Ninth Regatta to attract crew, river fans

"Looking at the quality of competing schools and the number of universities expected to be on hand, this year's regatta could be the best yet," says Brian Wylie, regatta director and longtime member of the Rochester Rowing Association.

Last year's regatta, helped by ideal fall weather, drew more than 15,000 spectators to Genesee Valley Park. This is the second year the event is co-hosted by the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Now in its ninth year, the regatta began in 1989 as the Bausch & Lomb Invitational Regatta. The race has become a major community event with a festival-like atmosphere that features the excitement of river racing, food, entertainment and a chance to view the foliage. The regatta is part of the city of Rochester's River Romance Weekend and has become a premier regatta on the fall racing schedule.

The races begin at 9 a.m. on the Genesee, and the best viewing area is on the east side of the river, in Genesee Valley Park, south of Elmwood Avenue. An exhibition sprint race has been added this year and will start at noon.

A number of university crews that boast more than 100 years of rowing tradition are coming. New to the event are Brown University and Purdue University. Also scheduled to compete are Yale, Harvard, Wisconsin, and Dartmouth, as well as colleges and universities like Cornell and Syracuse from the region. As in past years, Canadian teams are also scheduled to compete.

Winning last year's George M. Angle Cup for the fourth consecutive year was Yale University, followed by Harvard and Northeastern. The University of Wisconsin women won the Elaine P. Wilson Cup for the heavyweight eights.

The hometown competitors fared well. The University women's four placed second, behind Syracuse University, and the men's eight placed eighth overall.

Entertainment will kick off at noon and continue throughout the day provided by student music groups from RIT and the University. Additional entertainment includes facepainters, jugglers, clowns, and a palm reader.

The University crew enjoys a long history, dating back to 1981. This is William McLean's third year as head crew coach. McLean's plan to strengthen the team's economic standing has been successful with the addition of two new racing shells, new ergometers, and a growing endowment fund. The team now has more than 50 men and women participants.

For more information, check out the Stonehurst Capital Invitational Regatta Web site at www.rit.edu/~934www/Stonehurst.