CINCINNATI JUNIORS DOMINATE FIVE RIVERS FALL REGATTA

October 2000

Following a strong showing at the recent Head of the Cuyahoga regatta in Cleveland, Toledo St John’s Jesuit HS crew coach Rod McElroy felt his varsity eight might have a chance of knocking CJRC off the winners pedestal. However coach Todd Jesdale’s Cincinnati Juniors were not about to give up, and managed a seven second win over their Toledo neighbors. CJRC boats also finished third and fourth with two Columbus Upper Arlington and one Westerville Crew boats in hot pursuit. The youth men’s eight race was an exciting finale to the Greater Dayton RA’s fifth annual Fall Regatta. Elapsed times on the 2000-meter course were slowed by a head wind, however, the waters of the Miami River remained calm all day. There was also high drama in the women’s eight racing. The CJRC entry, stroked by World Junior gold medallist Deborah Dryer, hung on for a 4 second win over two Toledo Notre Dame Academy crews.

In the four oared shell races, Cincinnati dominated the women’s event taking all three medals. Upper Arlington was sandwiched for a silver medal between two CJRC crews in the men’s event. Wheaton College brought two four oared shells to the regatta, and kept them on the water almost all afternoon. Their efforts were rewarded with gold and silver medals in the men and women’s novice and open fours, which was very efficient use of equipment and a haul of medals for the Illinois rowers. Upstart program Denison University tried to use the same “efficiency” tactic in the eight competition as Wheaton used in the fours. The Denison crews were doing pretty well with their plan, winning the men and women’s novice and women’s open eights. The plan suffered a bit when Denison’s varsity men ran into the University of Dayton’s crew. Denison won the event, but was followed closely by four UD shells.

Ecorse Rowing Club dominated the sculling field, with gold medal performances in the men’s master and open single, and women’s master double. Host club Greater Dayton RA struck gold in the women’s master, men’s junior and open double sculls. The GDRA junior women found the championship crew from Westerville a bit too fast and GDRA had to settle for the silver in the junior women’s double.

Although one hundred seventy seven boats competed, sunny skies and flat water helped regatta officials remain on schedule throughout the day. The regatta’s first race began at 11 am and the last race was at 4 pm, which allowed most competitors to avoid expensive overnight stays both before and after the race. Mark your 2001 October calendar and plan to attend the 6th annual Five Rivers Fall Regatta in Dayton, Ohio.