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.
Oak Hollow Lake – High Point youth rowers could be forgiven if they were a little more subdued than typical as they celebrated the season and gave a send of to high school senior Govind Harish at the annual Spring Crew Banquet last night.
Normally on this special occasion the rowers would go out for one last short row in a lineup they had formed special bonds with during the racing season.
But with no York Cup challenges on the books for 2017-18, two eights were sent out to race a bridge to bridge from Skeet Club to Johnson Street, with the winner earning the coveted York Cup.
James Li, Junior Ognovich, Jacob Messick, Matthew Hronich, Charlotte Curri (coxswain), Ashley Walker, Emily Winberg, Harry Capizzi, and Lindsay York (missing) were the York Cup winners for 2017-18.
The York Cup is named in honor of High Point crew philanthropists Caren and Greg York. It is a club bonding race and crews challenging for the York Cup must be comprised of the following athletes:
1.) All members of the crew must be currently enrolled in high school or middle school. (the Summer following your senior year makes you ineligible!)
2.) At least two and no more than four male rowers in the boat. A coxswain may be a fifth male member of the crew.
3.) At least four of the rowers must be in their novice year, freshmen, or in middle school.
Congratulations James Li, Junior Ognovich, Jacob Messick, Matthew Hronich, Ashlet Walker, Emily Winber, Harry Capizzi, Lindsay York and coxswain Charlotte Curri for your York Cup victory!
William Scarpa III opened the formal proceedings of evening with a welcome.
Coach Gene Kininmonth then welcomed back the team’s alumni Maddie Mullins and Kyle Koval. Both Maddie and Kyle are home for the summer from college and will be assisting High Point and Greensboro’s rowing programs with coaching over the summer.
Gene then thanked the club’s coaches Paul Herger and Katie Eliades for their service to the rowers and all the parents and particularly Beth Heer, the team’s parent liaison, for all the support of the club throughout the season.
It was then on to the awards presentation, which were presented accordingly:
Female Rower of the Year
Jackie Junior Ognovich
Male Rower of the Year
William Hundley
Most Improved Female Rower
Kinkead Crotts
Most Improved Male Rower
Jacob Messick
Middle School MVP – Female
Natalie Earnhardt
Middle School MVP – Male
Charles Richards
Then it was time to pay tribute to the club’s lone graduating senior, Govind Harish.
Govind enthralled the rowers with a list of superlatives for each of them. He then continued the tradition of handing down shirts to a returning member of the club. Govind had been handed down his jersey from Mac Warwick, a 2017 graduate. “Mac was a beast both in personality and rowing presence,” said Govind. “And I wanted to pass this shirt on to someone who encapsulates this and so I am handing it down to William Hundley.”
Govind then thanked his fellow rowers and coaches for “everything we have been a part of these past 5 years I have been on the club.”
Coach Gene then thanked Govind for his years contributions to the High Point crew. “Many of you will stay in touch with each other throughout your lives. You won’t remember each other for what races you may have won. You will remember your crew mates for how hard they tried, for having your back, for stepping up when needed. And this is how we will especially remember Govind Harish in this club”
And then it was over to the dock for the traditional club photo.
Sarasota, Florida – High Point’s Junior Ognovich advanced to the final of the women’s single sculls in afternoon racing on Day One at the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships.
Ognovich joins three High Point crews in Sunday’s finals.
In the morning time trials Harry Capizzi and William Hundley qualified for the final six in the men’s pairs and Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri qualified for the final six in the lightweight double sculls final.
The regional rowing championships comprises the best youth rowers from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Ognovich finished second in the semi final round after finishing with the third fastest time in the initial time trial to earn her place in Sunday’s final.
Junior Ognovich heads to the start of the semi final round at USRowing’s Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, Florida.[/caption
SUNDAY RACE SCHEDULE:
Women’s Single Sculls Final – 8:00am
Junior Ognovich
Men’s Pairs Final – 8:24am
Harry Capizzi and William Hundley
Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls Final – 8:32am
Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox
Women’s U17 Quad Sculls Final – 1:03pm
Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe, Kinkead Crotts, Charlotte Curri
Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers are off to a strong start at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships with 5 of 6 of the club’s boats advancing through the first round this morning.
Opening racing for High Point, Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe, both finished among the top 14 single scullers to qualify for finals this afternoon.
In some tight racing, Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn finished 9th in the women’s pairs time trial. With only the first 7 qualifying for the final the two just missed the Sunday final.
Next up Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi finished 5th in the time trial for men’s pairs and thus qualifying for the final on Sunday.
Next up, High Point’s Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri qualified for the final on Sunday in the women’s lightweight double scull.
Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox have qualified for Sunday’s final in the women’s lightweight double sculls at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg then raced the women’s open weight double scull. Despite only recently being paired together, the two qualified for afternoon semi final racing.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg launch at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
In other afternoon racing, Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick will race in the first round heats of U17 boys double sculls. With 20 entries this may be the most competitive field at the regional championships. The two are no strangers to competition, however, after winning the same event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago.
In tomorrow’s finals, Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe. Kinkead Crotts, and Charlotte Curri, will also be racing in the women’s U17 quadscull event. High Point won bronze in this event in 2017.
Held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships will feature 1,406 athletes from 49 clubs racing in 416 boats. The regional championship is a must stop on the road to the national championships. Crews must finish in the top three in their regional to qualify for nationals, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., in June.
