Al Urquia Regatta

26 April 2008

 

On another warm summer-like day, where the weather gods held off the afternoon thunderstorms until after the regatta, Woodson entered ten boats.  Your team achieved one First, two Second and two Third Place finishes (does not include Heat places), bringing your team’s total accomplishments to twenty-nine of forty four boats racing in the top three of their events. 

 

The morning began with the Men’s and Women’s First Fours rowing well but not advancing to Finals.  The excitement picked up with the Men’s and Women’s First Eights placing first and second respectively in their heats and again both advancing to Finals.  In Finals the Men’s First placed Third and the Women’s First placed Fourth.

 

The Men’s Light Eight, after a good start, fell behind in their event placing Second.  Excitement picked up again with the Women’s Second Eight rowing through two boats in the final sprint to place first in their heat and advancing to Finals.  In Finals they placed Fourth.

 

The excitement continued after the break with the Fourth/Novice Women’s Eight rowing to Second Place and the freshmen, looking like an upper-boat, rowing to a very satisfying First Place in the Freshman Men’s Eight Final One.  The Men’s Second Four, although rowing well, did not place.  Our day was capped off with the Fourth/Novice Men’s Eight rowing to a Third Place,

 

Next week the Championship series begins.  Championships will begin with the Ted Phoenix Novice Championships followed by the VHSL Championships.  Performance at these two regattas will determine eligibility for the Scholastic Rowing Association Championships in Oakridge, TN.  Qualifications are as follows:

  • First Varsity Eights: Top six in state (make Finals)
  • Second Varsity Eights: Top three in state (third in Finals)
  • Junior Eights:  Top four in state (qualification unclear – use different categories than NCASRA)
  • Lightweight Eights:  Top three in state (third in Finals)
  • First Fours:  Top six in state (make Finals)
  • Junior Fours:  Top four (fourth in Finals)
  • Freshmen Eights: Top three in the state (third in Finals)

 

More information may be found at http://www.sraa.net.

 

Entries for the Ted Phoenix, as of this writing, are:

  • Men’s Freshman Eight
  • Men’s Fourth/Novice Eight
  • Women’s Freshman Eight