ROWERS BEAT RAIN, HEAD WINDS IN ANNUAL MUSKOKA FALL CLASSIC

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — White caps, one in the drink and a record number of boat entries were among the highlights today in the Muskoka Fall Classic rowing regatta.

A raw wind and light rain made it tough rowing for hundreds of competitors in the Georgian Bay Rowing Club’s annual races at Gull Lake Rotary Park.

The 240 registered boats battled head winds on the first 3km head-long course of the season.

And one solo rower tipped in the cold water, but was safely right-sided.

The distance from the park to the island just east of the Hwy. 11 overpass was a gruelling haul for many — including some competing for the first time in certain races here on an overcast day.

Addison Stenzil was among them and who was happily wrapped in a warm blanket after and sipping on an appreciative hot chocolate provided by GAP.

Racers from several clubs across Ontario were busy carrying boats up and down the hill from the parking lot and to and from the lake in steady succession for six hours in at times drizzling weather.

But once on the water it was all business pushing and pulling

Race results are available on their website at https://georgianbayrowingclub.com/

Starter Rob Haag skipped the races to help volunteer with the GBRC-sponsored Muskoka Fall Classic.

 

Diane Barr, a bigtime circuit winner this year, and her sister Kathryn McGill take a moment before Barr entered the doubles race without her long-time sister partner who injured her shoulder and has been relegated to being an event organizer for now.
A smiling Chris Huet smiles after what looked like a win in the fours at the end of the day’s rowing event.
A record 240 entries meant club boats were constantly coming out and going into the water for more than six hours.
Carrying your boat provided a temporary cover from the intermittent drizzle Saturday.
Gull Lake was teeming with teams from several clubs across Ontario including the Toronto’s Hanlon Club.
The three-kilometre long head course was the first of the fall competitive season and was a bit of a challenge with white caps on Gull Lake today.

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