GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Saturday was a hold-onto-your-hat kind of day at the 2014 USRowing Masters National Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich. Conditions were variable for the afternoon finals, with mild temperatures and gusts testing the stability of crews competing for titles in events 101-146.
The tricky weather didn’t seem to be a problem for the women’s open B quadruple sculls crew, which was a composite of Briar Island Rowing Association, Potomac Boat Club and Riverside Boat Club. Its members, Aisha Chow, Wendin Smith, Erica Stieve-Caldwell and Meghan Brundage raced to a 3:24.80 gold-medal finish.
Caldwell, who raced in two-seat, said that before she joined Potomac, she first came to masters racing without a club, signing up for composite crews with open seats.
“The whole fun thing about this event, is it’s a great chance to row with other people,” said Caldwell. “I’ve met lots of wonderful people at masters nationals over the years racing in composite boats.
“This trophy is the result of lots of great people to row with, and sometimes, you just have to get together and do it. That’s what this trophy represents to us, I guess – friends, lots of hard work, lots of friends working hard. Not necessarily in the same town, but in the same spirit. Meghan and I have been in the boat three years in a row, and the other two seats have rotated through people that couldn’t come to the regatta.”
Bob Schumacher, representing Jackson Rowing Club, also had his moment on the podium in Grand Rapids on Saturday. But despite the three medals around his neck and large trophy in his arms, he says he was just “an old man lightweight quad and an old man heavyweight quad.”
“I won both of those, and won the G lightweight single and was third in the heavyweight G single,” he said. “It was pretty good, and I’m glad I made the trip.
“The weather here was a little bit nicer than in Jacksonville, Florida, so I really had a good time. The venue is very nice and the city is great,” he said. “I’m headed back tomorrow, and I thoroughly enjoyed the event.”
Racing concludes Sunday with heats and finals in events 147-199. For complete results, click the event page link below.
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