For years, the Eastern crew powers have capped their season with the Eastern Sprints and the Western crew powers have finished up their season with the Western Sprints. And at the end of it all, no team could really point to itself and say, "We're number one."

Sure, there was the IRA regatta in Syracuse, which called itself a national championship. But many of the heavier heavies--Harvard included--were consistent no-shows, suffering under the burden of final exams and leaving the laurels to such lesser powers as Wisconsin, who took the crown this spring.

So Washington coach Dick Erickson had an idea--a real national contest, the "Intercollegiate Championship Regatta," with both the Eastern and Western champions represented.

Harvard, was more than willing to join in. And of course Washington, the Western titleholder, would participate; it was their idea in the first place.

The Crimson first showed how useless the IRA title was by stopping in Wisconsin to wipe out the Badgers twice--first on a shortened 1500-meter course, and the next day on a 2000-meter Lake Mendota run.

Out For Blood

But it was Washington the Crimson was after, and it showed. Harvard swept three of four events the next week in Seattle to take the first national crown, breaking two course records in the process.

The varsity eight pulled a quick lead in the first 100 meters, and never gave it up despite a challenge by Washington near the 600 mark. By the 1250 there was open water between the two, and at the finish the Crimson had topped not only Washington by two lengths but also the Mont Lake Canal record by six seconds, with a 5:55.2 time.

The junior varsity carried off a similar performance. In a close race, the Crimson's j.v. eight pulled ahead in the last 750 meters to finish 1.5 lengths ahead of Washington and, at 6:00.8, also take the previous course record with them.

The varsity four made it apparent by about the 500-meter mark that it intended to carry through the Crimson's sweep and, despite a close start, it did just that.

Only the freshman eight fell victim to Washington after coming into the meet with a 3-1 record following a close defeat to Cornell in the Eastern Sprints.

For Harry Parker, the Washington meet provided just what he wanted: another proof for his claim that this year, with an undefeated season, only the Crimson can say "number one" and mean it.