Five CBC master’s crews descended on Amsterdam last weekend to compete in the 52nd running of the Heineken Roeivierkamp. This marked the 29th year CBC has fielded entries in the regatta, which attracts top rowers from Europe as well as North America.
Racing takes place on the serpentine houseboat-lined Amstel River in the heart of the city and includes three events: 2,500 meters and 250 meters on Saturday and 5,000 meters on Sunday. Results are combined across events to determine the overall winners in each age category.
Memories run long among CBC racers over which crew beat which and by how many nanoseconds in prior years.
Among the men’s master’s eights:
Greg Benning assembled a crew of rock stars, including himself, Steve Faber, Dan Gorriaran, and Sean Wolf, to win the E age division, finishing 0.2 cumulative points ahead of longtime Dutch and British rivals—and 11th overall out of 77 master’s men’s eights. They’re particularly proud of a 3-second win in the 5k race over a crew consisting of Dutch national team members.
CBC’s G age division entry coxed by Chris Boit, with Tim Fulham and Steve Morss, took first in their division.
The H crew pounded out a win in the 250-meter sprint, but ended up second overall in their division. Club members in that crew include Jane Hanlon (cox), Tom Pounds (stroke), Jamie Hintlian, Oleg Simanovsky, Patrice Rioux, Carlo Zezza, and Henry Hamilton. P
Partygoers who gathered to celebrate Carlo’s 88th birthday Friday night before racing hope the crew’s performance wasn’t hindered by the festivities.
The I division eight, which averaged 75 years of age, won all three races and the overall regatta in their age category. Among those pulling for CBC were John Lambert, John Saxelby, and Ed Ford, with Alden Zecha in the coxswain’s seat.
CBC also fielded a women’s coxed quad, with Mollie Watkins and pals from other U.S. clubs. They took 3rd in the E age category, placing 14th overall out of the 55 master’s women’s quads.
Several CBC members raced under other colors. Susie Klein coxed the winning women’s F quad, a composite boat racing under the name Sirens, taking 10th overall among the 55 women’s quads. Ruth Kennedy Sudduth raced with old friends and teammates in the Endeavor entry in the F8, finishing second.
A Cornell alumni men’s F entry organized by club member Greg Wilkins won their age category. Andrew Kallfelz and Rich Sampson also rowed in that boat. Greg’s sons organized two younger men’s boats racing under the CBC name.
Print Page
Email to a Friend