Excessive heat warning for DC metro!

Be smart in the heat, PBC!!!

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the Washington Metropolitan area from noon until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2010. The Heat Index may reach 110 degrees.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control web site for the warning signs of heat exhaustion and what you can do about it at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp.

Those racing tomorrow up at Diamond State Masters regatta in DE, drink lots of water throughout the day.  Heed the early warning signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration.  Try to stay in the shade when you’re not racing, and GOOD LUCK!

Potomac’s Results for Capital Sprints 2010

Capital Sprints is a challenge to say the least.  You really earn that killer end-of-the-regatta-BBQ just getting through the start.  Add wind, rain .. and God bless those Cap Sprints referees.

For those of us from PBC who make it there, it’s always worth it to spend some quality time with our friends from the Anacostia even if they hate on the rest of us (loudly via their public address system) for not showing up, and try to get us to admit that PBC is scared of them.  (Okay. Fine. Can we have a beer now?)

Anyway, we just want you to know, CRC, that our low attendance at Cap Sprints really has nothing to do with you.  Stop taking it personally. We really dig you. In fact, socially, we probably should be more like you.

Just one thing, though: you know how you kept announcing over the PA that PBC only had one person racing?  Well, we had at least a smattering … a smattering that pretty much placed first or second.

Thanks for the beer and as always, for the great time!

Below are PBC’s results from Cap Sprints.

Men’s Masters 1x

Heat #1
1. Marc Daemen [54] (Baltimore Rowing Club #5)	00:03:40.54	00:00:18.2 handicap	00:03:22.34
2. Nick Holland [50] (Potomac Boat Club #3)	00:03:38.7	00:00:13.2 handicap	00:03:25.5
3. Peter Folger [50] (Capital Rowing Club #4)	00:04:04.47	00:00:13.2 handicap	00:03:51.27
4. M Heslep [50] (Capital Rowing Club #1)	00:04:32.4	00:00:13.2 handicap	00:04:19.2
5. Alfredo Garzino-Demo [45] (Baltimore Rowing Club #2)	N/A	00:00:08.1 handicap	N/A
Heat #2
1. Neal Young [63] (Potomac Boat Club #3)	00:05:04.3	00:00:32.4 handicap	00:04:31.9
2. David Eichler [61] (Unaffiliated #2)	00:05:25.88	00:00:28.9 handicap	00:04:56.98
3. Bill Flynn [56] (Carnegie Lake Rowing Association #4)	00:05:18.14	00:00:21.00 handicap	00:04:57.14
4. Carl Wehmueller [59] (Baltimore Rowing Club #5)	00:05:30.11	00:00:25.6 handicap	00:05:04.51
5. R Ulsh [62] (Three Rivers Rowing Association #6)	N/A		N/A

Men’s Novice 1x

Final
1. Giorgio Young [16] (Potomac Boat Club #4)	00:04:46.6		00:04:46.6
2. Grant Kraus [49] (Capital Rowing Club #5)	00:05:35.27		00:05:35.27
3. Michael Allen [60] (Capital Rowing Club #3)	00:07:08.61		00:07:08.61
4. M Lautenberger [60] (WRC #2)	00:07:44.03		00:07:44.03

Women’s Masters 4+ (WeCanRow DC)

Heat #4
1. Lee Roman [50] (Annapolis Rowing Club #1)	00:04:16.8	00:00:11.4 handicap	00:04:05.4
2. Tracie Felker [57] (WeCanRow DC #5)	00:04:47.25	00:00:19.4 handicap	00:04:27.85
3. Sarah Cox [58] (Rock Creek Rowing #6)	00:04:50.09	00:00:20.8 handicap	00:04:29.29
4. Elizabeth Fishback [51] (Three Rivers Rowing Association #2)	00:04:54.22	00:00:12.4 handicap	00:04:41.82
5. Michelle Lee [51] (Three Rivers Rowing Association #3)	00:05:00.37	00:00:12.4 handicap	00:04:47.97
6. Eileen Killmeyer [53] (Three Rivers Rowing Association #4)	00:05:26.92	00:00:14.6 handicap	00:05:12.32

