Megunticook Rowing Fall Regatta Recap: Charles and Merrimack river regattas, and Saratoga Lake
Megunticook Rowing has had an active fall season, participating in multiple regattas in New England. A summary, courtesy of Executive Director and Head Coach Olivia Goodwin-Cook follows:
PEMBROKE, NH - On Sunday, October 15, Megunticook Rowing competed at the New Hampshire Championships George Dirth Regatta on the Merrimack River hosted by Amoskeag Rowing.
In the morning for our first event of the day, masters rower Amy Mitchell competed in the Women’s Senior Masters 1x where she finished second in 22:44.5 minutes.
Next up we had our varsity girls fours. Our girls varsity four coxed by senior Sofia Howell competed in the Womens Jr 4+ A Flight where they finished 14th in 19:07.4. Our girls second varsity four coxed by senior Maggie Blood competed in the Womens Jr 4+ B, C & D Flight where they had a top ten finish in 9th in 20:03.3 and this was without a cox box! Their microphone and speaker system had technical difficulties and Blood had to yell the entire race.
In the afternoon our boys double competed in the Mens Jr 2x where we had another top ten finish in 9th place in 19:08.0. This was this pair's first time racing the double. Next our boys coxed quad also coxed by Howell competed in the Mens Jr 4x where they finished 7th in 18:35.2, just a second behind our host and competition Amoskeag Rowing.
In the second to last event of the day our womens coxed quad coxed by Head Coach Olivia Goodwin-Cook competed in the Womens Open/Mstr/Vet 4x where they finished 11th in 20.01.8.
Megunticook Rowing NH Champs Lineups:
Womens Senior Masters 1x: Amy Mitchell
Womens Jr 4+ A Flight: C: Sofia Howell; S: Adella Brainerd; 3: Flora Gurdon; 2: Natalie Gill; B: Laura Riordan
Womens Jr 4+ B, C & D Flight: C: Maggie Blood; S: Leona Bournival; 3: Ruth Weiss; 2: Tucker Beynart; B: Lucy Morgenstern
Mens Jr 2x: S: Robert Wickenden; B: Jake Roux
Mens Jr 4x: C: Sofia Howell; S: Tristan Strong; 3: Tanner Carson; 2: Declan Buchanan; B: Connor Howland
Womens Open/Mstr/Vet 4x: C: Olivia Goodwin-Cook; S: Sarah Kuhn; 3: Marnie Read; 2: Leslie Forand; B: Meredith Currier
BOSTON, MA: On Friday, October 20 through Sunday, October 22, Megunticook Rowing competed in Head of the Charles on the hardest course in the world, the Charles River. Many say this is a coxswain's race because of all of the twists and turns.
On Friday morning in the Women's Senior-Veteran/Grand Veteran Singles, Cathy Kemper from San Diego Rowing Club finished 6th in 25:02.55 minutes and finished 2nd in her age group.
On Saturday morning in the Men’s Alumni Eights, Megunticook Rowing alumni Drew West with the Purple Calf Boat Club finished 10th in 15:23.01. In the Women’s Alumnae Eights, another Megunticook Rowing alumnae Abby Chamberlin with Ever Green finished 18th in 17:40.05.
On Saturday afternoon in the Mixed Para Inclusion Fours, Executive Director and Head Coach Olivia Goodwin-Cook coxed the boat from West Side Rowing Club and finished 3rd in 22:51.91.
On Sunday morning in the Directors’ Challenge Women's Quads, Goodwin-Cook coxed our womens quad and finished 34th in 24:09.83. Also in this event Megunticook Rowing had a composite boat of Polly Saltonstall and Stephanie Lash with two other rowers from Bair Island Aquatic Center. They finished 18th in 20:01.85.
On Sunday afternoon in the Women’s Collegiate Eights, two of our other Megunticook Rowing alumnae and coaches battled it out against each other on the river. Alley Johnson at 7 seat with Trinity finished 3rd in 18:07.36 and Maggie Gill at stroke seat with Bates finished 7th in 18:25.53. In the second to last event of the day in the Directors’ Challenge Mixed Quad, Goodwin-Cook once again coxed our mixed quad and finished 30th in 21:56.89. This time included a penalty after being hit in the last five strokes of the race, which the team will argue was not their fault…
Megunticook Rowing Head of the Charles Lineups:
Directors’ Challenge Women's Quads: C: Olivia Goodwin-Cook; S: Sarah Kuhn; 3: Marnie Read; 2: Leslie Forand; B: Meredith Currier
Directors’ Challenge Mixed Quad: C: Olivia Goodwin-Cook; S: Iselin Bratz; 3: Amy Mitchell; 2: Evan Waters; B: Devin Guptill
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - On Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29, Megunticook Rowing competed in the Head of the Fish on Fish Creek on Saratoga Lake.
On Saturday afternoon in the Womens Open Double, Iselin Bratz and Meredith Currier finished 6th, beating Riverside, Bratz’s home club in Boston, MA.
On Sunday afternoon in the Girls Varsity Double, Flora Gurdon and Laura Riordan competed for their first time together in a double and finished 27th out of forty-five other boats.
Megunticook Rowing will now take a break from competition and transition into their indoor winter season.
Olivia Goodwin-Cook is executive director and head coach of Megunticook Rowing
