HOCR to Allow Pairs to participate in ANY Doubles Event
In 2022 HOCR allowed a few pairs to participate in the Men's and Women's Championship Doubles field as an exhibition with the hopes of expanding to a full-fledged pairs event in 2023. The pairs were able to do more than hold their own in against the doubles and their 4 oars, and after careful consideration the HOCR Rules committee has made the decision that anyone that Doubles events will no longer be limited to those that can scull, but open to any type of two-person hull.
Athletes looking to participate in a pair will of course be reminded of the challenges (aka - bridges and turns) of the Charles River course, and should feel confident navigating the 4702m (or more based on steering) course before submitting applications. There will not be separate awards or guaranteed entries based on whether athletes participated with 2 oars or 4 oars.
New Medals To Be Awarded at HOCR 2023
To improve competitor experience in 2023, HOCR will be awarding each competitor in '23 with a participation medal. In 1991 the Regatta introduced a now widely popular competitor recognition decal for car windows. Each year a new color flavor adds a bit of smile & knowing accomplishment for these many rowers. While having a current year HOCR sticker won't avoid a towing fine, it does serve to recognize the athlete.
And, in these last 30 or so years other changes to the Regatta have come about, most noticeably the addition of a robust complement of Youth & U-17 events, drawing in nearly 4000 additional rowers to the annual weekend extravaganza. Recognizing that not all athletes have cars, especially youth athletes, the Regatta will provide €˜you competed' medals to all athletes in lieu of the car window decals.
Regatta chairperson of the Awards Committee noted that bringing this about wasn't easy to coordinate. Rules have been established that these specially struck HOCR medals won't be in the ( pre-race ) Registration packets but instead will need to be retrieved once a crew/1x has safely finished with a valid time & zero penalties. Awards chair Charles Attager is organizing this distribution following Saturday & Sunday racing in the Attager Row venue area. Mr. Attager noted that this approach will ensure that each competitor gets their due.