Hoping to build on last weekend’s racing success in Seattle, the Burton Beach juniors were looking forward to a trip to south Tacoma and the American Lake Fall Classic — and they accomplished their goal with some very good performances on a beautiful autumn day.

Leading the way once again was veteran lightweight rower Mabel Moses, who won the junior single by over a minute and then returned to the water to stroke the girls’ varsity quad, posting a time that was over two minutes ahead of its nearest rivals.

BBRC’s double-gold medalists on the weekend included Moses, Kate Kelly, Ros Bellscheidt, Olivia White, Ava Lorentzen and novice rower Bronwyn White, who paired with Olivia — no relation— in the girls’ varsity double and then sat in the bow seat of the winning JV girls’ coxed four, joined by Bellsheidt, Ruta Milewski and novice Jewel Wass de Csege. The girls’ varsity four (Gabbie Graves, Kelly, Bellsheidt, Lorentzen and coxswain Joe Barnes) started the day with a win, and were awarded a special plaque for their efforts in the sponsored race.

Ninth-grader Brian DeLoach had a great day, competing in three different boats, and coming home with gold, silver and bronze medals.

A really strong row by DeLoach and novice rower Barnes saw them take a solid second place against much bigger rowers in the junior JV boys’ double sculls in a field of seven, bested only by a crew from Oregon Unlimited. And an improving performance by the young junior boys’ quad of Jordon Rutschow, novice Davis Kelly, Willem Brown and DeLoach saw BBRC’s entry finishing in third place.

Coach Richard Parr was encouraged by the young club’s results and had praise for the event.

“Commencement Bay Rowing Club put on a great regatta that was really well organized,” he said. “And it was a nice opportunity for the BBRC rowers to gain some good racing experience against a pretty solid field of competition, with 23 different clubs represented. It was a fun day.”

— Sarah Low, Beachcomber reporter and wife of coach Richard Parr