Sports
'Merrimack Valley Rowers Will Compete In Head Of The Charles'
Youth and adult athletes alike will compete this weekend in events ranging from single person shells to the eight plus coxswain.
From Essex Rowing: Rowers representing clubs throughout the Merrimack Valley will compete alongside top athletes from around the world at the 53rdHead of the Charles® Regatta Oct. 21 - 22. The race is expected to draw tens of thousands of competitors and spectators to the shores of the Charles River in Cambridge, MA.
Youth and adult athletes alike will compete this weekend in events ranging from single person shells to the eight plus coxswain. While crews start the race one at a time, they can pass each other along the three-mile course and winners are determined by time.
Five high school athletes from Methuen and Newburyport are especially excited to compete in the historic race this weekend. Julia Carter (12th grade, Methuen High School), Eleanor Fremont-Smith (12th grade, Central Catholic High School), Gwendolyn Powell (12th grade, Presentation of Mary Academy), Eva Schneider (10thgrade, Methuen High School) and Victoria Tardugno (9th grade, Methuen High School) will represent Essex Rowing Club in the Women’s Youth 4+ event on Sunday morning.
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“The dedication and rigor it takes to be part of a crew team is unfathomable to most people,” says Tardugno, who will race in the Head of the Charles® for the second year in a row. “I feel honored to have the opportunity to race this weekend with such an amazing team.”
Athletes from Essex Rowing’s Masters team will also compete in various events throughout the weekend. Other local rowing clubs with entries in this year’s regatta include Greater Lawrence Rowing (Lawrence, MA), Independence Rowing Club (Nashua, NH) and the Merrimack River Rowing Association (Lowell, MA).
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The Head of the Charles® Regatta kicks off the second half of Essex Rowing Club’s fall racing season. The club will compete in the Head of the Fish Regatta in Saratoga Springs Oct. 28 – 29 before hosting the Merrimack Chase on Nov. 4 which will be open to the community for viewing.
Essex Rowing is a not-for-profit community organization serving Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire and offers numerous introductory, recreational and competitive programs for ages 11 to 70+. Community members that are interested in getting involved are encouraged to visit www.essexrowing.org for more details.
Image Courtesy of Essex Rowing