MRC Masters with Clinkage

A small group of MRC master rowers – 6 women and 4 men – drove up to Orlando the beginning of the May to race in 11 races and came back with 8 medals. Along with winning, which is always fun, the team enjoyed the camaraderie of the rowing community and each other.

Congratulations to:

Women: Debbie Matthews, Megan Mellinger, Sunny McLean, Heidi Steen and Kathy Wojtas

Men: Mario Alonso, Raul Arellano, Fecundo Berrara, and Yasser Vasquez

Cox: Sal Macarai

For these great results:

Gold: 1X (Sunny McLean), Women’s 4+, Men’s 4+, Men’s 4X, Mixed 4+, Mixed 8+

Silver: Men’s 2X, Women’s 8+ (both very close races)

Check out the Florida Master’s Regatta photo album bellow and see how MRC prepares for the races, brings home the gold and then celebrates. If you want to post some comments please visit the MRC Facebook page.

In the process these athletes will achieve a fitness level much higher than where they are currently. An emphasis will also be put on the technical aspect of both sweep and sculling. Coxswains will also be able to hone their skills not only due to the high caliber of their rowers but because they will be able to work on a daily basis with a very experienced coach and coxswain. The summer racing season will provide more races than the average sprint season.

Many of the athletes invited to this year’s program are rising seniors and college is right around the corner. These athletes will be talked to and instructed on what they should and shouldn’t do during the upcoming recruitment process. It will also be beneficial for those athletes who are not rising seniors to be exposed to this process earlier so as they can be better prepared for when it is their time.

All applications are due Monday, April 9, 2012. For detailed information please click here

MIR Women's 8 Gold

With all the medals hanging around the necks of our MRC master rowers, the sound of “clinkage” was loud and clear. With only a small group of dedicated competitors, MRC managed to medal in almost all events entered. Each master rower rowed in at least 3 races and some competed in as many as 5. A special shout-out to Mario Alonso and Yasser Vasquez who raced in just every men’s and mixed event entered. Many thanks to Sal Macraig, our cox, who guided us so many times to the medal stand.

GOLD

Women

8+
Heather Singler, Megan Mellinger, Kathy Wojtas, Yamel Ortiz, Nancy Orbell, Heidi Steen, Chris McAililey, Sunny McLean, Cox Sal Macraig

2X-B Chris McAililey & Sunny McLean

Men

2X Yasser Vasquez and Mario Alonso

Mixed – every race they entered!

4+ Mario Alonso, Yasser Vasquez, Kathy Wojtas, Megan Mellinger, Cox Sal Macraig
8+ Kathy Wojtas, Megan Mellinger, Julio, Carlos Menacho, Y Hon, Facundo Berrara, Nancy Orbell, Yamel Ortiz, Cox Sal Macraig
4X Mario Alonso, Yasser Vasquez, Heather Singler, Yamel Ortiz

SILVER

Women

4+ Kathy Wojtas, Megan Mellinger, Nancy Orbell, Heidi Steen, Cox Sal Macraig
4X Heather Singler, Heidi Steen, Chris McAililey, Sunny McLean
2X-A Heather Singler and Heidi Steen

Men

4X Yasser Vasquez, J. Urribarri, Mario Alonso, Raul Arellano

BRONZE

1X Yasser Vasquez

MIR mix 4 Gold & Mens 2x Gold

Weekend of March 3rd and 4th – two great days of sunshine, comaraderie and competitive racing. The Miami International Regatta 2012 featured some of the best high school rowers in the country including many of the medalists from last year’s regatta who would go on to further success wining state, regional and national championships. Unfortunately some bad weather came through and  the second part of the Sunday races had to cancelled due to heavy winds and rain. Please check out this amazing video and feel beauty of rowing!

For the official MIR 2012 results please click here.  Below you have photos from Sunday’s youth races that show that rowing is more than an amazing sport -  it is community, friendship, excitement, hard work, dedication, fun and celebration.

Miami, a city name instantly recognizable all over the world. It stirs the imagination and accelerates the pulse faster than a shot of Cuban coffee. For 39 years, the Miami International Regatta has been an ambassador for “The Magic City” welcoming rowing enthusiasts young and old alike from all over the Florida, the United States, and other countries like Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, France, Italy and Guatemala.

Welcome!

Besides the hard work of volunteers and board members of the Miami Rowing Club, private and corporate sponsors alike have been instrumental in teaming up to keep the traditions of the regatta alive and help pass on the core values of hard work, team work, and dedication to the next generation.

As we set course for an Olympic year in 2012, the board of directors of the Miami Rowing Club welcomes all to the Miami International Regatta to share in our tradition and enjoy the excitement of watching teams compete for a chance at valor on the azure waters of Biscayne Bay. It’s a special event woven in to the South Florida community that in one word can be described as … well… “Magic”.

The Miami International Regatta has evolved in to the unofficial kickoff event for the Florida spring rowing season that provides a unique opportunity for visiting teams from colder climates to get some sunshine, water-time, and competitive racing. The regatta has also become an early spring celebration of the hard work, dedication, and courage of today’s young athletes. In fact , the regatta has recently featured some of the best high school rowers in the country as many of the medalist from last year’s regatta would go on to further success wining state, regional and national championships.

Miami, FL – MRC Board of Directors announce that General Assembly Meeting and Board Member Elections are going to be held on December 17, 2011.

Time: TBD

The 2012 Board of Directors Candidates are listed below. In the coming weeks, more information and brief bio’s for each candidate will be posted at the boathouse and be sent via email.

• JOSE BARED
• ROBERT BEHAR
• DEBBIE MATTHEWS
• MARINA McGUIRE McCABE
• RAFAEL MONTALVO
• BILL O’DONNELL

 
Any general member in good standing at MRC may forward their name to the Election Committee Chairman, Howard Kosowsky [hkosowsky@p-ls.com], expressing their desire to be included on the slate of Board Member candidates.

Absentee ballot requests must be made by 11/17

 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — About 10,000 rowers competed this weekend in the Head of the Hooch regatta on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.

Organizers said competitors came from more than 30 states, including Georgia, and ranged in age from 12 to 80.

The “Hooch” refers to the Chattahoochee River in Georgia where the event was once held. The event causes quite the stir downtown, and quite a boost to the city’s pocketbooks. The city of Chattanooga estimates the event brings in almost $5-million each year. That money is being spent at gas stations, hotels, and restaurants.

For the official YP MRC results please click bellow:

Head of Hooch 2011 YP Results

Halloween 2011 at MRC – Masters Women

Wonder what they will dream up next year? ……..come join in the fun and find out!

Please note some important points:

1.       Trailer loading:  Friday afternoon

2.       Practice on Saturday for the racing squad will be in Miami Beach at the race course, starting at 7:30 sharp and finishing at around 12:00 noon.

a.       All the squad members should be around the trailer in accordance with coaches instructions and  the time they are racing.

b.      All rowers will wear the unisuits for the race

c.       We will finish at around 2:30 pm and no rower is allowed to leave the race site until the trailer has been loaded and we have handed out medals.

Monday:  Regular practice at 4:30 pm in MRC.

Please use this link for the race schedule: 

Schedule

For those parents interested in looking at the line-up, please visit the Boat House.  All rowers  know the line-up.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Please make sure that you have completed the waiver for your rower(s)  An e-blast with instructions was sent out last week.  The race organizers will not allow any rower to race without it.

Thank you for your support.  We are sure that we will have a great start to the season on Sunday!

Go MRC!!!

CESAR HERRERA
Head Coach