Rowing season is fast and furious, with many moving parts and pieces. So right up front, a huge shout out to the parents who get the juniors to practices and regattas and host team dinners. The parents also handle set up of the tent and provide fuel and drinks to the Megunticook Rowers; to the Coaches Heather Adle and Sam Abbott, both new to the program who jumped right in and masterfully managed many details. Finally, a huge heartfelt thanks coaches Meredith Currier and Will Schaetzke, who provided knowledge as to how the program works, logistics assistance and coaching. It is a huge team effort on everyones part.
The season started with picture perfect weekends for the Megunticook Regatta and Cow Island.
Megunticook Regatta, Sunday September 8
Twenty six racers participated in the Megunticook Regatta held September 8th in Barrett’s Cove. After last year’s event had to be canceled due to threatening weather, this event was particularly enjoyable.
Three flights of 10-milers went off at 815. It was a great morning to tour the lake. Crews in safety launches along the way guided and cheered them on. The 3-milers, in three flights, went off at 8:30.
As has been customary since the founding of the regatta in 1994, a pancake breakfast was served and lobsters were awarded to the first place finishers.
First Place
10-mile Mxd 2x- Marnie Read and Evan Waters
10-mile Men 1x – Russ Cone
10-mile Women 1x- Barbara Harling
3-mile Mens 2x – Hugh Brock and Jay Brock
3-mile Men 1x – G. Gratwick
3-mile Women 1x- Polly Saltonstall
Cow Island, Saturday September 14
This 4600-meter course on the Androscoggin River in Brunswick, Maine, was picture perfect with very little wind. Maine Coast Rowing was a terrific host, and the event was well organized.
Junior Megunticook Rowers Laura Riordan and Adella Brainerd took first place in the Juniors Girls 2x by over a minute.
The Girls’ 4+, coxed by Ruth Weiss, with Tucker Beynart in stroke, Lucy Morgenstern, Ireland Heller, and Grace Doolen, was a no-contest win over teams from Maine Coast Rowing and Waynflete. Grace Doolen and Lucy Morgenstern stepped up from the Club’s Novice program to compete. The new Boys’ 2x of Jack Heller in bow and Connor Howland as stroke, came in 5th.
For the Masters, Will Schaetzke and Amy Mitchell raced in the 1x races. Amy raced again with Marnie Read in the Women’s Masters 2x and won!
It was a great day for all, and a great start for Coach Heather Adle and Sam Abbott’s season with Megunticook Rowing.
Winni Chase, Saturday, September 28
In the second annual Winni Chase Regatta, a 4,500 meter Head Race on a protected area of scenic Winnipesaukee, hoted by Brewster Academy, included 11 teams and over 90 boats competing, nearly tripling in size from the first year year! It’s a historic location, according to the website, “on August 3, 1852, the first American intercollegiate athletic competition of any sport took place on Lake Winnipesaukee. What has become commonly referred to as “the Race” was a contest between Harvard and Yale rowing teams, a tradition that continues to this day, though no longer held here. The Winni Chase regatta honors the special place that this lake, our home lake, holds in the storied history of this sport and U.S. intercollegiate athletics at large.” It is a great addition to the calendar!
Mixed Double, 1st place
Ireland Heller and Jake Roux
Women’s 2x, 4th place
Tucker Beynart and Laura Riordan
Women’s 4x +, 6th place
Cox Lilah Snow
Leona Bourvinal, Lucy Morgenstern, Grace Doolen, Ireland Heller
Men’s 2x, 8th place
Evan Fossum and Jack Heller
Textile River Regatta, Sunday October 6
The gorgeous weather and conditions continued for Textile River Regatta, a 4500-meter head race on the Merrimack River. Coach Will got the day started in his single and finished 4th in his class. Next up was a new boat of junior boys – Evan Fossum, Jack Heller, Connor Howland and Jack Williamson finished 9th; the Masters Women’s team of Stephanie Lash, Amy Mitchell, Marnie Read and Polly Saltonstall finished 4th; Girl’sNovice team of Lucy Morgenstern and Grace Doolen hopped in Hugh Brock’s Fluid Double Red Dawn, and made it count, picking up a 2nd place medal! The Girls’s 4+ finished 12th out of 26th. Mixed Masters Quad of Hugh Brock, Amy Mitchell, Evan Waters and Meredith Currier took home a 3rd place medal! Finishing the day strong and in the medals was the Mixed Jr 4+; coxed by Adella Brainerd, with Connor Howland, Jack and Ireland Heller, and Leona Bourvinal. They powered to finish 2nd and took home medals!
The New Hampshire Championships, Sunday Oct 13th
The New Hampshire Championships George Dirth Memorial Regatta is the largest New England rowing event north of Boston and is hosted by Amoskeag Rowing Club at Memorial Park in Pembroke, NH. The regatta is a 3-mile head race. Here’s how Meg Rowers stacked up:
Men’s 1x – 4th
Jake Roux
Men’s Junior 4+A – 13th
Cox: Lilah Snow
Connor Howland, Jack Williamson, Evan Fossum, Jack Heller
Women’s Junior 4+A – 3rd
Cox: Ruth Weiss
Adella Brainerd, Laura Riordan, Tucker Beynart, Leona Bourvinal
Women’s Junior 4x – 4th
Laura Riordan, Lucy Morgenstern, Grace Doolen, Ireland Heller
Head of the Charles, Oct 18-20
Megunticook Rowing club members, coaches, juniors, Masters, summer rowers and alums were represented from start to finish at this fall classic of 4702 meters on the twisting Charles River.
First up was Cathy Kemper, who came in second in the Women’s 70+. She rowed with our Competitive Team all summer. She is our hero, and will be in the 80+ next year. Coach Will hopped in a double with a friend and finished 15 out of 25 in the Men’s Masters Double 30+40+; Next Coach Sam and the UVM Alum 4s finished 14 out of 23. Summer rower Amy Dyer competed with her home club Litchfield Hills, CT, they placed 22nd out of 31 teams of Women’s Senior Master 8s. Abbie Chamberlain, one time Meg Rowing coach, help power the Women’s Alum 8s Evergreen (Dartmouth) to a 25th place finish out of 52. Youth Double of Jake Roux and Connor Howland placed 56th. Directors’ Challenge Mixed Quad of Hugh Brock, Amy Mitchell, Evan Waters and Meredith Currier came in 21 out of 25. Polly Saltonstall and Stephanie Lash joined two friends in Directors’ Challenge Women’s Quad and placed 14 out of 35.
Head of the Fish, Sunday October 27
The season wrapped up in Saratoga, NY on a 3200 meter course on Fish Creek. Laura Riordan and Adella Brainerd finished 9th out of 36 hulls!
It was a great season with some new rowers and new regattas! Solid