Some know Bob as a coach, some as a competitor, some as a mentor, some as a friend and some as just plain old "Bob". His rowing partner Daryl might put the emphasis on "old", but one thing is for sure, Bob is a competitor and a motivator; he has been that way from day one. Neil Garvie the first president (1973) of the Saskatoon Rowing Club (SRC) recalling the first crew from Saskatoon, training for the Canada Summer Games in Burnaby B.C. commented on Bob:

Sound familiar? Still happy-go-lucky! Still full of energy, enthusiasm and optimism! Still a kid at heart! That's Bob! Bob came to the rescue of the SRC early in it's career, when the initial executive moved on, acting as club President from 1976 to 1979. Since that time he has served tirelessly, either on the executive, or in a support role. How about cheerleader, coach, regatta chairman, installer of race courses, bingo chairman, boat fixer, and regatta official. Oh, and don't forget competitor. Did you know that, in addition to two bronze medals in the 1998 World Masters Rowing Championships, Bob and his brother-in-law, Bob Ellard, won a Gold Medal in the 1985 Masters World Rowing Championships. Not bad for a ‘flat lander from Toon Town'. That race is considered the birth of the masters rowing program in Saskatchewan.

In 2001 Bob served as the Provincial Rowing Coach leading our junior athletes from Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert at the Prairie Rowing Championships (7 Gold); the Canada Summer Games in London, ON (2 Silver, 1 Bronze) and the Canada Games in Montreal (4 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze). He then took a break to compete in the masters division at the NWIRA regatta in Minnedosa, crewing with some of the new masters rowers, giving them some valuable competitive experience.

Bob has been there from the start. Perhaps Bruce Acton sums it up best in "moving forward looking back" when he says of Bob "if you accumulated all of his energy over the years, he's been the 1% that's done 99% of the work . . . . if everybody stepped forward and did even half the work that he's contributed over the years, we would have a huge organization and all the attention to detail that every one would like to see happen".

Al Morrow, Canadian National Team Coach said " It's interesting in Saskatchewan given that there are three clubs here, there is almost a disproportionate amount of success that comes out of this province." We think the efforts of Bob, with the full support of his good lady Ann, have a whole lot to do with comments like this.

There are a number of very worthwhile candidates in the Saskatoon Rowing Club that work and contribute tirelessly to the on-going endeavours of the club, but the executive felt there could be no other choice for the ‘first' honorary life member of the Saskatoon Rowing Club .. . . .Bob Haver! Congratulations Bob, we are honoured to have you in our club and look forward to your continued involvement with rowing in Saskatoon.

Copyright ©2002 Saskatoon Rowing Club