Photo and Story by Bryan Kitch
The 2011 head racing season is rolling, with action across North America and overseas, as the Pairs Head of the River, Navy Day Regatta, Head of the Rock, and the Schuylerskiff North America all took place over the weekend. The Pairs Head, held on the Tideway in London, England, featured a number of internationals racing in several different boat categories. The overall winners were Adam Freeman-Pask (who represented Great Britain in the LM1x in Bled) and Jamie Kirkwood, taking first place in the Elite M2x in a time of 11:36. In the Mixed Elite 2x, Rowing News interviewees Hester Goodsell (bronze in the LW2x in Bled) and Rob Williams (bronze in the LM4- at Worlds this year) teamed up to win the event in 12:03.
The Navy Day Regatta saw dominant performances from the Navy men and women, who took the top spots in the collegiate/open eights, while Penn's men's lightweight team showed some life, winning the men's open pairs event, as well as the collegiate lightweight fours ahead of Navy. The Midshipmen were able to reverse this result in the lightweight eight, however, taking the top two spots ahead of Delaware and Penn. The Head of the Rock was dominated by the Wisconsin women, who racked up the most total points of the day to take home the team trophy despite the absence of the men's squad. On the men's side, Michigan showed that the Wolverine program is once again healthy, nearly accomplishing the same feat as the Badger women, but falling just short for second place overall in team points.
The Schuylerskiff North America, held in Schuylerville, NY, was a preview of many of the elite scullers who will be competing at the 47th Head Of The Charles Regatta on the weekend of October 22nd, with last year's Charles winner, Michael Sivigny, taking first in the men's elite/open single, followed by 2011 U.S. National Teamer Jon Winter. On the women's side, former U.S. National Teamer Meghan Sarbanis took first place in the women's elite/open single.