High Point, NC – High Point rowers are making final preparations on Oak Hollow Lake this week in advance of the upcoming USRowing Southeast Youth Championships taking place this weekend in Sarasota, Florida.
Held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships will feature 1,406 athletes from 49 clubs racing in 416 boats. The regional championship is a must stop on the road to the national championships. Crews must finish in the top three in their regional to qualify for nationals, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., in June.
High Point will be represented by eight boats of rowers in Sarasota – its largest fleet ever at the at the regional championships.
Opening racing for High Point will be scullers Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe, who will compete in the Women’s single sculls event. Junior won the singles title at the North Carolina state championships in April and Arte was a member of the winning U17 quad sculls crew at the same event.
Following the single sculls events, Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn will be looking to defend the regional title in the women’s pairs event won by High Point in 2017 by Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins.
Next up Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi will race in the men’s pair event. Will and Harry have shown flashes of speed throughout the season indicating the possibility of a win. They will need to get into a solid rhythm early to compete with Triangle Rowing Club of Raleigh, whose rowers won the North Carolina Youth Championships in this event.
High Point’s Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri will then team up to race the women’s lightweight double sculls event. Ainsley and Charlotte topped the competition in the upper region in this event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago and will see if their speed will be enough to take on the Florida competition for gold.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg will then race the women’s open weight double scull. The two were recently paired together for this event but have shown significant improvement in speed in practice.
In other boys racing Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick will race for gold in the U17 boys double sculls. With 20 entries this may be the most competitive field at the regional championships. The two are no strangers to competition, however, after winning the same event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago.
Rounding out the fleet for High Point will be Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe. Kinkead Crotts, and Charlotte Curri, who will be racing in the women’s U17 quadscull event. High Point won bronze in this event in 2017.
Arte Blythe and Junior Ognovich will represent High Point at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Regional Championships in Sarasota, Florida.William Hundley and Harry Capizzi will race in the men’s pair event at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox will race in the women’s lightweight double sculls event at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.Jacob Messick and Matthew Hronich make final preparations for the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.Charlotte Curri, Kinkead Crotts, Arte Blythe, and Molly Hilemn will race for gold at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.
Waterfront real estate is premium for rowers and their boats at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Championships regatta in Oak Ridge, Tennessee,
Oak Ridge, TN – High Point Rowing Club’s youth squad shined in racing at the Dogwood Junior Championships Regatta over the weekend, winning gold in two championship finals and a bronze medal in a third. Equally as rewarding to the team, every rower that raced made a grand final on Sunday in the two-day regatta.
Oak Ridge Rowing Association welcomed 2,000 youth rowers from all over the Southeast and Midwest to compete in the 2018 Dogwood Junior Regional Regatta. The regatta is one of the largest in the Southeast.
A crew’s performance at the event will be considered heavily for selection purposes by coaches at the USRowing Southeast Regional Championship in Sarasota, Florida in May, where rowers compete to qualify for the Youth National Championships.
High Point’s Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox won gold in the women’s lightweight double sculls final – the first win in a team boat at Dogwood for the club. Just an hour earlier, Charlotte teamed up with Arte Blythe to win a bronze medal in the women’s U17 double sculls final.
Gold for Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Championships regatta.
The next gold medal won for High Point was in the Men’s U17 double sculls final. Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick combined to lead from wire to wire on the Melton Lake race course in Oak Ridge.
Jacob Messick and Matthew Hronich strike gold at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Championships.Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox wearing the gold medals won in the women’s lightweight double sculls final at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Championships regatta.
The depth of the women’s sculling squad was proven over the weekend with High Point’s two women’s quad sculls successfully making it through the time trials and semi finals to the grand final. In the final High Point’s A boat of Junior Ognovich, Lindsay York, Molly HIlemn and Ainsley Fox just missed out on a medal in a photo finish at the line.
“Our High Point rowers showed incredible resiliency and commitment to racing in Oak Ridge,” said coach Gene Kininmonth. “Everyone made finals although in hindsight we raced some of them, particularly our single scullers, in too many events this weekend and that hurt their ability to perform in the finals. But the racing experience will help them reach higher levels in two weeks at the Southeast Regional Championships in Sarasota. I have no doubt their best is yet to come.”
High Point missed out on a medal by a bow ball in the women’s quad sculls final at the 2018 Dogwood Regatta.Charlotte Curri and Arte Blythe won bronze in the U17 double sculls final at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Championships regatta.Rowers lie in absolute exhaustion between races at the 2018 Dogwood Regatta. Some rowers raced as many as 8 2,000 meter races over the weekend.The boys quad scull of William Hundley, Harry Capizzi, William Scarpa, and Govind Harish made it to the final at the Dogwood Championships.Arte Blythe, Ashley Walker, Emily Winberg and Charlotte Curri were one of two High Point quad sculls that made it to the final at the 2018Dogwood Junior Rowing Championships.Every rower for High Point qualified for a final at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Rowing Championships.It was a photo finish for High Point’s quad scull crew of Ainsley Fox, Molly HIlemn, Lindsay York, and Junior Ognovich at the 2018 Dogwood Junior Championships regatta.
Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake, – High Point will host the North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships at Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake on Saturday.
