At Sunday’s (October 13) American Lake Fall Classic 2019, Bainbridge Island Rowing medaled in just about all of the team’s events and came home with an impressive 15 top-three finishes out of 17 races.
BIR brought home gold in the men’s Open 2, besting Sammamish by a solid 21 seconds; in the women’s Open 2, ahead of Vancouver Lake and a third-place BIR sister boat; and in the men’s coxed JV 8, 28 seconds ahead of Sammamish.
The men’s Varsity 8+ and women’s Varsity 8+ boats got silver, as did the men’s Novice 4x+ and the women’s Novice 8+.
The women’s JV 8+ missed out on a silver medal to Sammamish by a mere six-tenths of a second. Other third-place winners were the men’s Novice 8+, the men’s Varsity 4+, the women’s JV 4+, the women’s JV 8+, the women’s Lightweight Varsity 4+, the women’s Novice 4x+, and the aforementioned women’s Open 2.
The Commencement Bay Rowing Club was host to this classic medalfest, which took place in the team’s home waters, American Lake in Lakewood just south of Tacoma, and featured 26 junior and master rowing clubs from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. All races were 5Ks, the course taking rowers in a counterclockwise route around the circumference of the lake.
The American Lake Fall Classic is one of those rare regattas where spectators can get a good view of the finish line, in this case from a large hillside sloping down to the boat launches. The regatta featured an awesome logo on signage, social media, clothing for sale, and even the medals.
Aside from a little early morning drizzle, the weather cooperated. It was cool and cloudy but calm. In between races, rowers played basketball in adjacent Harry Todd Park; rested at picnic tables, on the boat trailer, or on inflatable couches; and enjoyed the spectacular fall view.
See all the results here.
Next up? The BRRR Regatta, hosted by BIR, and Head of the Lake, November 2 and 3.
Here are some shots of the American Lake Fall Classic 2019:
Photos by Sarah Lane.
