CAMDEN, NJ August 16, 2009 - VBC competed at this year's USRowing Masters National Championship on August 13-16. The regatta was held on the Cooper River in Camden, NJ. Attendance at the regatta was the largest in the events history, with the four day event attracting over 1,700 athletes from 147 organizations in 35 states.
VBC came ready to compete, winning silver and bronze medals in several events! Club members competed in 10 events with many of these events having semi-finals and final races. In all the events, VBC posted competitive times demonstrating there is strong rowing in Richmond, VA!
Day 1 - August 13th
The first event for VBC was the Mens Hwt. 4+. The line up included Jason Rife (stroke), Steve Chilmaid, Steve Abbot, and John Belcher (bow). A strong headwind favored the larger competitors but despite the wind, the crew was able to start the race at a 42 stroke rating and settle at 36. The effort posted a 3rd place finish in the heat and a time of 3:45:08, 3.5 seconds short of qualifying for the finals.
The next event for VBC was the Womens Ltwt B 1x. Shannon Conner came in third, winning the bronze medal in the event. Earlier in the day, Shannon won her heat over Riverside BC and Nashville RC with a time of 4:40:23. In the finals, her time of 4:25:25 was just 3.5 seconds behind the 2nd place Passaic River RA (4:23:05) and less than 4.5 seconds behind 1sts place Ecorse RC (4:21:61).
VBC also competed in several composite boats with members of the Chester River RC. Shannon Conner raced in the Womens Open C 4x, placing 3rd in her heat ahead of Baltimore RC and Texas RC and three to four seconds behind Saratoga RC and Narragansett BC.
Barb Faurot won the bronze medal in the Womens Ltwt D 4x in a composite boat with the members of Chester River RC, posting a finish time of 4:24:62.
Here is a video of Shannon Conner's heat in the Womens Lwt. B 1x:
Day 2 - August 14th
On the second day of the regatta, the VBC mens 4+ advanced to the finals of the Mens 4+ Club C by winning their heat with a time of 3:29:78, a half of length over Fairmont RA and DC Strokes. In the finals, the battle for 3rd place came down to the 750 meter mark where VBC, Riverfront Recapture, and Union BC were basically even. Ultimately, VBC came up short with 5th place, posting a time of 3:32:13 - less than a second behind Union for 4th place.
In the Womens Ltwt C 2x, VCB (Barb Faurot and Shannon Conner) advanced to the finals by winning heat over Narragansett BC, Texas BC, and White Rock Boathouse. In the finals, VBC place 4th with a time of 4:04:82 behind Maritime RC, Guelph RC, and Long Beach RA. Here is a video of Barb and Shannon's heat:
In the Womens Open B 2x, VBC (Shannon Conner and Jen Harper) won a bronze medal in the event. Earlier in the day, the women won their heat to advance. For the finals, they posted a 3:56:45 time finishing behind Rivanna RC and Minneapolis RC.
Day 3 - August 15th
On the third day of racing, VBC competed in the Mens Hwt. C 2x. Steve Abbot and Steve Chilmaid posted a 3:32:13 time behind Texas RC and Wilmington BC. The time was good enough to place third in the heat but not enough to qualify for the finals.
Racing in a composite boat with Chester River RC, the VBC women (Shannon, Jen and Barb) won silver medals in the Womens Ltwt C 4x with a 3:38:73 time, just behind Saugatuck RC's 1st place time of 3:35:22.
Day 4 - August 16th
On the final day of racing, Shannon Conner placed 4th in the Womens Open C 2x with a time of 4:00:46. Racing in a composite boat along with Chester River RC member, Deborah Davis, Shannon advanced earlier in the day by coming in second in the heat. In the finals, their 4th place finish put them ahead of Minneapolis RC and Vsculls but behind Rivanna RC, Narragansett BC, and Alexandria CR.
