Amber Oke wins the 2013 Pelham Prize!
On Saturday, September 28th, the Halifax Rowing Club hosted the annual Cogswell / Pelham Halifax Harbour Championship (Rowing) on the Northwest Arm. This historic event began 155 years ago when, in 1858, Dr. Charles Cogswell, physician and founder of the event, donated four hundred dollars and a belt for annual competition by single scullers in Halifax Harbour. The original Cogswell Championship race was, traditionally, a male only event but the Championship has always been open to both men and women. To reflect this the Championship became the Cogswell / Pelham Halifax Harbour Championship in 2000 with the Pelham Prize being established and awarded to the top finisher of the opposite sex from the winner of the Cogswell Medal. The Pelham Prize is named after local rowing champion Henry Pelham (1908-1978). Henry was an avid sportsman and a man of many talents. Henry rowed with both the JubileeRowing Club and theMicMac Rowing Club and won numerous races with various crews. Fiercely competitive, Henry rowed with the Jubilee 4- crew of 1930, which placed second in theBritish Empire Games (precursor to the Commonwealth Games). In 1932, Henry was named to the Canadian Olympic 4- crew.
The Pelham Prize winner is presented with a piece of original Nova Scotia craft pottery and a cheque for $100. And if someone wins the Pelham Prize for three consecutive years they will receive a the Crystal Pelham Prize Award.
In the 201
3 edition of the Cogswell / Pelham Halifax Harbour Championship, Amber Oke of the Mic Mac Rowing Club, won the event for the first time, beating out Kendra MacDonald who was looking to win the event for the third year in a row.
Amber was presented with the Pelham Prize by by Tracy Cameron, rower and two time World Champion & Olympic Bronze Medalist.
The Halifax Rowing Club congratulates Amber on her success at the Cogswell / Pelham Halifax Harbour Championship, and on winning the Pelham Prize in 2013.
