Mystic Coastweeks 2008

This year's Mystic Coastweeks Regatta (Sunday, September 14th, 2008) saw a number of NHRC victories, including reclaimings of several victories from last year. Also on hand for a meet-and-greet opportunity were Olympic rowers Anna Cummins and Michelle Guerette. Both had raced the previous day in the Battle Between the Bridges, the first regatta in the annual Mystic Weekend of Rowing.

For more details, visit the MWOR web site. To view professional photos taken of the crews rowing in both events, see Thomas Photographic. Full results are posted on Ronin Racing's results page. Without any further ado, here is a synopsis of the day in pictures (credit for the majority of these photos goes to Johanna). Please feel free to post comments if you would like to add anything to this story.

NHRC open mens quad consisting of Huskes, Gorman, Cremin, and Williams crossing the finish line for first place.


Huskes et al quad returning to the float.

One of two womens open fours comprised of recent NHRC Learn to Row program graduates crossing the line.

The same four approaching the float.






The other NHRC womens open four (sportin' them fancy NHRC nails) returning to the float after the race.




A quick hot-seating with the men of the NHRC open 4+...

...and the MO4+ awaits the okay to paddle upstream.

Lisa and Steve launching their double for the mixed masters 2x event. Lisa and Steve took second place in this race. Earlier that day, Steve won the mens veterans 1x, while Lisa and Sara won their womens open 2x event. Congratulations to all of you!

Mark and Sara returning to the float after taking second place in the mixed open 2x. Nice work!

NHRC mens open 4+ crossing the line.

Here's the NHRC mixed open 4+, consisting also of four LTR 2008 graduates. This boat finished first place, beating three other fours. Not bad at all for a first race, huh? Way to go, you guys!

Mens open 4+ waiting to be called to the float.

NHRC mixed open 4+ approaching the float.

Paul and Dianne after completing their mixed 2x event. Earlier, Dianne took 3rd place in the womens master 1x, while Paul (with Mark) took 3rd place in the mens open 2x.
Hanging out on the lawn behind the Seaman's Inne...

...waiting for those race results.

The Schofields. Susan took a silver medal earlier in her womens open 1x event. Nice work, you two!

Sue and Helma meeting with Olympian sculler Michelle Guerette. She is wearing her silver medal from this past summer's Olympic games in Beijing.

John Sword and Dick Fiske, paddling out to the starting area for their mens veterans 2x event.

Susan in her single.

A nice shot of the womans open four (the self-proclaimed Housy Floozies), with Donna stroking and Jay coxing.

Floozie comrades sport their bow number...

...while NHRC Nails meet Beijing Silver.

Good racing everyone! Let's do this again next year!

~~FIN~~

The Day Before Mystic (2008)

This year's Mystic Coastweeks regatta (September 14th, 2008) saw the usual high level of participation by NHRC crews, including three fours raced by graduates from this past summer's Learn To Row Class.

I stopped by the boat house the afternoon before Coastweeks to help with final loading of the trailer, and, at the request of Coach Nich Lee, to give the LTR grads a quick course in de-rigging boats and proper trailer tie-down techniques. John and Betty Sword were on hand to transport the trailer up to Mystic that night, and Bob Nash and Carroll Brooke also came by to help out.




Mark Schofield car-toping several singles







The trailer partially loaded with small boats.


Dianne's single strapped on upper rack.








The NHRC trailer team uses only the most state-of-the-art, time-proven, safety-oriented strapping and slinging techniques!



Meanwhile, the three graduate crews went out on the water for some final practice pieces under the auspices of Dean Poniros. Once they were off the water, we got their boats loaded and the trailer secured, and John and Betty were on their way.


LTR four going out on the water for a late afernoon practice session with Dean.





Another LTR four setting up to practice.







I then decided to hang out on the dock for a while with the few remaining folks, and Ellen showed me the blue and green "NHRC tips" painted on her nails! All of her boatmates sported the same. Her crew was not only going to row well at Coastweeks -- they were also determined to push regatta haute couture to a whole new level. Well done, ladies!

Ellen demonstrates the latest fall fashion statement -- NHRC Nails! First the right hand...








.. and now the left!

Learn to Row Update

Susan reports that volunteer coxes are needed for the remaining LTR classes. Please email or phone Susan at schofieldse@cdm.com or 203 262 6633, respectively if you can volunteer for any of the following:

Monday, Sept 1 – 1 cox
Wednesday, Sept 3 – 2 coxes
Thursday, Sept 4 – 2 coxes

Monday, Sept 8 – 3 coxes
Wednesday, Sept 10 – 2 coxes

Saturday, Sept 13 – 3 coxes (hopefully these can be coxes who will also cox the LTR boats at Mystic)
Sunday, Sept 14 – TBD, at Coasts Week Regatta

As always, Susan would like to thank everyone in advance for their volunteer services to LTR – your efforts are very much appreciated!

Learn To Row Update

The July Learn to Row (LTR) class just recently completed. Coordinated largely by Susan Schofield (along with assistance from many others), and expert coaching provided by Nich Lee and Dean Poniros, the July class was a stellar success. Two initial days of rowing in the Yale barge pushed the LTR students' progress ahead quickly, and by their second week, they were already rowing by sixes.


LTR students launching their eights

This year's class consisted of twenty-one students, comprised of thirteen women and eight men. According to Susan, many of the LTR students were already active in a number of non-rowing activities, including long-distance swimming, equestrian events, running, yoga, climbing, and biking. One is a top Connecticut high school distance runner; another is a former New England high school champion for hammer and shot put, who went on to compete in those events at Yale. Yet another won his age group in that recent triathlon that caused some interesting turbulence in the water near the Indian Well beach!


LTR Volunteers Susan and Johanna; Coach Nich giving instruction

As a follow-on program, NHRC has scheduled LTR II, open only to participants in the July program. Currently, eighteen of the July students have signed up. Once again, we will need volunteer coxes from the club. For the first 2 weeks of LTR II, the crews will be rowing in eights to hone their skills, and then will switch to fours to train for the Coastweeks Regatta in Mystic (September 14). So be ready to loudly cheer them to victory! Dean Poniros will do most of the coaching for LTR II, with assistance from Nich prior to the regatta.


An LTR eight on the water

Here are details for the LTR II classes. Please email Susan Schofield (schofieldse@cdm.com) if you can volunteer to cox; or, sign up on Susan's poster in the boathouse.

DATES: August 13 – September 11
DAYS of WEEK: Monday (except the first week), Wednesday, Thursday (3 days per week)
TIME: 5:30 – 7 pm

More photos of July 2008 LTR:

Additional LTR photos are posted here (not sure whom to attribute these to -- please let me know!)

July LTR completed on July 31st with a 1000m race and barbeque -- photo album posted here (thanks to Kim Theleen).

A QuickTime video from the race is posted here.