This is the second annual North Carolina state championship for youth rowing. Over 400 high school and middle school rowers from the top rowing clubs across the state will compete in 39 different boat classes. Rowers will come in from Asheville, Belmont, Charlotte, Jordan Lake and Raleigh to face off against home town crews from High Point and Greensboro.
The six clubs have entered 118 boats in this year’s event, an increase of almost 50% from last year reflecting the growth in the sport.
High Point’s Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for its central location and the local organizing committee’s proven success at hosting regional rowing events.
Festival Park offers spectators unobstructed views of the entire 1,500 meter race course from an elevated location.
Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for the 2017 North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships.
High Point and Greensboro will be racing as HPG Rowing, the “racing umbrella” for the two clubs foundered by High Point local Gene Kininmonth.
Whilst rowing is one of the oldest sports in America, it is still very new in the Tar Heel state. “With just six youth rowing clubs, North Carolina is still very much in the pioneering phase for this sport,” says High Point club founder Gene Kininmonth. “This presents us with lots of opportunities but also a lot of challenges when folks in our local communities are not familiar with rowing.”
Here is a look at the beauty of the sport of rowing and High Point’s Oak Hollow Lake in video:
High Point rowers were rewarded for their efforts with boatloads of medals at the 2018 Clemson Masters & Collegiate Regatta at Clemson University.
Clemson University, South Carolina – High Point rowers travelled to the Clemson Sprints for Masters & Collegiate rowers on Saturday and returned home with medals won in a number of masters and open events.
High Point’s masters women’s coxed four of Jackie King, Erin Sanders, Shelli York and Beverly Snively opened racing on Lake Hartwell with a silver medal just a boat length behind one of Asheville rowing club’s two entries.
Women’s Masters Four
Asheville B 4 minutes 3 seconds
High Point 4:06
Asheville A 4:16
Belmont 4:23
Cape Fear 4:26
Coach Gene Kininmonth with his silver medal crew of Jackie King, Erin Sanders, Bev Snively, and Shelli York at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.
William Hundley then took gold in the lightweight single sculls event with a race time of 8 minutes 11 seconds over the 2,000 meter race course. He beat out Belmont and Atlanta in the final.
William Hundley won three gold medals at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.
Next up for High Point was the women’s open pairs event. High Point entered three crews in this event and High Point rowing coach Katie Eliades raced in a High Point University pair as well. Nine crews entered the event in two heats in which the first three in each heat would qualify for the final. All three High Point crews and HPU qualifed for the grand final in the afternoon and finished 1-4!!!
Women’s Open Pairs Final
High Point (Junior Ognovich/Scarlett Hanna) 8 minutes 17 seconds
High Point (Molly Hilemn/Lindsay York) 8:27
High Point (Ainsley Fox/Charlotte Curri) 8:32
HPU (Coach Katie Eliades) 9:00
Univ of Tennessee (Chattanooga) 9:12
NC State – Scratched
Junior Ognovich and Scarlett Hanna won gold in the women’s open pairs event at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn row to the start at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox are all smiles after winning bronze in the open pairs final at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.
Following lunch High Point rowers returned to the water for the mixed masters eights final. Charlotte Curri exchanged her sweep oar for the rudder strings of the coxswains seat for this race with Jackie King and Erin Sanders setting up the rhythm from the stern. Dave Gignac, Gene Kininmonth, Kiwi Mike Hitchcock, and Jerald Winter powered the pistons from the engine room with Shelli York and Traci Loria providing finesse from the bow pair in what would be a seven boat final on Lake Hartwell. It was nip and tuck all the way with results still pending following a forensic examination of age related handicaps. Regardless, well rowed High Point!
The medals kept coming for High Point rowers with Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe finishing first and second in the Women’s Open Singles final.
Men’s Open Pairs Final
High Point (William Hundley/Harry Capizzi) 7 minutes 41 seconds
Clemson University 8:11
Liberty U 8:13
Auburn U 8:31
Tennessee 9:33
Georgia State Scratched
Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi won the men’s open pairs event at the 2018 Clemson Sprints against collegiate competition.Beverly Snively, Jerald Winter, Dave Gignac and Traci Lori teamed up to race the mixed masters quad sculls race at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.
High Point rowers also finished first and second in the mixed Open DoubleSculls Final.
Mixed Open Double Sculls Final
High Point (Will Hundley/Scarlett Hanna) 7 mins 52 seconds
High Point (Harry Capizzi/Emily Winberg) 8:02
Belmont A 8:04
Belmont B 8:49
William Hundley won his third gold medal at the 2018 Clemson Sprints when he teamed up with Scarlett Hanna in the Mixed Open doublesculls event. The duo won with a time of 7 minutes 52 seconds.
High Point Rowing Club’s youth squad will open its 2018 season on the 1996 Olympic race course at the John Hunter Regatta in Gainesville, GA this weekend.
Combining with Greensboro rowers the squad will race as HPG Rowing and is expected to be competitive in a number of key events.
“High Point rowers will have a sculling focus on Sunday while Greensboro will focus on the sweep events,” says head coach Gene Kininmonth.
The team’s U17 squad will open racing in the morning in the sweep events. HPG has crews entered in the boys and girls U17 eights and four-oared events.
In the sculling events High Point will be well represented in the girls and boys single sculls events by Arte Blythe and William Hundley.
