Potomac grabs third overall at 2009 Masters Nationals

Congratulations to all of our Potomac Boat Club masters for an impressive showing at the 2009 Masters National Championship Regatta! Their combined effort pushed PBC out of a crowded field of almost 150 competitor clubs into third place in overall team points! Great job, everyone!

This year, our women’s Masters Rowing Program (MRP) sent 22 more athletes to nationals than it did just one year ago. And the numbers paid off. The 26-member team added 122.75 points to the scoreboard for PBC, and finished strong with the seventh highest women’s point total of 84 clubs.

The PBC Men’s Sweep Team fielded fewer athletes than we might have expected for an east coast located championship. Still, with only 14 rowers in heavy rotation, the team managed to pull away with several national titles. Along with PBC scullers Peter Pietra, Cal Sutliff, Ed Ryan, and Bill Cox, they earned 204.50 points, and finished third out of 95 clubs in total men’s points.

If there was a standout club performer throughout the four days, it had to be MRP member and perennial PBC favorite, Camilla Durfee. Camilla raced to five gold medals and one silver in a combination of women’s, mixed and comp boat events. She gets our vote for regatta MVP!

Hard fought battles aside, in the end PBC was no match for sheer size … club size, that is. With a whopping 831.50 points, Saugatuck Rowing Club’s cast of hundreds easily walked away with the overall team title. Minneapolis Rowing Club finished second with 399.75 points, followed closely by PBC in third with 342.25 points.

(We’re not bitter, but um … maybe there should be a category for clubs without full-service dining? Oh. That sounded bitter. Sorry.)

With 147 clubs competing for national titles in more than 200 events, this year’s Masters Nationals was the largest in history. Check out our top results below.

(They’re pretty good considering we just row around here … and make our own food! Oh. Sorry. There we go, again.)