WEMMER PAN ROWING CLUB - Johannesburg

There were well over 100 members and they were responsible for the erection of the first boat house constructed of wood and iron in 1922, which only recently was demolished. Yachting races took place early at the Wemmer Pan and many fine trophies were competed for. At weekends, there was great rivalry among the many yachts which raised their sails In those early days when most of the dumps that surround the Pan today were non-existent and few trees were present to affect the winds so necessary for good sailing. During the summer of 1925, due to severe rain storms the dam wall was partly washed away. This, added to the fast growing slimes dumps, brought an abrupt ending to a most spectacular sport at the Wemmer Pan; the yachtsmen sensing that they would soon be closed in, joined other  

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clubs away from Johannesburg. The rowing section was formed in 1918, but it was not until 1922 that rowing become a truly active and competitive sport. During this year, funds were raised to purchase a sculling and two tub pair boats. Henri De Kok, who joined the club in 1919, proved himself adept in the art of single sculling and later proved to be the outstanding sculler In South Africa from 1924 to 1928. Henri had the honour of being the first oarsman from South Africa to participate at the famous Henley Royal Regatta in England, and he was also the first to represent this country at rowing at the Olympic Games [Amsterdam 1928).