Last Saturday, two eights from Belmont Hill School scrimmaged Exeter at home on the Squamscott River. Belmont Hill School, located just outside Boston in Belmont, MA, produces some of the fastest junior fours in the country, having won five straight N.E.I.R.A. Championship titles (2003-2007) and three Youth National Championship titles (2003, 2006, 2007) in the last five years.

Despite giving Belmont Hill school the inside of the turn each time, the Exeter boys first boat led Belmont Hill’s first eight for 6/8 of the 2.5 minute pieces. Co-captain Tim Moore ’08 said “We had some good strokes and some not-so-good strokes, so consistency is something we’ll definitely be working on. Either way, it’s really nice to race so early in the season so we can have something to build off of.” Moore also noted “We’ve gotten pretty comfortable taking strong strokes, though we need some more work on bladework and technique as well as more practice rowing at higher ratings.”

The Exeter boys second boat made great improvement during the scrimmage, winning two of the last three closely contested pieces after trailing for the first five. Stroke Andrew Weinstein ’09 said, “There were times the boat felt pretty good–but other times where we lost some speed.” Weinstein added, “Once our lineups are set we’ll definitely get faster as we practice together more.”

In the past few years, Exeter crews have scrimmaged Belmont Hill on the last day of the spring training week in March. However, due to scheduling conflicts, the crews were unable to race on the Charles this year.

Both boys varsity boats as well as boys JV, girls varsity and girls JV are preparing for their first races of the season on April 19th against Andover, St. John’s, NMH and a few other schools. Races will take place in the afternoon at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA. Stay tuned for updates as this date nears.

Race Photos

Braving wind, rain, snow, sleet, and cold, two eights from the boys and girls squads are spending five days of their spring break vacations training for the upcoming racing season. These practices on the Charles River in Boston are the first on-the-water strokes anyone has taken since the end of the fall season in October. They build on the indoor exercises, tank rowing, and erging done during the pre-season week before spring break while crews waited for the last few inches of ice to melt from the Squamscott River.

Due to an Academy regulation, the actual Exeter crew coaches are not allowed to attend spring training. Instead, Marshall Moore, former Exeter Girls Varsity coach and father of boys co-captain Tim Moore ’08, is coaching the two boys eights out of Newell Boathouse at Harvard. Julia Chilicki, former Olympian and member of the U.S. National Team and 1998 winner of the Championship Singles at the Head of the Charles, is coaching the two girls eights out of Weld Boathouse at Radcliffe.

On Wednesday, I had the luck of going in the launch with Coach Moore during a “wintry mix” of snow, sleet, and rain. Despite the wetness and 35° temperatures, the crew showed noticeable improvement over the practice while Coach Moore corrected their form and tinkered with lineups. Co-captain Tim Moore ’08 said that “people are definitely happy to be here. Without this week of training without schoolwork or other things to worry about, people return to campus mentally ready for crew.” Moore also thought that “all the boats boats have definitely improved in the the last couple days.” Check out the photo gallery here for all the photos from the boys practice on Wednesday.

Across the river at the girl’s practices, co-captain Allison Courtin ’08 said that she is very encouraged by the energy and focus shown by both boats. “People are really responsive to Coach Chilicki. It’s really good to have a different perspective about things each of us have to work on.” She added, “[Spring training] is a good way to get everyone going and row with all your friends without the pressure of impressing coaches or making a certain boat–I think it’s a great way to start the season.” When asked about the potential for a “three-peat” following two straight years of NEIRA Championships for the girl’s first eight, Courtin said “I definitely don’t want to jinx it…but I am cautiously optimistic that right now we are looking to be at least as fast as we were in the last two years.” Check out the photo gallery here for all the photos from the girls practice on Saturday.

All crews have four weeks until the first race on April 19th against Andover, St. John’s, and a few other schools at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts. Check back later for more information as this date nears.

Photos

Over two thousand competitors and thousands of spectators came together today for the 2008 C.R.A.S.H. – B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship. Ranging in age from 14 to 90, from as near as Boston to as far as New Zealand, men and women came together to row the 2000 meter erg piece at the Agganis Arena in Boston. A few members of the Exeter Crew community made the trip, including Lane Pertusi ’09 (pictured top), Josh Sans ’09 (middle), coach Marshall Moore, (bottom), coach Becky Moore, and coach Sally Morris.

After his race, Pertusi noted “It’s really exciting to be part of such a big event with so much energy and to see everyone together like this. I guess it’s also kind of nerve racking for the same reason.” When compared to erg tests at Exeter, he thought “I think it’s better at Exeter since I have my friends and teammates I’m competing with to push me.” Nevertheless, Pertusi thought that going to C.R.A.S.H. – Bs was a “good experience.”

The Charles River All-Star Has-Beens Sprints began in the early 80s by a number of US Olympic and World Team rowers as a regatta to “break up the monotony of winter training.” Since then, C.R.A.S.H. – Bs have grown into one of the largest indoor rowing competitions in the world, attracting world class rowers on an international scale. Past winners at the indoor championship include the late Olympian Andrew Sudduth ’79, who won the event three times in the mid 80s. Matthias Siejkowski of Germany, the current 2000m men’s heavyweight world record holder (at 5:37.0), won an astonishing seven times between 1989 and 2001. American Lisa Schlenker set the current women’s lightweight world record (at 6:56.7) at C.R.A.S.H. – Bs in 2000. This year, Henrik Stephansen of Denmark set a new world record in the men’s lightweight at 6:02.2.

Check the C.R.A.S.H. – Bs website for full results from the races.

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