Masters Mixed 2x

Heat #2
1. Chuck Selden [54] (Potomac Boat Club #4)	00:04:28.9	00:00:15.7	00:04:13.2
2. Martha Ball [72] (Three Rivers Rowing Association #5)	00:05:36.74	00:00:43.7	00:04:53.04
3. C Cole [60] (WRS #6)	00:05:20.26	00:00:23.5	00:04:56.76
4. Jacqueline Wehmueller [57] (Baltimore Rowing Club #2)	00:05:19.07	00:00:19.4	00:04:59.67
5. Betsy Ensminger [57] (Three Rivers Rowing Association #3)	N/A	00:00:19.4	N/A

Support PBC’s National Team athletes!

 

Every little bit helps … and it’s all tax deductible!

• Click HERE to go straight to your donation options!

In less than a couple of weeks, our Brendan McEwan will represent the United States in the Men’s Single Sculls at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Brest, Belarus (July 22 - 25).  Brendan won his event at trials in June by 3.41 seconds, crossing the line in 6:59.294. He will be joined by Coach Reilly Dampeer, who has done a tremendous job helping him get ready.

And, hey! We’re proud to report again that Rob Rasmussen and Nader Al-Naji are on the Junior National Team roster!  Joined by Coach Deb Dryer, Rob and Nader will be racing in the double at the 2010 World Rowing Junior Championships in Racice, Czech Republic (August 4 - 7).

Crazy kids.  All that energy.  Makes you want to take a load off, doesn’t it?  Well, while you’re sitting there, you’re gonna earn a chance to feel like you’re right there next to the guys when they step up to the winners’ podium … all without leaving your computer!

The charitable foundation created to support our National Team athletes, the Potomac River Sports Foundation (PRSF), figures our team still needs about $7,500 to fund our World Championships effort this year.  Basically, each boat costs about $1700 to rent and transport. The USRowing fee is $1,625 for each athlete. Add another $1300 for coach’s room, board, gear and flight. Well, you get the picture. Being an elite level rower ain’t cheap, folks!

Since we’re pretty sure none of us can cover the entire amount today, tax deductible or not, how about we do this thing together?  Fiddy from her.  A hundy from him.  A couple Gs from you.  And so on.  That way, we’ll all feel like we’re part of it when Brendan, Rob and Nader take those winning strokes across the finish line!

(Of course, if you do throw down the entire $7,500, just don’t tell us, so we’ll all still feel like we did something.  Thanks.)

Okay, so.  Got your credit card ready, PBC?  (Come on!  They need you!  And it’s tax deductible!)  To give using PayPal, click here.

If you would rather pay by check, just make it payable to “Potomac River Sports Foundation,” and then mail it to Paul Knight at the following the address:

Paul Knight, Treasurer
Potomac River Sports Foundation
c/o Nossaman LLP
1666 K Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20006

By the way, you can give to the PRSF all year long!

Best of luck to Brendan, Rob, Nader, Reilly and Deb! GO, PBC!!!

Stay tuned for a charitable group hug mid-August.

Potomac Gear Galore! Order by July 5th to save.

The Potomac Boat Club JL Racing Team Store is open!

Order by Monday, July 5, 2010, at midnight (PST) to save on your PBC JL Racing gear and get it by the planned ship date of August 3, 2010.  Get PBC hats and Henley-style tees from JL, too!

Check your email for a link to the store and instructions from Club Rowing Committee Chair Sylvia Frayne sent through the Yahoo group today or ask your team captains for more information.

[We'd give you the store link and Sylvia's contact info here, but it's bad enough we like to put on our PBC unis and send her random email messages. She probably doesn't need a thousand Internet trolling strangers doing it, too.]