“We also have two extremely strong women’s quad sculls,” says Kininmonth. “These scullers have all put in so much work and both crews are capable of winning their races on Sunday. Selecting the fastest combination has been the biggest challenge.”
On the boys sculling squad William Hundley is combining with Harry Capizzi in the double scull and those two will also combine with Govind Harish and William Scarpa III in the quad scull later in the day.
High Point varsity rowers Will Hundley, Harry Capizzi, William Scarpa III, and Govind Harish won bronze in the youth varsity quad sculls event at the 2017 Head of the South.
2017 will be remembered fondly as another boom year for High Point Rowing Club. We hosted the inaugural North Carolina State Championships, won our first regional youth title and witnessed our rowers in finals at national championships for the first time.
Club Founder Gene Kininmonth says from start to finish there were many wonderful moments this past year. “Since the formation of the club in 2012, each year at this time I actually worry about how we can improve things even more in the new year. Thanks to our amazing rowers and their families we continue to see new high water marks.”
We kicked off the year in Virginia with the MidAtlantic Erg Sprints where Junior Ognovich, Molly Hilemn and Matthew Hronich each won medals in their age class.
Junior Ognovich, Morgan Epling, and Molly HIlemn are all smiles at the 2017 Mid Atlantic Erg Sprints in Alexandria, VA on Saturday.
Our youth and masters were then out in force in late February for the High Point hosted annual 124C Erg Sprints in Jamestown. This annual indoor rowing event continues to attract rowers from across the region.
Following 124C’s our rowers were ready to once again put their erging abilities to good use, this time for the annual Ergathon. This important fundraising campaign saw our rowers and Greensboro Crew divided into three groups to race 100 kilometers. The club’s rowers and families raised well over $20,000 to fund upgrades to the fleet of boats and equipment.
In early March the crews were eager to return to the water and it wasn’t long before we hosted the US Naval Academy women’s rowing program at Oak Hollow Lake for that team’s spring break training. Navy feel right at home in High Point – so much so that this year they invited Army to race them right here on our home waters of Oak Hollow Lake in a historic first ever duel. The inaugural Army – Navy Boat Race was held at Festival Park with Navy sweeping the regatta.
High Point Rowing Club hosted Navy Women’s Crew to a potluck feast in its Jamestown Erg Room during the Midshipmen’s spring training camp.Two Navy Women’s Crews raced Army in the two programs’ historic first ever encounter on Saturday, March 18, 2017 on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, NC.
While returning to the water was a refreshing change for the rowers it wasn’t without challenges for the ranks of our coaches, who were now challenged with also staffing the new team of Greensboro Crew rowers at Lake Brandt. With head coach Gene Kininmonth dividing his time between the two cities each week, a huge responsibility was placed on the High Point youth varsity rowers to step up and maintain standards whilst not under his watchful eye.
“The irony is that most of our rowers performed better when left alone,” says Gene looking back. “They took ownership of the process and this led to even greater success for them.”
High Point Hosts Inaugural North Carolina State Youth Championships
Our volunteers, led by Mandy Greene and Girl Jeanne MacPherson, hosted the inaugural North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships in April, which drew hundreds of rowers and thousands of spectators to High Point.
Coaches from across the state unanimously voted High Point’s Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake as the championship venue for its central location and the local organizing committee’s proven success at hosting regional rowing events.
Racing as HPG Rowing to reflect the addition of the Greensboro chapter of the organization, High Point/Greensboro rowers cleaned up in the Olympic class of sculling events and ultimately won 7 out of the 14 state titles it entered.
Cheers to us!
Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for the 2017 North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships.
Success at the state championships led to the club earning its first ever medals at the USRowing Southeast Regional Championships. Racing on the Olympic rowing course at Lake Lanier just outside of Atlanta, Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich struck gold in the women’s pair. Hours later Ainsley Fox, Lindsay York, Molly Hilemn, and Charlotte Curri won bronze in the women’s Under 17 quad sculls final.
Winning the regional championship qualified Maddie and Junior for the USRowing Youth National Championships – another first for our club. “This was in itself an incredible achievement for Maddie and Junior,” says Coach Gene. “But they then proved that they and their club belonged at the national championships.”
This year’s youth national championships were held in Sarasota, Florida and began with a time trial to seed the top 12 crews and dismiss the remaining. Maddie and Junior finished with the 6th fastest time and from there qualified for the final with a top 3 finish in the semi final round. By the time racing was complete High Point’s finest were ranked sixth in the nation!
High Point’s ‘Fab Five’ crew of Kristen Bremer, Jackie King, Erica Reisberger, Shelli York, and Morgan Epling won silver at the Dogwood Masters Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN.High Points Masters enjoyed racing and socializing over the summer at the Ist annual Staygatta.
High Point’s masters rowed to a new standard as well in 2017, winning silver in the women’s coxed four at the Dogwood masters Championships and then racing at the Masters National Championships.
With the change of season from Summer to Autumn, the 5th Anniversary Row & Potluck showed off the growth of the club with the addition of Greensboro Crew. Rowers from both chapters united for an exhibition Row and races by class year for youth and age by decade for the Masters. We like to think of Oak Hollow Lake as beautiful one day, perfect the next. And the 5th Anniversary Row was no exception.
