Six NBRC Masters claim medals at Nationals

The North Bay Rowing Club powered its way to six medals at the U.S. Rowing Masters National Championships.|

After wowing the local rowing community with a junior team that placed 13th in the nation in June, the rowers from the North Bay Rowing Club have stepped it up even further.

Last week, Lake Merritt was the site of the U.S. Rowing Masters National Championships.

Six rowers from NBRC came home with medals from the highly competitive event that featured 1,630 entries from 30 states and Canada.

Earning a bronze in the mixed quad (4 people, 2 oars each) in the 55-59 average age category, Steve Messner, Emma Chow, Anita Buckner and Ned Orrett edged out the fourth place boat by less than half a second.

Chow exclaimed, “It was a third-place win, so exciting it felt like a Gold Medal.”

Colene Mace took a bronze medal in the women’s single sculls in the 70s age group.

NBRC rower Abigail Smyth teamed up with rowers from other local clubs to take home two goldmedals in the 43-49 average age category, one in the women’s double sculls and one in the women’s quad.

“Smaller clubs new to Masters Nationals usually come away empty handed so our medal performances as well as a few final finishes just out of the medals are really impressive, said NBRC coach Steve Messner.

“Just to make finals here is a very good accomplishment, and a good number of our rowers were able to do that. It’s very motivating for our next season of racing in the fall.”

North Bay Rowing Club was founded by Greg Sabourin with a small group focused on open water rowing. Today, NBRC has 170 masters/juniors and supports a diverse group of men and women of all ages and skill levels, with interests ranging from recreation to elite competition.

The juniors program continues to expand and grow with coveted college rowing scholarships awarded to its varsity graduating seniors every year, and ever more NBRC rowers continuing to row competitively in college programs throughout the United States.

Recent Alum Sam Lamos rows for Cal, and won a gold medal this summer at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships.

Signups for NBRC’s high school competitive racing team and middle school learn-to-row team are happening right now. Adult rowing programs for all levels are ongoing.

NBRC hosts an annual rowing regatta. This year’s event is the Petaluma Marathon/Half Marathon, which will be held on Sept. 2 on the Petaluma River. It is open to all human-powered watercraft, including rowing shells, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards.

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