July Race Reports

Czech sculling star Ondrej Synek was the first across the line in the men’s single final at the 2017 Holland Beker Regatta June 24-25 on the Netherlands’ historic Bosbaan course. The four-time world singles champion and Rio bronze medalist got the better of Croatia’s Damir Martin, the runner up in last year’s oh-so-close Olympic final, covering the distance in 6:38.77 to Martin’s 6:42.43. Third-place honors went to Germany’s Stephan Krueger, who ended up with a time of 6:47.27. In the women’s single, Dutch sculler Inge Janssen edged Great Britain’s Mary Jones for gold. Janssen, a bronze medalist in the quad in Rio, turned in a 7:26.97, with Jones in hot pursuit in 7:29.58. New Zealand’s Emma Twigg, fourth in the women’s single at last summer’s Olympic regatta, finished third overall in 7:33.26.

2017 Independence Day Regatta

Penn AC boated the two fastest under-19 men’s eights at this year’s Independence Day Regatta in Philadelphia July 1-2, with the hometown club’s A entry covering the Schuylkill River 2k course in 6:14.52. Penn AC B was well back in 6:23.86, with Vesper Boat Club claiming third in 6:29.63. The results were remarkably similar on the women’s side, with Penn AC claiming first and third and Vesper sneaking in for silver. Penn AC A finished in a time of 7:01.98, with Vesper a few lengths back in 7:07.81. Penn AC B crossed the line in 7:31.79. In the final of the women’s eight, Vesper Boat Club emerged from a tight battle with Community Rowing, Inc. of Boston to claim top honors. Vesper crossed the line in 6:46.04, just 1.67 seconds ahead of CRI. Riverside Boat Club, also of Boston, rounded out the top three in 6:53.40. The final of the men’s open eight offered fewer fireworks, with PNRA/Mercer walking away with the title. The Princeton, N.J.-based club covered the 2,000 meters in 5:48.6, with Riverside posting a finishing time of 6:05.53. Close behind for third was Vesper Boat Club in 6:06.14. A rarity in the summer race circuit, the octuple sculls title went to Philadelphia’s Crescent Boat Club in 6:17.60. Nearly 10 seconds back in second place was a composite crew rowing under the Crescent/Temple/Whitemarsh banner. Locals Malta Boat Club finished yet another 20 seconds back in third. A mid-summer must for rowers looking to burnish their summer rowing skills, the Independence Day Regatta was first held in 1880 and was once known as the People’s Regatta.

2017 U.S. Under-23 and Junior Trials

With star turns in the single at the U.S. under-23 and junior trials June 26-29 in New Jersey, both Penn AC sculler Kyle Mabry and Naragansett’s Emily Kallfelz earned the right to wear U.S. team kit at this summer’s under-23 worlds in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  Kallfelz, fourth in the double at last year’s world championships, finished in 6:59.50, well ahead of second-place Kalia Krichko of GMS, who crossed the line in 8:11.85. Conshohocken’s Katherine Horvat finished third overall with a time of 8:16.77. Mabry’s victory was equally clear-cut, with the Boston University graduate posting a 7:18.65. Connor Donadio of GMS was the second-fastest finisher in the field, with a 7:30.99. Rounding out the top three, and mirroring the women’s results, was Michael Yaron of Conshocken. Mabry and Kallfelz were among 16 crews in West Windsor that had their tickets punched for Bulgaria. USRowing will boat 21 crews in all at the under-23 worlds, with a total of 69 athletes taking part. On the junior front, Clark Dean, rowing under the USRowing affiliation, ran away with the under-19 men’s single title with 27-second rout of the field. An under-23 bronze medalist in the quad in 2016, Dean put his bow across the finish line in 7:18.03, with Aaron Fernandez of Long Island finishing in second in 7:42.08. Dylan Dalpedri of Parati, claimed third in 7:49.23. Claire Campbell of Maritime Boat Club took first in the women’s under-19 single in 8:20.09. Naragansett’s Kathleen Dolan took second in 8:34.80. Dean and Campbell were among six crews earning berths for Bulgaria at trials.