High Point and Greensboro again united in September, this time for the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. A record 500 rowers and an estimated 1,500 spectators again gathered at Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake.
But this year’s regatta will be most remembered for the brisk 15 mile per hour winds at the start of racing, which lifted the regatta’s iconic giant inflated rubber duck from its anchors and sent it flying down the lake.
Mayhem ensued, as the first round of crews, fearing possible disqualification for not ’rounding the duck’, began chasing the duck down the lake at full speed.
The giant duck soon ended up on land by Centennial Avenue and rowers were directed back on the race course. HPG led the day with the most gold medals won.
High Point closed out the racing season with historic performances at the Head of the South, winning gold and bronze in the women’s quad sculls, gold in the youth lightweight single sculls event, bronze in the men’s quad sculls, women’s novice eight and U16 mixed youth eight and women’s masters eights. The squad also won two silvers in the middle school eight and fours event.
High Point quad scullers Charlotte Curri, Ainsley Fox, Ashley Walker, and Junior OGnovich with Kira Grinko (center) widow of the late great sculling coach Igor Grinko, who coached the United States to silver at the 1996 Olympic Games. The High Point scullers were presented with the Igor Grinko plate for posting the fastest women’s sculling time at the 2017 Head of the South.Molly Hilemn, Lindsay York, Anna Lewis, and Emily Winberg showed off the depth of the High Point women’s sculling squad with a bronze medal finish at the 2017 Head of the South.
High Point varsity rowers Will Hundley, Harry Capizzi, William Scarpa III, and Govind Harish won bronze in the youth varsity quad sculls event at the 2017 Head of the South.
Nothing caps off the racing season better than the Celebration of Rowing banquet and this year’s gala, chaired by Jackie King at Sedgefield Country Club, lived up to reputation. High Point prides itself on inviting legendary guest speakers for the dinner and this year Jason Read wowed guests with his story of tragedy to triumph.
A volunteer rescue squad fire chief from the age of 21, Read received the call to Ground Zero on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.
Just three years later Jason Read represented his country again, bringing home the Olympic gold as part of the men’s eight rowing crew at the 2004 Athens games.
911 Hero and Athens Olympic gold medalist Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
But the year 2017 wasn’t over yet. In December the good times continued with two more social events, the Masters Mingle and Holiday Youth Dance.
We have much to be grateful for at High Point Rowing Club – not least is our wonderful rowing members. 2017 was certainly a year to remember for High Point rowers for the wonderful bonds of friendship and fast rowing by our crews – may there be many more!
The Erg Room at 124C has become more than just a place for working out. In December it was the venue for the Masters’ Mingle and Youth Holiday Dance.
The rowing clubs of the Triad are pleased to announce the fourth annual Celebration of Rowing banquet, scheduled for Saturday, November 18, at Sedgefield Country Club.
The Celebration of Rowing banquet is in its fourth year of recognizing an appreciation for our sport and our local rowing community. Celebration of Rowing is the one time each year when the Triad rowing community gathers to honor its own and enjoy hearing from a keynote speaker who has made a national impact on the sport of rowing.
An incredible keynote speaker for 2017 will be announced shortly. He or she will follow a talented line of speakers in recent years who have each had a national impact on the rowing community:
2014 Caroline Lind, 2X Olympic gold medalist
2015 Misha Joukowsky, Resolute shells
2016 Jack Carlson, Rowing Blazers
“The Celebration of Rowing banquet is a special night for rowers,” says the event chair Jackie King. “It is about coming together to celebrate the sport we all love and for many of us a sport that has held a profound transformational effect on our lives.”
Double Olympic gold medalist Caroline Lind was inducted into the Triad Rowers’ Hall of Fame at the High Point Country Club on November 19, 2016.Maddie Mullins was awarded the Caroline Howard Cup for service and inspiration to her fellow rowers at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Almost 200 rowers and their families gathered at High Point Country Club for the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Author, archeologist, and international rower Jack Carlson regaled the almost 200 rowers at the Celebration of Rowing banquet with his historical account of rowing’s social attire.Caren and Greg York hold their silver cup for ‘service above and beyond’ to the youth rowing program at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet at High Point Country Club.Former Masters MVPs Erin Sanders and Mandy Greene presented the 2016 MVP Cup to Jackie King (center).
Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake, – High Point Rowing Club will host the North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships on April 22, 2017, the regatta committee co-chairs Jeanne MacPherson and Mandy Greene are pleased to announce.
This will be the first ever state championship for youth rowing in North Carolina, which is the result of discussions among the head coaches of North Carolina’s premier rowing clubs: Ashevile Youth Rowing, Belmont Rowing Club, Charlotte Youth Rowing, High Point Rowing Club, and Triangle Rowing Club.
High Point’s Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for its central location and the local organizing committee’s proven success at hosting regional rowing events. In 2016 High Point hosted two spring regattas and also the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Oak Hollow Lake.
Festival Park offers spectators unobstructed views of the entire 1,500 meter race course from an elevated location.
Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for the 2017 North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships.
In addition to Asheville, Charlotte, Triangle, Belmont, and High Point, a new crew, Jordan Lake Rowing Club, emerged in 2016 and will also participate in the state championships.
High Point will be racing as HPG Rowing, the umbrella for High Point and Greensboro Crew.
