Island rowers came up big once again at the Annual Covered Bridge Regatta in Oregon on April 9 and 10.

The weekend event took place on Dexter Lake outside of Eugene, and consisted of a two-kilometer course with the Lowell Covered Bridge serving as the backdrop.

The Burton Beach Rowing Club (BBRC) took home three golds, five silvers and two bronze medals during the event that featured 35 clubs from Washington, Oregon, California and Utah.

“It was great to be on the road again for our first true traveling regatta since the pandemic,” said BBRC Coach Richard Parr. “Our aim is always to have fun and row well – medals are just a bonus.”

The BBRC won their first gold medal of the day with the Women’s Jr. Novice Coxed Four. The four was coxed by Caroline Barnes, with Haley Hopper, Taylor Huffman, Molly McMillan and Kaylee Radford rowing to victory.

The second gold came with the Women’s Jr. Novice Coxed Quad. Barnes coxed again, with Huffman, Sasha Thompson, Lilly Johnson and Ella Odegard rounding out the boat.

The Men’s Jr. Novice Coxed Quad also won gold. Barnes took her third gold medal of the day as the coxswain with Zack Merrigan, Forest Macnab, Nate Wass de Czege and Grant Gonter rowing to victory.

Saturday’s weather was sunny with winds playing a factor in some of the races, especially later in the day.

On Sunday, the weather turned cold with rain throughout the day, as the winter storm that impacted the country started to settle in.

The club took silver medals in the U19 Men’s Single, U17 Men’s Single, U17 Men’s Double, Women’s Jr. JV Coxed Four and the Men’s U19 Jr. Double.

The club took bronze in the U17 Women’s Jr. Double and the Men’s U19 Jr. Double.

A small group from the club will travel to Brentwood on Vancouver Island in the final week of April, before all attention shifts to NW Regionals, hosted in late May in Vancouver, Washington.