Oh!  For those of you who wrote us about PBC rowing jackets, we’ve been working with Boathouse Sports (the official apparel supplier of the National Team) on jackets and other gear for the fall.  We plan to have the Boathouse PBC Team ordering site up by August, and the gear into your hot little hands by September.

You didn’t really need a Gortex jacket in August anyway, did you? Click here for a preview of how good you will look in September, but in red.  Even better!

Watch Potomac at National Championships now!

It’s not too late to catch our PBC Open scullers slug it out at the 2010 USRowing National Championships!  Watch live streaming video at http://rowing.teamusa.org/live.

Those left to race include Nicole Dinion and Brittany Robinson in the women’s lightweight 2x at 9:40!  (Like, really … you have four minutes. Git.)

Finally, Matt Madigan reminds us that PBC’s Open Scullers can’t do this without our support. Watch for tax deductible ways to donate through the Potomac River Sports Foundation to help these talented athletes continue to meet their elite rowing goals.

We are so proud of all of you!  Way to go, PBC!

WeCanRow DC

Potomac Boat Club is very proud to host WeCanRow DC, a volunteer-directed, not-for-profit, educational and support organization offering breast cancer survivors an introduction to sweep rowing, and ongoing recreational and competitive rowing opportunities.

Below is our WeCanRow DC photo gallery! If you have WeCanRow DC photos to share, please send them to Penelope at editor@potomacstar.com.

For more information about WeCanRow DC, please visit their web site at http://www.wecanrowdc.org.

PBC Men go for a cuptastic Henley 2010

From June 30 – July 4, Potomac Boat Club’s Men’s Sweep Team will compete for the Thames Challenge Cup, the prize awarded to the winner of the Men’s Club Eight event at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta.

The regatta, first held in 1839, takes place annually on the River Thames near the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. More than 500 crews from 20 nations will compete this year, including our own.

PBC men last competed at Henley in 2007. They were the only U.S. crew to make it to the Thames Challenge Cup quarterfinals. A few of the guys from 2007 are returning this year and hope to better their result. We think they will.

The 2010 crew includes Apollo Nguyen (cox), Chad Jungbluth, Paul Holland, John Forrest, Mike McCarthy, Bob Price (PBC President), Brian Wood, Nick Davies, and Tom Brock.

Each event at Henley is a single-elimination competition; in other words, you could be one and done, or get to play all week.  Boats race two at a time down a 2,112 meter-long course so narrow, there are only a few meters to spare when side-by-side. Adding to the potential drama (and undoubtedly, the regatta’s popularity with spectators), the course is lined by floating, unforgiving wooden bars or “booms.” Steering into the boom is known by onlookers as a “Henley Royal F[oul]-up,” and offending coxswains must wear crowns emblazoned with the same for the remainder of the regatta. (Just kidding about that last part. Maybe.)

On Saturday, June 26th, if all the guys make it into town on time, PBC will tune up and shake off the jet lag at the Reading Town Regatta.  Once racing starts at Henley, you can follow the guys as they battle through the competition by signing up for Twitter, Facebook or any of the other Henley results services offered at http://hrr.co.uk/pdisp.php?pid=316.

In the meantime, below we’ve included an alphabetical list of the clubs PBC will have to beat to advance, followed by a list of past PBC winners at Henley.

Safe travels and best of luck to Apollo and our crew. Row hard, guys!

