Newport Sea Base Rowing impresses in Long Beach
Newport Sea Base Rowing put in a dominant performance at the annual Christmas Regatta at Long Beach Marine Stadium on Dec. 4.
Newport Sea Base had 100 junior and masters athletes in the 850-meter sprint competition. The juniors captured 13 gold medals, five silver and 10 bronze. The masters had a similarly strong showing with four golds, four silvers and one bronze. In total, Newport Sea Base medaled in 37 of its 44 races.
The sprint format of the competition and the number of races created opportunities for athletes to row in multiple events. Many of the club’s juniors and masters went home with multiple medals. Cal-commit and junior national team member Kendall Fearnley took four golds rowing in a single, a pair, a quad and an eight.
On the boys’ side, Spencer Ewanick picked up gold in a single, a pair and a four and added a bronze in an eight. Wendy Gordon and Kristen Chadwell each won three golds and a bronze in their masters races. And the club, now in its third year, fielded an alumni boat in the exhibition 8+.
“Our approach to training and our commitment to success allow us to keep pushing the envelope and stay competitive with the best teams in the nation” Newport Sea Base Director of Rowing Michelle Green said. “We continue to seek new, innovative methods and techniques that allow our athletes to do what they love to do: win. I can’t be more proud of everyone’s accomplishments at the Christmas Regatta.”
The competition drew 20 clubs from San Diego to Oxnard, along with four clubs coming in from Tempe, Ariz. There were 425 boats racing in 68 events. Competitors ranged in age from high school freshmen to masters in their 70s. The masters events were handicapped based on the average age of rowers in a boat. Adjustments to raw times based on relative age yielded final results. The junior races were not handicapped.
The Christmas Regatta usually marks the end of racing for the year. In addition to the serious racing, crews added in some seasonal flavor by accessorizing club uniforms with antler head gear, Santa hats, glittering strands of tinsel and ugly rowing holiday sweaters. Newport Sea Base and other clubs now enter the dark winter months facing intense erg and weight workouts in preparation for the spring season.
The strong Newport Sea Base results mark the continuing emergence of the club as a top Southern California and West Coast competitor.
The club will be in its third year of existence in 2017 and its junior rowers are predominantly younger than much of their competition. As the rowers mature, get stronger and gain more experience, Newport Sea Base Rowing can be looked to make its mark in regional and national U.S. Rowing events.