The Head of the Charles – two crowded, cold, windy and exciting days in Boston – proved to be an exhilarating challenge for our rowers last weekend.
The Norwalk River Rowing Association sent a team of 19 youth rowers and eight masters rowers to the event, which is one of the largest head races in the world.
The women’s youth 4+, with Jessica Magnoli, Natalie Partlow, Victoria Markow, Kelsey Ritchey and Kailyn Kieffer. Peter Ritchey took the photo
One of the many measures of success at the Head of the Charles is earning a guaranteed entry for next year. Rowers who finish in the top 25 percent in the single are guaranteed an entry in a single event; youth doubles teams that finish in the top 25 percent earn a guaranteed entry for themselves or their club; in the sweeping events, guaranteed entries are awarded to the club if a crew finishes in the top 50 percent. (There’s an explanation of the rules here; if anyone has a different interpretation, please let us know and we will correct the record.)
NRRA rowers earned guaranteed entries in three events.
Kris Petreski finished 7th in the men’s youth 1x, earning him a guaranteed entry next year in whichever single event he is eligible for (if he chooses to compete as a single).
Kelsey Ritchey, Victoria Markow, Natalie Partlow and Jessica Magnoli, with Kailyn Kieffer as coxswain,
finished 34th in the women’s youth 4+. That was in the top 50 percent, earning the club a guaranteed entry next year. It was the first time at the Head of the Charles for Kelsey, Victoria, Natalie, Jessica and Kailyn.
In the senior masters women’s 4+, Norwalk River’s team of Juliet Brocki, Laura Case, Elisabeth Stonehill, Peggy Danneman and coxswain Malcolm Watson, finished 24th. That finish was in the top 50 percent, earning the club a guaranteed entry next year.
In other races, Kaare Andersen and Chris Martensson finished 13th and Dane Crameri and Mitchell Ukropina finished 41st In the men’s youth 2x. The men’s youth 4+ crew of Kevin Lenihan, Brad Spiewak, Matt Rauccio and Oliver Peacock, with Jamie Fagan as coxswain, finished 67th. For Kevin, Brad, Matt and Oliver, it was their first time competing in the Head of the Charles.
Jan Gaus raced with his son, Eric, in the Director’s Challenge Parent/Child double, finishing 35th.
Two of our Masters men, Don Loomis and Ford Smith, reunited with two college buddies to finish 46th in a Senior Masters Men’s 4-plus in a Georgetown alumni boat.
And finally, coach Stephanie Dryer and former coach Luke Auger finished a time-adjusted 19th in the Directors Challenge mixed doubles (for Maritime).