~

The Thames Challenge Cup
Current holders: Molesey Boat Club A

1829 Boat Club
Abingdon Rowing Club
Agecroft Rowing Club
Broxbourne Rowing Club
Carlow Rowing Club, Ireland
Combined Services Rowing Club
Curlew Rowing Club
Durham Amateur Rowing Club
Galway Rowing Club, Ireland
Henley Rowing Club
HSBC Rowing Club
Kingston Rowing Club
Lea Rowing Club
London Rowing Club ‘A’
London Rowing Club ‘B’
Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club
Molesey Boat Club ‘A’
Molesey Boat Club ‘B’
Potomac Boat Club, U.S.A.
Putney Town Rowing Club
Reading Rowing Club
Runcorn Rowing Club
St. Michael’s Rowing Club, Ireland
Sons of the Thames Rowing Club
Staines Boat Club
Star Club
Thames Rowing Club ‘A’
Thames Rowing Club ‘B’
Thames Rowing Club ‘C’
Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club
Twickenham Rowing Club
Upper Thames Rowing Club
Vesta Rowing Club
West End Rowing Club, New Zealand
York City Rowing Club

~

Past Winners of the Henley Royal Regatta - PBC and Washington & Lee High School

1964

Washington-Lee High School

Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

1969

Washington-Lee High School

Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

1973

Potomac Boat Club

Silver Goblets & Nickalls Challenge Cup

1975

Potomac Boat Club

Stewards’ Challenge Cup

1980

Potomac Boat Club

Silver Goblets & Nickalls Challenge Cup

1996

Potomac Boat Club & National Training Ctr.

Double Sculls Challenge Cup

Henley 2010 - Men’s Sweep Practice

Below are some random photos taken of Potomac Boat Club’s Men’s Sweep practice, on Thursday, June 3, 2010.  This year, the men return to the UK, to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta (June 30 - July 4).

We hope to have more information on the lineup and race schedule soon.  Stay tuned.

It’s Spring 2010. Finally!

Just when you thought we were living in Buffalo, spring arrives!  The four-oar rule has been lifted, the Annual Meeting is around the corner, and W-L is already one deep in its race schedule … with a few wins, too!

With more people starting to use the club again, I wanted to send out the following safety tips, etiquette reminders, and general housekeeping practices, to get us all on the same page and safely into the spring season:

- If you haven’t yet signed up for your new access code, please contact security@potomacstar.com to set up your new code.

- Early spring also means it’s still dark in the morning and early evening when many of us get out on the water.  All shells must carry white lights fore and aft, before sunrise and after sunset.  There are lights available by the logbook.  Use them!  Also make yourself easy to see by wearing light, reflective colors.

- Remember to follow the proper traffic patterns, and know where those rocks are … even when the buoys aren’t!

- When you’re finished erging, please wipe the machine and the surrounding floor area clean.  I recently noticed many of our newest ergs with very filthy tracks … makes it feel like the seat is rolling on a gravel road.  If you don’t find paper towels in the ballroom, then find some in the bathroom.  If we’re out, then be creative – don’t just leave a mess behind.

- And, finally, I couldn’t do one of these things without my usual in-one-ear-and-out-the-other reminder (to the Men, at least) to PLEASE take your post-workout gear home with you.  We just completed the floor renovation in the back locker room and it smells much better back there - - don’t let your nasty gear hang around and ruin it.   Soon we’ll be going through and clearing out the junk on top of the lockers, so if any of it is yours, please remove it now.

After two blizzards and a flood, we’re due some quality water time, aren’t we?  Respect the club and fellow members, respect the river and be safe.

Thanks.  And see you at the Annual Meeting on April 7th!

Bob

Bob Price
President, Potomac Boat Club

We have a date! PBC Annual Meeting, April 7th

On Wednesday, April 7, Potomac Boat Club will hold its 144th Annual Meeting.  If you’re like us, you’re probably asking yourself … 144th?  How did 144 annual meetings happen in a span of 140 years? But if you’re normal, and without a lot of time on your hands, you’re probably just wondering whether or not you really have to be there. The answer?  Yes.  You do.

Here is the schedule of important events:

• 6:30 - 7:30 PM - Social Hour (a.k.a. Happy Hour … you know, with food and drinks and stuff)

• 7:30 – 9:30 PM - Elections (senior members vote on three Board seats and Officers), Committee Reports and Other Business

Okay, the truth is, you don’t have to be there … but you should be. We make much better decisions when you’re around.

See you soon!

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