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Triad Rowers Celebrate Year of Rowing at Sedgefield Country Club

Greensboro, North Carolina – Duke University’s head women’s rowing coach Megan Cooke Carcagno gave the keynote address at the 2018 Celebration of Rowing banquet held at Sedgefield Country Club on Saturday night and it was a inspiring rowing story of triumph over challenge.

After an hour of cocktails and silent auction, almost 200 rowers, parents and friends from High Point Rowing Club and Greensboro Crew gathered into the Sedgefield Country Club ballroom for what has become the most prestigious social event on the rowing calendar.

Jack and Harry Kininmonth, serving as Master of Ceremonies, then opened the evening by introducing Greensboro youth coxswain Eleah Stewart to give the invocation.

Jack and Harry Kininmonth served as emcees at the 2018 Celebration of Rowing banquet.

After enjoying a delicious feast, Jack & Harry then returned to the podium to begin the formal ceremonies, which began with High Point rower Natalie Earnhardt, who recited “The Triad Navy” a poem written for the occasion by club founder Gene Kininmonth.

Mary Hollingsworth then presented the High Point Parent of the Year award to Shelli and Brandon York for their service to the crew. Greensboro parent Julie Higgins then presented the Greensboro Parent of the Year award to Holly Messick.

‘Girl Jeanne’ MacPherson, last year’s Masters MVP winner, was then invited to the podium to announce the 2018 recipient – Erin Sanders. Congratulations Erin – High Point Masters MVP Rower of the Year!

Coach Katie Ognovich then talked about the progress of Greensboro Crew and concluded by presenting the Katherine Dickson Award for youth service to Greensboro Crew to Benjamin Huitt and the Greensboro Masters MVP award to Julie Higgins.

Coach Gene Kininmonth then thanked all the Triad United Rowing coaches for their service to the club and presented the Caroline Howard Cup for youth service to High Point Rowing Club to Jamie Atkinson.

It is not every year that the club is fortunate enough to have youth rowers sign with college rowing programs but this year three high school seniors are signing so the club held a special signing ceremony at the banquet to recognize their success. Lindsay York has signed with Drake University, Junior Ognovich has signed with Syracuse University and Ashley Walker has signed with the University of Minnesota.

And then  it was time to welcome world champion rower Megan Cooke-Carcagno to the podium. But before her speech, guests watched on the big screen her USA women’s eight world record breaking victory at the 2006 world championships. The win began a streak for the USA women that lasted almost a dozen years.

But it was the story of Megan’s journey to that record breaking moment that inspired guests at the banquet. Perseverance and resiliency only begin to describe Megan’s effort to make the USA team.  Her years of struggle and never give up attitude up prove that it takes more than talent alone to become the world’s best.

At this point there was just one last piece of business to attend to – the drawing of the raffle ticket to see who would win the brand new Concept2 ergometer. Erin Sanders held out the bucket of tickets and Megan drew the ticket – and the winner was Lisa Thompson (William’s mum). Congratulations Lisa!

Coach Gene then thanked Coach Megan for sharing her story and also Jaree Todd, who chaired this year’s record breaking auction.

The final honor of the evening was to thank our amazing 2018 Banquet Chair Jackie King. Without Jackie there would be no banquet and we were all richer for the experience of this year’s Celebration of Rowing.

Jackie King and Megan Cooke Carcagno at the 2018 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Jamie Atkinson with the Caroline Howard Cup for service and inspiration to his fellow rowers at High Point Rowing Club.
Three High Point rowers signed with colleges this past week and were recognized at the 2018 Celebration of Rowing banquet. Lindsay York signed with Drake University. Junior Ognovich signed with Syraces and Ashley Walker is going to the University of Minnesota.
Greensboro Crew youth rowers gather at Sedgefield Country Club for the 2018 Celebration of Rowing banquet.

 

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Varsity Girls Triumph over Greensboro in Cross-town Boat Races

Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC – High Point’s girls varsity eight came from behind to earn a crosstown victory over rival Greensboro Crew on Saturday.

Both teams should have been racing as Triad United at the Head of the James in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday. That is, until Hurricane Michael struck with such heavy rainfall the James River was flooded and the regatta was cancelled.

So, High Point and Greensboro made the most of the situation with a cross-town duel.

“This was a case of making the best of a disappointing situation,” said High Point coach Gene Kininmonth. “The rowers had been looking forward to the James but this was not a bad consolation, with each squad earning their share of wins.”

High Point’s varsity girls eight of Reagan Labiak, Charlotte Curri, Kinkead Crotts, Junior OGnovich, Natalie Earnhardt, Ashley Walker, Kay Millikan, Elizabeth Richards, and Ava Kanzler earned a crosstown victory over Greensboro Crew on Oak Hollow Lake on Saturday.