Whilst rowing is one of the oldest sports in America, it is still very new in the Tar Heel state. “With just six youth rowing clubs, North Carolina is still very much in the pioneering phase for this sport,” says High Point club founder Gene Kininmonth. “This presents us with lots of opportunities but also a lot of challenges when folks in our local communities are not familiar with rowing.”
Kininmonth says that in addition to the six teams racing Saturday, there have been perhaps another dozen failed attempts to start rowing clubs in North Carolina in recent years. “So, I am truly in awe of all the coaches running these successful rowing clubs. The state championship will be as much a celebration of rowing as it is a competition.”
The six clubs have entered seventy two boats to race in 35 events for the inaugural NC Youth Rowing State Championships.
Coxswains and coaches will meet with referees at 9am in front of the Command Center.
Racing is slated to begin at 10am.
All rowers, boat trailers, and spectators should enter the lake at Festival Park:
1841 Eastchester Dr, High Point, NC 27265.
Rowing participants are advised to wear flip flops for ‘wet launching’ their boats.
A rowing crew returns to dock at Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake.
Broad River, Augusta, Georgia – High Point Rowing Club concluded its Fall season of boat racing at the Head of the South regatta in Augusta, GA on Saturday, winning a bag of medals in a river race that featured over 500 boats.
Highlights of the regatta for High Point Rowing Club included silver medals for the youth squad in the women’s junior four and eights events, and a bronze medal for the Masters in the mixed fours event.
In other racing, the Club finished 5th out of 13 teams in the Women’s Junior Novice Eight and 5th out of 28 crews in the Men’s Junior Four.
Over 500 crews raced down the Broad River in Auguasta, GA at the Head of the South Regatta.Scott and Katie Jones dominate the river in the Masters mixed double sculls at the 2015 Head of the South.High Point won silver out of 14 crews at the Head of the South in Augusta, GA on November 14. The crew is from left to right Morgan Epling, Victoria Goldin, Maddie Mullins, Junior Ognovich, Aliute Udoka, Emma Lloyd, Shelby Reece, Olivia Corriere, Jaclyn Hronich and coach Allie Davis.
Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC – The largest rowing event ever to take place in North Carolina will be held in High Point this weekend. On Saturday, High Point Rowing Club will welcome 160 boats from across North Carolina and surrounding states to Oak Hollow Lake as host of the 2015 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival.
“We have a wonderful turnout expected for this rowing event in High Point,” says regatta chair Mary Hollingsworth. “Registered boat entries are up over 70% from last year, which is an indication of how participation in rowing has exploded in North Carolina. High Point is now at the epicenter of this remarkable sport.”
The festival has attracted a number of marquis college names this weekend including local favorite High Point University, as well as UNC, NC State and Davidson College.
Also competing are Masters (adult) and youth programs from Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville.
The High Point boys’ varsity crew will be looking to win its first title on Saturday at the 2015 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. The crew finished 3rd in 2014 after receiving a 1 minute penalty for missing a buoy race course marker.
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 Dam by Eastchester Blvd 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.
Over 80 boats will race “Round the Duck” at the 2014 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Saturday.
Racing begins at 10am and runs through 3:30pm. Following the races the duck will return to shore for children’s photographs. Use 3700 Waterview Road, High Point for GPS directions. The regatta is open to the general public and admission is free. Limited free parking is also available. Oak Hollow Lake will be closed to fishing boats during the boat races.
After a stunning vitory in Clemson, SC over the weekend, High Point’s varsity girls crew will battle regional powerhouse Atlanta at the 2015 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Saturday.
MEDIA: PRESS INFORMATION Media Center
Media headquarters for the 2015 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.
High Point, NC – Growth in race entries is expected to explode in October for the 2nd annual High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. Oak Hollow Lake will again be the venue for the rowing regatta, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 3rd, the regatta’s Board of Directors has announced.
The 2015 Regatta is hosted by High Point Rowing Club and will feature open, youth, collegiate, and masters time trial races.
“We look forward to welcoming the best crews from across the Carolinas to compete at the 2015 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival,” says Regatta Chair Mary Hollingsworth. “”The regatta is growing and we expect out of state boat entries to propel the number of total entries from 88 last year to over 140 at this year’s rowing festival.”
The 5,000 meter race course is a particularly exciting one for both rowers and coxswains. The head race begins with a 2,000m straight followed by an almost 180 degree turn to starboard ‘Round the Duck’ and then 500m later there is a 90 degree turn port going into the final straight past the spectator viewing area.
“The City of High Point is very supportive of emerging sports and recreational activities and are a big reason we are seeing this event grow so successfully,” says Hollingsworth.
Racing will commence at 10:00am.
Over 80 boats raced “Round the Duck” at the 2014 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival.
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Clubs from within North Carolina and surrounding states wishing to participate can register crews online at RegattaCentral.
Directions
The 2015 High Point Rowing Festival will take place at Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, NC. For GPS please use the address 3700 Waterview Road, High Point, NC 27265. This will bring you to the gate entrance of the parking lot at the lake where boats will launch. Note this is not a mailing address for the Club.
MEDIA: PRESS INFORMATION Requesting Credentials
Credentials for the 2015 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival are available to all local and national print, radio, television and online media. To obtain credentials, contact Gene Kininmonth at (336) 257-9009. Credentials and parking passes will be mailed out in advance or may be picked up at the gate entrance on arrival.
