On Saturday Norwalk River Rowing opened its spring regatta season with three gold medals at the Greenwich Invitational. The regatta, held in Greenwich at Grass Island in a strong wind, featured 13 clubs from Connecticut and New York, most of which had been practicing on the water for only a few weeks after
a winter that seemed never to end. The race course was 1,200 meters, which was shortened to 1,000 meters when the wind picked up in the afternoon. The course was only wide enough for two boats. Events were run in a series of timed heats, with the fastest time in most events awarded a first place medal. Finals featuring the boats with the top two times from the heats were held in only six events, three boys events and three girls events (first varsity 4+, 4x and 8+). Only first place medals were awarded.
The girls’ second novice eight captured Norwalk River’s first gold of the day. The boat featured five athletes who had never raced in a regatta before, who won first place in their first races.
Norwalk River’s next gold came from the boys’ junior varsity eight.
Then the day culminated with a gold medal for Norwalk River Rowing’s boys in the premier event, the first varsity eight. On hand to award the medals was Connecticut State Senator Scott Frantz, who made a reference to the terrific recent book “Boys in the Boat”.
Perhaps the most exciting non-medal finish was the second-place finish of the boys first varsity 4x, which beat perennial power in that event Maritime/New Canaan in the qualifying heat and was ahead in the final (a rematch with Maritime) at the 300 meter mark before an oarlock popped. Norwalk also had second-place times in the boys first 4+, boys novice 8+ and boys lightweight 4+, and third-place times in the girls first varsity 8+, another boys lightweight 4+ and the boys lightweight 8+. Rounding out the results were fourth-place times in the girls first 4+, girls novice 8+, and girls second 4+, and a fifth and a seventh by additional boys 4x.
Then, on Tuesday, the team took delivery of a brand new midweight King 4+ and took it out on the water for the first time. RowAmerica agreed to loan the boat to Norwalk River in recognition that knowledge of our discussions with them would chill our boat fund-raising abilities and as a gesture of good faith. We have use of the boat as long as discussions are progressing. Here is a picture of the boat just after assembly in RowAmerica’s Bridgeport facility.
