Text from the Plaque
One of the world's greatest oarsmen, Jacob Gill Gaudaur was born and lived in Orillia. With Hosmer of the United States he won the world's championship in the double sculls on Lake Couchiching in 1892. He established a world's record for three miles with a turn at Austin, Texas, in 1843 and improved his own time for that event the following year. In 1896 he won the world's single sculls championship on the Thames, England, and in 1898 successfully defended that title at Vancouver. Following the loss of the singles championship to George Towns at Rat Portage (Kenora) in 1901, Gaudaur, at the age of 43, retired from competition.
|