Oak Hollow Lake, – Hundreds of rowers came from clubs and universities across North Carolina to row ‘Round the Duck’ at the 2014 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Saturday.
The duck is a two and a half story inflated rubber duck imported from overseas just for the race.
All up, 87 crews representing 12 clubs and colleges raced the inaugural regatta hosted by High Point Rowing Club. Crews were unable to row round the duck as expected however, due to a strong breeze that made mooring the duck in the middle of the lake next to impossible.
“We gave it our best effort to get the duck in place on the race course at Oak Hollow Lake,” said High Point coach Gene Kininmonth. “However, with the breeze as brisk as it was we risked losing it over the dam. Other than that, the regatta was a brilliant day for rowing in North Carolina and I am so grateful to our regatta chair, Mary Hollingsworth, and her wonderful team of volunteers who made it all possible.”
In the youth blue ribbon eights events, Triangle Rowing Club of Raleigh won the varsity boys event while the girls varsity race was won by High Point Rowing Club. High Point also won the Masters Mixed 8, Mixed Youth 4, Women’s Lightweight 4, Men’s Youth Novice 8 and the Middle School Exhibition 8.
The middle school crew celebrated with joy when their winning result was announced. The triumph meant the crew had turned the tables on Triangle RC, which had beaten them by two boat lengths the previous week at Beaverdam.
High Point University made its mark in collegiate boat racing winning the Women’s Varsity Collegiate 8, Men’s Collegiate 2, Men’s Collegiate 4 and Women’s Collegiate Varsity 4 events.
High Point Autumn Rowing Festival in the Media
Rowing a new way of life in the South – by Jeri Rowe
Rowers make big splash at Oak Hollow – Greer Smith
High Point Rowing Festival set for Saturday – Greer Smith
High Point Autumn Rowing Festival at Oak Hollow Lake – Laura Greene
