McCormick trophy

The Anne McCormick trophy

The Anne McCormick Trophy comes from the name of the firs real fan of the sport of canoe racing,  Anne Stillman McCormick.

This name is associated forever to la Classique internationale de canot.  On Sunday, August 19th 1934,  invited onboard of Mr. Jean-J. Crête's boat, along with many personalities and organisors ot the event, Anne Stillman McCormick assists at the arrival of the paddlers of the very first great race organised by the Radisson Boating Club within the happening of the tricentenial festivities of the city of Trois-Rivières.  Jos Bin Lachance and Victor Gélinas win this first race.  That way of paying homage to the physical strength, the skill and the tricks of the french-canadians and the Amerindiens impassions Mrs McCormick.  From this moment on, Anne McCormick wants to sponsor a team.

In 1936, Anne McCormick sponsors two canoeist teams, including that of the brothers Émile and Henri Goyette.  That same year, she offers the organisation, a sterling Cup fabricated at the most popular jeweller Birks of  New-York.  On front of the cup, a artist has ciseled canoeists paddling on a river surrounded by mountains and trees.  Year after year its wooded base will hold the plaques with the names of the winners.  On Sunday August 23 1936, Jean Lemay and Armand Sauvageau will be first to have the honnor of engraving their name on the precious Trophy.

The Anne McCormick Trophy will become to la Classique internationale de canots what the Stanley Cup is for the sport of  hockey, the emblem of the supremacy of the sport of long haul canoe racing.

(Extracts drawn from the writing of Mrs Louise Lacoursière)