Gaudaur, who was celebrated with a steamboat parade and a gold watch in Orillia after his world title win in 1896, is set to be inducted into the Row Ontario Hall of Fame this November.
One of Orillia’s most outstanding athletes is finally receiving recognition from the Row Ontario Hall of Fame.
Last week, Jake Gaudaur and five others were announced as the latest inductees during Row Ontario’s annual ‘Hall of Fame Week’.
This group of inductees represents various periods of rowing achievement in Ontario. Gaudaur, a trailblazer in the sport, will join Peterborough rowing builder Chris Leach, longtime Leander Boat Club coach Jim Roche, historic women’s pair Alison Korn and Emma Robinson, veteran national team member Jon Beare, and four-time Paralympian Victoria Nolan.
Jake Gaudaur from Orillia is widely regarded as one of Canada’s top rowers from the early days of the sport. Consequently, he will be inducted into the heritage category within the Row Ontario Hall of Fame.
As a teenager, he was encouraged to pursue professional rowing by another legendary figure from Ontario, Ned Hanlan.
In 1875, Hanlan invited Gaudaur to fill in for him in a $500 challenge race using a skiff on Lake Couchiching in Gaudaur’s hometown of Orillia.
After winning that race easily, Hanlan took Gaudaur under his wing and promoted both him and his brother Francis in professional double sculls events for several years.
However, until the early 1880s, Gaudaur only competed sporadically. It wasn’t until Toronto hotelier Richard Dissette offered to cover his living expenses that he committed fully to rowing and soon began racing across North America.
A plaque honors one of the world’s finest oarsmen. Jake Gaudaur grew up training at Atherley Narrows and became a champion rower and world record holder during the late 1890s. File Photo
He participated in regattas as well as match races in singles and doubles events-and sometimes even fours-often teaming up with whoever was available. Most races spanned three miles or more, leading him to compete over 200 times throughout his career.
Gaudaur gained recognition as one of Canada’s leading rowers when he won the American Sculling Championship held in Chicago back in 1886.
Eager to take on global competition later that year, he raced against Australian William Beach on the Thames River in London. Although he lost that four-mile race in an incredibly close finish, it marked just about the only defeat he’d face for quite some time thereafter.
Following that loss, Gaudaur rarely suffered another defeat for the rest of his career. He went on to win both American and Canadian Championships while besting most prominent oarsmen from that era-including Hanlan himself.
No longer overshadowed by Hanlan’s legacy, he emerged as one of the top scullers during his generation. In 1896 at age 38, he clinched victory at London’s world singles championship-a title Hanlan had failed to secure twelve years earlier.
A triumphant return followed him back to Canada where Toronto hosted a civic reception; meanwhile Orillia celebrated with a steamboat parade along with presenting him with a gold watch and tribute from their mayor.
Gaudaur held onto this championship title for five years until losing it on September 7th ,1901, to Australian George Towns-the final race marking an end to his distinguished rowing career.
In retirement, Gaudaur successfully operated a hotel business located within Sudbury before returning home again-to Orillia-where he worked as both boat rental operator plus fishing guide until passing away at age seventy-nine back in1937. Gaudaur received induction into Canada’s Sports Hall Of Fame during1956, and later joined Orillia Sports Hall Of Fame too-in2016.
The classes being inducted between2023-2026 will be honored personally at this year’s Row Ontario HOF Induction Ceremony taking place Saturday November28 th within Niagara area. This event serves partaking during Ontario Rowing Summit weekend. For purchasing tickets click here.
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