Cape Cod, Mass - Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling and the ECAC-National Invitational Rowing Championships (ECAC-NIRC) Board of Stewards have chosen the Quinsigamond Rowing Association as host of the 18th Annual ECAC-NIRC on Sunday, May 9, 2010 on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts.
After outreach and conversations with large numbers of coaches and administrators the organizers and senior administrators of the ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships have determined that an alteration of the structure and running of the regatta is in the best interests of the Championships and the constituency it serves. The regatta Stewards have reached the following decisions regarding the organization, governance, and conduct of the 2010 championships and beyond:
Organization name: Eastern College Athletic Conference National Invitational Rowing Championships (ECAC-NIRC)
Championships: Eastern College Athletic Conference National Invitational Rowing Championships (ECAC-NIRC)
Championships Date and Site: Sunday, May 9, 2010 at Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass.
Championships Events for Men and Women:
Varsity Eight *
2nd Varsity Eight
3rd Varsity Eight
Novice Eight
2nd Novice Eight
Additional Events for Men and Women:
Open Four
* A program must enter a Varsity Eight in the Championships to place an entry in any other event.
Championships Format: Heats and Finals
Programs: A program is defined as a men's squad or a women's squad, each of which is required to pay its proportionate share of championships expense.
Acceptance of entries: Invited programs will declare entry by accessing their accounts at regattacentral.com and paying their championships declaration fee ($400.00). Payment of this fee by the September 21st deadline ensures program will be invited to the 2010 ECAC NIRC Championships.
Post Acceptance: After a program has been accepted into the championships it will be guaranteed attendance at subsequent championships through the 2014 season so long as it continues to pay its annual proportionate share of championships operating expenses. On an annual basis, invoices and payment for those expenses will be broken into two parts. A fall declaration fee as described above, and a second payment ($600.00 for the 2010 championships); will be invoiced due in January 2010. Any adjustments to the cost shared expense will be reflected in the invoice for the following year's championships.
Invited Program Responsibilities: The Stewards of the ECAC NIRC believe that this will be a "college" version of the EARC and EAWRC, and as such a one day heats and finals eights championships. In accordance with that philosophy it is the intention of the Stewards to require each program to row a varsity eight and at least one other eight on an annual basis at the championships. The Stewards also recognize that this is a goal and not a present day reality for all of the programs that have been tendered invitations.
To encourage program growth the regatta will include Men's and Women's Open Fours Events for five years (2010-2014 phase in period). Any program that enters a Varsity Eight may also enter an Open Four of the same gender. Qualification for finals in the Men's and Women's Open Four events will be based on the results of time trials, which will be contested at the conclusion of the morning heats. Programs will be limited to one entry in each of the fours events, and results will not be counted in team point scoring.
After the five year phase in period it will be the responsibility of each program to field two eights at subsequent championships. Failure to adhere to these minimum competitive expectations for two successive years may lead to eventual forfeiture of participation upon action of the Stewards.
Founding and Steward Schools: College of the Holy Cross: Women Ithaca College: Men and Women Smith College: Women Tufts University: Men and Women Tulane University: Men and Women University of Michigan: Men Wesleyan University: Men and Women Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Men and Women
Stewards: Becky Robinson (Ithaca College) Bob Jaugstetter (Tulane University) Dan Robinson (Ithaca College) Gary Caldwell (ECAC Rowing Director, Tufts University) Gregg Hartsuff (University of Michigan) Karen Klinger (Smith College) Larry Noble (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) Patrick Diggins (College of the Holy Cross) Phil Carney (Wesleyan University)
ECAC NIRC Governance: The ECAC NIRC is governed by the Board of Stewards and reports to the ECAC Director of Rowing. Changes to regatta format, rules, program participation, etc. must be approved by 2/3 majority of the Stewards.
Finances: The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) holds fiduciary responsibility for the ECAC NIRC and will set championships fee rates.
Charter Invitations and Competing Programs 2010 (Steward Schools in BOLD):
Men's Program's:
Women's Programs: