High Point Rowing Club celebrated its second birthday this weekend with Class Races, which also included the club’s Masters rowers, followed by a potluck brunch for rowers, families and friends at Oak Hollow Lake.
The club had much to celebrate after two years, with the addition of the Masters program for adults and a new program for Middle School students from public and private schools across the Triad.
Six eight man crews lined the start of the race course at Skeet Club Bridge to race the full extent of Oak Hollow Lake to Johnson Street Bridge. High School crews were assigned line-ups by class year and the Masters were assigned boats by experience level.
In a hard fought battle that played out from start to finish, the Junior Crew led by Victoria Goldin, were finally able to pull away from the Seniors in the closing stages to win by 10 seconds.
Class Races – Final Results:
Juniors 12 minutes 45 seconds
Seniors 12 minutes 55 seconds
Juniors ‘B’ 14 minutes 13 seconds
Frosh/Soph 14 minutes 42 seconds
Masters ‘A’ 17 minutes 18 seconds
Masters ‘B’ 19 minutes 07 seconds
Following the races Club founder Gene Kininmonth spoke about the gift of the sport of rowing. “Simplicity. The pursuit of boat speed. The production of the very fastest crews we can assign. The building year on year of a program. And in the process learning how to live life to the fullest and forging friendships among crewmates that will last a lifetime. To me, this is what the sport of rowing is all about,” said Kininmonth.
“We have much to celebrate this morning on this two year anniversary,” said Kininmonth. “Thank you for making this such a wonderful club. Cheers to each of you for making this past year so incredible and may there be many more years for High Point Rowing Club.”
Next up for the club is the season opening race at the Carolina Chase Regatta in Raleigh on September 27.
The following week the club will host the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival at Oak Hollow Lake on October 4th. Regatta Chair Mary Horan is expecting over 70 boats to enter from colleges and clubs across the state.
Boys and girls attending any Triad area school (Yrs 7 -12) are currently eligible to join the team. No experience necessary. Adults will have the opportunity to join a learn to row class in October. Email contact@highpointrowing.com or see the Registration page for details.
