Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC – Race directors have received a record number of boat entries from 19 rowing clubs from across the southeast region of the United States for the upcoming 2018 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Saturday.
At the close of entries 157 boats were entered to race the winding 5,000 meter race course on Oak Hollow Lake. Last year the event received 153 entries.
“This is an exquisitely visual day at the lake” says race director Erin Sanders. “I would encourage all High Pointers to come out and spend a few hours at the lake to see this wonderful parade of boats on Saturday.”
The regatta is open to the general public and admission is free. Parking is $5.
“We will have 500 rowers and expect upward of 2,000 spectators at Oak Hollow Lake this weekend,” says High Point Rowing Club founder Gene Kininmonth. “Participation in rowing continues to explode in North Carolina and we are so fortunate that High Point is at the epicenter of this remarkable growth.”
The festival has attracted a number of marquis college names this year, including local favorite High Point University, as well as UNC, NC State, Wake Forest, and Davidson College.
Also competing are Masters (adult) and youth rowing programs from across the state.
While the event is mostly a North Carolina affair, rowers are coming to High Point from as far as Washington, DC for the regatta.
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 Festival Park. 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 9:00am and runs through 3:30pm. Spectators can watch from Festival Park off Eastchester Drive and Oak Hollow Marina off Centennial Drive. 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</strong>
<strong>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.
