Weekend Wrap: Head Races Kick Off Fall Rowing Season
Two head races kicked off the fall rowing season in Ontario over the weekend with the running of the Muskoka Fall Classic and Head of the Madawaska.
The popular Muskoka Fall Classic attracted 239 entries from 20 clubs on Saturday and was hosted by the Georgian Bay Rowing Club on Gull Lake in Gravenhurst, ON. The regatta featured junior, senior and masters categories across a wide variety of boat classes, with the races being contested over a 3km distance. The Argonaut Rowing Club had the most entries in the event with 41 and also claimed the most medals. The Toronto-based club earned an event-high 20 medals, which included 10 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze.
The McMaster Marauders rowing team was next on the medal tally with an impressive 14 (6 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze), followed by the Don Rowing Club with 11 (7 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze), the Orillia Rowing Club with ten (6 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) and the Hanlan Boat Club with seven (2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze). Other Ontario clubs winning medals at the Muskoka Fall Classic included the Leander Boat Club (6), LaSalle Rowing Club (6), London Western Rowing Club (6), South Niagara Rowing Club (4), Niagara Rowing School (2), Barrie Rowing Club (2), Hatchets Rowing (2), Georgian Bay Rowing Club (2), Peterborough Rowing Club (1), Island Lake Rowing Club (1), and Notre Dame Rowing Club (1).
Elsewhere in the province the Head of the Madawaska took place on Sunday on the Madawaska River in Burnstown, ON. The small invite-only head race has been run for over 20 years and saw the competitors race in either 3km or 5km races. This year the regatta had 44 entries and was comprised of rowers from the host Burnstown Rowing Club, Ottawa New Edinburgh Club, Ottawa Rowing Club, Quinte Rowing Club, St. Lawrence Rowing Club, and Aviron Lachine.
For full results from the Muskoka Fall Classic, visit Regatta Central.
For full results from the Head of the Madawaska, visit RegattaCentral.
For the full regatta schedule in Ontario, visit the Row Ontario website.
Picture is property of South Niagara Rowing Club
