Chattanooga, TN – High Point Rowing Club travelled to the Tennessee River this past weekend to race at the 2012 Head of the Hooch Regatta.
1,600+ crews comprised of high school, college and masters rowing teams are started sequentially at the Hooch and race against the clock over a 5000 meter winding river course. High Point entered crews in the women’s masters eight, the women’s youth novice eight, and the women’s youth novice four events.
The boat race for the women’s masters eight crew, comprised of mothers of the High Point scholastic youth program, was a philanthropic event called “Row for the Cure” in support the Susan Komen Foundation’s fight against breast cancer.
The masters crew opened the morning and did not disappoint. Racing in blazing pink T-shirts in support of the Row for the Cure, High Point finished the 5,000 meter river course with a time of 26 minutes 20 seconds.
Next up for High Point was the women’s youth novice eight crew. Eager to race a time over the course faster than their mothers’ the crew launched early and looked to be in wonderful form as they gracefully rowed their sleek shell up the Tennessee River in front of a crowd numbering over 20,000. Tragically, illness struck one member of the crew just moments from the starting line which required immediate treatment. Unable to race, the crew returned to shore (Note, the crew member received treatment at the course and has returned to good health).
The final race for High Point Rowing Club at the Head of the Hooch was the women’s novice four event in which 37 crews battled it out on the river for the honor of having the fastest time. High Point’s crew was comprised of bowman Sarah Catto, Catherine Thompson, Katie Ognovich, stroke Emma Lloyd and steered by Kristin Llloyd. The crew finished the course in 22nd place with a time of 24 minutes 1 second.
High Point rowing coach Gene Kininmonth said the result was a very positive sign for the future of the team. “We don’t own a 4-man shell and so we rented a boat from Washington University. Some of this crew had never rowed in a 4-man shell before this weekend and to finish in the middle of the field is a great performance. Factor in that the team is only six weeks old and I think this weekend across the board was one every member of this team can be very proud of. And I am very proud of them.”
Next up for High Point Rowing Club is an Exhibition Row this week for Greensboro city officials at Lake Brandt.
