallifax (81), Great Britain (he passed away a few years after that event)
- Dick Bales (83), Australia (announced his visit at my home and participation at the Euromasters in 2014, unfortunately had to withdraw when his physical problems started to invade him)
- Otto Schaefer (77), Germany
The average age of the crew was 82.5 years. I felt honored amongst these gentlemen.
Greetings, Otto Schäfer
History of the order
THE ANCIENT ORDER OF OAR FOUNDATION.
In 2007 the J category (80 and over) was included in the FISA World Rowing Masters Regatta in Zagreb, Croatia following efforts initiated by Burk Ketcham of Tacoma, Washington, USA. He and others collected 200 signed petitions from older rowers around the world to the FISA Masters Commission requesting the new category.
As an inducement to get octo rowers (those 80 and over) to the annual FISA World Masters regattas, Burk established The Ancient Order of OAR with OAR standing for Octogenarian Active Rower. To receive a medal a rower had to have a rowing age of 80 years or over and had to start at least one race in a FISA World Masters regatta.
