Ralph Gifford

INDUCTED INTO THE BROCKVILLE & AREA HALL OF FAME JUNE 13, 1997.

ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE BROCKVILLE ROWING CLUB HISTORY WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF RALPH GIFFORD AS COACH IN 1954. KNOWN AS A FIERY COMPETITOR, GIFFORD BROUGHT STABILITY, OFFERED NEW IDEAS ON TRAINING AND INSPIRED ROWERS. HE WAS INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CLUB AND MOTIVATED OTHERS TO MAKE THE SAME CONTRIBUTION OF TIME AND EFFORT. HE EXPANDED THE SEASON BY RIGGING INDOOR ROWING MACHINES FOR OARSMAN TO TRAIN ON DURING THE WINTER. HE CONCENTRATED ON PROPER TECHNIQUES AND HARD WORD.

DURING HIS COACHING CAREER, BROCKVILLE ROWERS WERE ON THE WATER IN THE SPRING AS SOON AS THE ICE LEFT THE DOCK. DURING HIS EIGHT-YEAR COACHING CAREER, THE BRC DOMINATED THE EASTERN ROWING ASSOCIATION AND WON 15 CANADIAN HENLEY CHAMPIONSHIPS, INCLUDING AN OUTSTANDING FIVE IN 1956. GIFFORD GAVE UP THE COACHING POSITION IN 1962 DUE TO ILL HEALTH. HE BECAME THE BRC PRESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE
HIS DEATH IN 1968. A TROPHY HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER HIM AT THE CANADIAN SCHOOLBOY CHAMPIONSHIPS.