Media Center
Media headquarters for the 2015 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, as available, race
winners will be brought to the interview area for media access. Limited parking is available for daily print, online and television media (pass required). 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.
Cold winds did not deter High Point’s rowers at the 2015 High Point Regatta. The home town favorites won 11 of 21 boat races they entered. Photo credit Steve Eury.
High Point, NC – Strong winds, cold weather, and choppy water were among the standout memories of the 2015 High Point Regatta. But the race conditions paled in comparison to the races themselves as High Point Rowing Club’s youth and newly formed masters squad earned a swag of medals.
Winds became so strong late in the morning that race organizers were compelled to move the race course away from the dam to the protection of the treeline on the north east side of the lake to maintain safety for the rowers.
“It was a seamless transition,” said Regatta Chair Mary Hollingsworth. “Full marks to our on the water officials for being able to switch the race course in under 5 minutes.”
Other rowing boat races across the eastern seaboard were not so fortunate on Saturday with regattas cancelled due to high winds from Sarasota, FL to Occoquan, VA.
High Point won each of the first six boat races, including the blue ribbon girls and boys First Eights events, and went on to ultimately earn victories in 11 of 21 of the events raced on the day.
Opening the day’s racing was the Masters Maiden Eights event. This boat race was exclusively for rowers engaging in their first ever race and was battled between two High Point crews, most in the first few weeks of rowing. “It was nerve-racking,” said Allison Falls of Jamestown. “You didn’t know what to expect. But we did what we do in practice. We stayed focused and didn’t look around and get distracted. We just tried to do as well as we can.”
Key Race Results:
Girls First Eights
1,500m
1. High Point 5 minutes 36 seconds
2. Triangle 5:47.3
3. Charlotte 6:47
Girls Novice First Eights
1,500m (altered race course)
1. High Point 5 minutes 32 seconds
2. Triangle 5:55
3. Charlotte 6:12
Boys First Eights
1,500m
1. High Point 4 minutes 54 seconds
2. Charlotte 5:02
3. Triangle 5:15
Women’s Division I Masters Eights
1,000 m
1. High Point 3 minutes 51 seconds
2. Cape Fear River 3:56
High Point chief coach Gene Kininmonth said he was delighted with the team’s results across the board. “It was a special day for High Point Rowing Club,” said Kininmonth. “When you look at the performances of the masters crews and the girls squad you have to give a lot of credit to Coach Allie Davis for building these programs.”
“Organizing and running a regatta is hard work. The regatta is bigger this year and I give special thanks to Mary Hollingsworth for organizing all of our volunteers to make it look so easy – which it never is!” said Kininmonth.
Next up for High Point’s youth squad is the Clemson Sprints on April 11 in South Carolina.
Jamestown, NC – High Point Rowing Club will host the 124-C Erg Sprints on February 28, 2015 at its indoor rowing studio at 124-C Wade Street in Jamestown, the team’s board of directors is pleased to announce.
Competition will take place on Concept2 rowing machines in categories for Youth, Collegiate, Cross-Fit, and adult Masters over varying distances. Entry fee is $15 per athlete.
In the morning, Youth and collegiate competitors will race over 2,000 meters and Cross-Fit and Masters will race over 1,000 meters. After lunch break all competitors will have the chance to race a 500 meter sprint.
While rowing is traditionally a team sport, erging competitions place the individual athlete in the spotlight.
Registration for this event will open January 1 on RegattaCentral.
We can’t wait to see you in February in Jamestown!
High Point – Oak Hollow Lake will be the venue for High Point Rowing Club’s 2nd Annual High Point Regatta on Saturday, March 28th, the program’s Board of Directors has announced.
The 2015 High Point Regatta marks the opening day of the boat racing season in North Carolina. Competition will take place between youth, collegiate, and Masters (adult) rowing crews.
The Youth races will feature a duel between High Point and Triangle Rowing Club, the premier rowing program of Raleigh.
Adult races will be between High Point and Cape Fear River Rowing Club, Asheville Rowing Club and possibly Virginia Boat Club of Richmond.
“The City of High Point is very supportive of emerging sports and recreational activities,” says Kininmonth. “Oak Hollow Lake is a tremendous venue for crew and especially for hosting aquatic events and I expect the 2015 High Point Regatta to draw hundreds of competitors and spectators from across the region.”
Racing will commence at 9:00am with a coaches and coxswains meeting at 8am.
Crews will launch from Oak Hollow North Ramp and this location will also provide for the best spectator viewing. Free parking is available. Directions.
Gorgeous silver punch cups are presented to the rowers of each winning crew.
Clemson, South Carolina – High Point Rowing Club produced a strong showing at the Clemson Sprints Regatta on Saturday by earning numerous finals appearances in the premier eights events.
The Clemson Sprints is one of the strongest regional spring competitions, drawing college and youth rowing teams from Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia and the Carolinas.
High Point qualified for the finals in all three of the premier high school eights events, earning bronze in the men’s junior novice eights, and fourth place finishes in both the women’s junior novice and high school varsity eights championships. Novice events are for rowers in their first year of racing. After one year of racing high school rowers must race in varsity events.
