The 50th anniversary of the largest rowing regatta in the world, the Head of the Charles, Vashon’s junior, masters and recent alumni crew members posted best-ever results.
Starting in a wide and exposed tidal basin, the course heads up river, increasingly twisty and narrowing as it goes. With seven multi-arch bridges hanging like slalom gates to navigate, the challenges mount for the coxswains, while the spectating improves all the way to the finish line. More than 11,000 rowers finished the 5 kilometer race during last weekend’s two-day event.
Two junior and two masters boats were entered in this year’s regatta. The masters rowed on Saturday with each boat gaining a respectable middle of the pack finish. The women’s four consisted of Kim Goforth, Marilyn Kleyn, Nancy Foster-Moss, Debbie Jackson and Lisa Huggenvik (cox). The men’s four featured Bob Horsley Ed Zapel, Mark McKallor, Colby Atwood and junior coxswain Olivia Mackey. There were more than 50 boats entered in each of these master events.
Although Vashon had entered more junior boats in the regatta lottery, only two were selected, the men’s single and the women’s eight. This year is only the second time that Vashon has sent its junior crew to this regatta and a finish in the top third is considered an achievement. On Sunday’s course that saw an increase in wind from the day before, Liam McConnell led off the day with an 8:30 a.m. start.
By the time the race was over McConnell had secured a 10th place (out of 34) finish — the highest finish ever for a Vashon boat. As McConnell approached the Elliot bridge, the last bridge and about 500 meters from the finish, the announcer identified him, his Vashon affiliation and that it was his first time at the Charles regatta. Then he said, “Welcome to Boston, Liam,” and the crowd on and around the bridge and nearby stands erupted in cheers and applause.
The women’s eight started 79th and steadily overtook slower boats along the course. This low starting order had only to do with Vashon rowing in last year’s event — not the expectations for the outcome. Nevertheless it is tricky to pass along this course and definitely not an advantage to start that far back in the pack. When the final times were tallied, the women’s crew came in ninth out of 85 entrants, meaning that McConnell’s record finish lasted for only about five hours.
Vashon’s small program does not usually compete favorably in eights events, but this group of young women showed what the team can do on an international stage. Team members were Riley Lynch, Rhea Enzian, Kirsten Girard, Kalie Heffernan, Maddie McEachern, Caprial Turner, Shannon Lipe, Katrina Heffernan and Ally Clevenger (cox).
Summing up the weekend, Coach Richard Parr praised those who had competed.
“Again, Vashon’s junior rowers were great representatives of our little island both on and off the water. They are remarkable young people. I’m very proud of them for what are some pretty special accomplishments in North America’s toughest race,” he said.
Several recent Vashon junior program alumni also turned in solid performances on the Charles this past weekend. Jacob Plihal rowed in the Northeastern University club eight, which won its event. Tate Gill rowed for the Boston University boat in the same event and placed seventh. Olivia Sayvetz coxed the Princeton women’s eight to a 10th-place finish in the Women’s Championship eight race, the premier event for Women at this regatta. Alaina Williams rowed for Northeastern in this same championship race and placed 12th. Taegan Lynch stroked her University of Miami shell to a 12th-place finish in the women’s championship four race.
— Pat Call is the father of a junior rower.