Although Hurricane Michael had well and truly passed through the Triad by Saturday, its after effects were still evident. Many families were still without power over the weekend and had left town, which resulted in both squads operating on limited rosters.

“This was a great opportunity for girls who would normally not be in the varsity eight to get their opportunity,” said Gene. “Ava Kanzler has only been rowing a few months and Elizabeth Richards was elevated from the middle school squad. They both performed outstandingly today.”

The roster impact of Hurricane Michael was most pronounced on the boys squad. High Point did not have enough rowers to boat a varsity eight so the duel against Greensboro Crew was battled in coxed fours instead.

Greensboro prevailed with a lead from start to finish. High Point finished second with a Greensboro ‘B’ boat in third.

The final race of the morning was between middle school eights….which were actually crewed by only 6 rowers in each boat due to limited attendance. After a hard fought battle that saw the lead change constantly, Greensboro finally took home the win albeit with some high school rowers on board.

Congratulations all rowers for both races won and battles hard fought!

Greensboro Crew’s women’s varsity eight returns to shore at the cross-town boat races on Saturday morning.
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2018 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival set for September 29

Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC – Race organizers expect to welcome over 600 rowers and thousands of spectators from across the southeast region of the United States in late September for the 2018 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. The date of the event has been set for Saturday, September 29, 2018.

Last year the event received a record 153 entries of boats to race the winding 5,000 meter course on Oak Hollow Lake.

“We anticipate a new record for the 2018 Autumn Rowing Festival,” says High Point Rowing Club founder Gene Kininmonth. “Participation in rowing continues to explode in North Carolina. High Point is at the epicenter of this remarkable growth.”

The regatta is open to the general public and admission is free.

Race entries will be made on REGATTACENTRA


Video Highlights of the 2016 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival from Carolina SkyWorks on Vimeo.

Rowers are expected to travel from as far away as Annapolis, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia for the regatta.

The festival has attracted a number of marquis college names in the past, including local favorite High Point University, as well as NC State, Wake Forest, and Davidson College. In 2017 race organizers hope to entice powerhouse programs from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Duke University.

Also competing are Masters (adult) and youth programs.  In 2017 rowing programs from Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville were represented among others.

Round the Duck

Boat racing at the rowing festival is a 5,000 meter time-trial. Crews will line up their sleek rowing shells at the Skeet Club Bridge end of Oak Hollow Lake and then race out to the center of the lake where they will row a 180 degree turn “Round the Duck” back to the main channel before turning toward the finish line at Johnson Street Bridge.

That’s right. There’s a duck. A giant bright yellow inflatable duck. Race officials decline to disclose the actual size of the duck but it clearly dwarfs the rowers on the water.

Racing begins at 9:20am and runs through 3:30pm. Following the races the duck will return to shore for children’s photographs.

Use 1841 Eastchester Drive, High Point for GPS directions to Festival Park.

MEDIA: PRESS INFORMATION
Media Center
Media headquarters for the 2018 Rowing Festival will be the Media Center at Oak Hollow Lake. The Media Center is equipped with Wi-Fi access. The Media Center will also accommodate interviews at the conclusion of each event. Race winners will be brought to the interview area for media access. Limited parking is available for daily print, online and television media (advance notice requested). All television stations that will be bringing in satellite trucks should call Gene Kininmonth (office: 336-257-9009) to arrange for vehicle access.

Photographers
Photographers wishing to obtain action shots on the racecourse may be accommodated in a media boat on a first-come, first-served basis. The media boat will be restricted to designated sections of the course and cannot “race” to keep pace with competing boats. Please arrive at the Media Center 60 minutes before you need to be on the water.

 

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6th Anniversary Row & Potluck Set for September 8

The High Point-Greensboro Rowing Club will celebrate its 6th birthday on Saturday, September 8 with a Bridge to Bridge Time Trial for club members followed by a potluck breakfast at Oak Hollow Lake. Joining the festivities for the first time will be rowers from the newly formed Winston Salem Rowing Club.

Students will be boated by their class year and masters by age.

Families and friends are invited to join the rowers for the potluck brunch after the boat races.

The club has much to celebrate after 6 years, with a record number of rowers joining the Masters program for adults and the scholastic program for students from public and private schools across the Triad.

Last year 11 eight-man crews as well as some smaller boats lined the start of the race course at Skeet Club Bridge to race the full extent of Oak Hollow Lake to Johnson Street Bridge and club founder Gene Kininmonth predicts there could be even more crews this year.

All rowers participating in the Crew’s 6th Anniversary Boat Races should arrive at Oak Hollow Lake by 7:30am and be dressed appropriately for the weather on the day. Rowers and families should park on the grass behind the sailboats. A Signup Genius email will be sent to all members and parents with details of the potluck.

Boys and girls attending any Triad area school (Grade 6 -12) are eligible to join the team. No experience necessary. Email Coach Gene contact@highpointrowing.com or see the Registration page for details.