High Point also earned a bronze medal finish in the women’s lightweight fours championship. Addy Millsap and Victoria Goldin carry their oars to shore after racing in the women’s novice eights event at Clemson Sprints.
Head coach Gene Kininmonth said he was impressed with the results of the team in Clemson and pointed out that High Point has clearly grown from strength to strength in the past 12 months.
“We saw much stronger competition this week and two take-aways stood out from this event,” said Kininmonth. “Firstly, we have phenomenal athletes on our program – no question. To be finishing top three or four in our events with all the high school programs from so many states here is such a credit to our rowers. The second take away is that if we are going to catch the two or three programs ahead of us we must have an indoor training facility in place for next winter. The elite programs ahead of us this week such as Asheville and Atlanta can either row all though the winter on lakes heated by nuclear power plant cooling systems or they have indoor rowing facilities. We can beat these teams but we clearly need more than three weeks of rowing to do so.”
High Point opened racing at the Clemson Sprints Regatta by winning a bronze medal in the women’s junior lightweight fours event. The crew was comprised of stroke Bethany Brake, Maddie Mullins, Emma Lloyd, Kim Pollard, and coxswain Katharine Komsa. High Point’s crew of cox Morgan Sheehan, stroke Andrew Wright, Colin Howard, Charles York, Adam Alt, Josh Dasnoit, Austin Young, James Bennett, and bow Ryan Kurtiak winning bronze in the junior novice eights at the Clemson Sprints. Abbey Lowdermilk, Maddie Mullins, Bethany Brake, and coxswain Kiki Davis lead High Point’s novice women’s eight to a program best fourth place result at the Clemson Sprints. High Point finished 5th in this event in 2013. In just its first season of varsity competition High Point’s women’s varsity crew earned a 4th place finish at the Clemson Sprints Regatta. The crew was comprised of coxswain Katharine Komsa, stroke Catherine Thompson, Katie Ognovich, Olivia Mangus, Aliute Udoka, Sarah Catto, Morgan Sheehan, Emma Lloyd, and bow Bethany Brake.
High Point, making its debut in the high school women’s Division 1 varsity ranks, shocked Triangle Rowing Club of Raleigh to win the prestigious women’s varsity eights title at the 2014 High Point Regatta on Saturday.
The crew of coxswain Cara Mills, stroke Catherine Thompson, Katie Ognovich, Olivia Mangus, Sarah Catto, Aisinn Antrim, Morgan Sheehan, Emma Lloyd, and bow Bethany Brake led from the outset on the Oak Hollow Lake rowing course to clock a new record time of 5 minutes 1 second for the 1,500m race.
High Point demonstrated its strength in the sport by picking up five of the seven titles in the sudden death duel boat series with Triangle. High Point also won the women’s first and second division novice eights, and the men’s novice eights and fours events.
Entering the regatta as the underdog, High Point quickly saw the momentum shift to its favor once racing started in the Women’s Varsity Eights event and the hometown crew powered to more than a boat length lead over its Raleigh rival. What started out as a Cinderella story soon became a dominant triumph in the closing stages as High Point pushed out to a comfortable win.
“This was High Point’s first attempt in the Division I ranks and to earn a victory against this Raleigh program was a big time win for our program,” said High Point head coach Gene Kininmonth. “The crew found great rhythm out on the water today and truly stepped up.”
Regatta Secretary Mary Horan said the team is very grateful to Triangle for coming to High Point to race this weekend. “We are also very thankful to all of the volunteer supporters including parents and coaches, who brought such enthusiasm to making this event such a special one for all the rowers from both teams.”
Next week the High Point Crew heads to South Carolina for the Clemson Sprints, a regional regatta featuring top high school and collegiate crews from five different states.
High Point opened the 2014 spring season by winning the women’s varsity eight event at the 2014 High Point Regatta. The varsity crew was comprised of coxswain Cara Mills, stroke Catherine Thompson, Katie Ognovich, Olivia Mangus, Sarah Catto, Aislinn Antrim, Morgan Sheehan, Ema Lloyd and bow Bethany Brake.High Point’s novice crew of coxswain Kiana Davis, stroke Bethany Brake, Maddie Mullins, Abbey Lowdermilk, Anna Kareis, Cheyenne DeLaney, Kim Pollard, Hayden Davis, and bow Katherine Komsa led from wire to wire at the 2014 High Point Regatta.Gorgeous silver punch cups were presented to the rowers of each winning crew.High Point oarsmen Andrew Wright, Colin Howard, Josh Dasnoit, Adam Alt, and coxswain Will Wright won the Novice Fours event at the 2014 High Point Regatta and then teamed up with James Bennett, Henderson Beck, Austin Young, and Ryan Kurtiak to win the Novice Eights title.Triangle just nips High Point at the finish post in the Middle School/3rd Novice Crew Exhibition event. High Point was represented by coxswain Kaylie Mills, stroke Lewis Crotts, Gabby Reenstra, Crosby Howard, Kyle Koval, Allie Augustin, Nick Heflin, Paige Shields and bow Lindsay York.High Point’s crew of coxswain Aine Mills, stroke Alice Nafekh, Addy Millsap, Victoria Goldin, Rebecka Lassiter, Junior Ognovich, Hadley Copeland, Kate Wenger, and Margaux Blanchard won the Second Division Novice Eights title in a photo finish with Triangle Rowing Club.
