The Wet Ones — coxswain Todd Warren, Penny Warren, Julia Ruth, Terri-Lynn Loder, Vickie MacDonald, Tracy Wilton and Wandai Mungoshi — posted a final time of 7:35.94 seconds to claim top honours in a showdown for women’s gold against the River Rookies — coxswain George White, Karen Brake, Shelley Garland, Kirsten Miller, Mandy Hulan, Toni Drover and Stephanie Hobbs — who posted a final clocking of 7:49.37.
Based on pre-regatta time trials, the six women boats competing in the event were divided into two groups. The two groups completed a mini round-robin competition and then the team from each group with the second fastest times raced for bronze while the team from each group with the best total race times squared off for gold.
The Grenfell Grunts — coxswain Todd Warren, Dara Walsh, Susan Pottle, Joan Pike, Sonya Corbin-Dwyer, Holly Pike and Golda Randell — posted a time of 7:59.12 to claim the bronze medal against Melaleuca, who posted a time of 8:12.06.
With only two teams in the men’s division, regatta organizers opted to have a head-to-head race between the Young Bloods and Grenfell. The Grenfell men’s squad consisting of coxswain George White, Trevor Ivany, Steve Hardy, Paul Curtis, Sid Harris, Kyle Rodway and Gerard Curtis posted a time of 7:10.56 to claim bragging rights. The Young Bloods crew (7:14.38) is comprised of coxswain Todd Warren, Robert Wilton, Allen Morey, Brandon Tucker, David Loder, Jeff Griffin and Mark Skanes.
“The day was awesome. We couldn’t have asked for better,” regatta spokesperson Melissa Drover said in an interview Sunday.
“The weather was great and we had so many people down to watch the races. If you came down to the dock at 8 a.m. Saturday morning you would see dedication. All the teams were there helping set up for the day.”
Drover is excited about the future of the sport in the area.
“We can’t wait for next year to do it all over again,” she said. “Even though the regatta is over we are still going to be rowing up until the end of September. The club members are so excited to have two boats in the water again.”
