Norwalk River Rowing Wins Big in Hartford

Norwalk River Rowing Youth and Masters’ racing teams competed at the Head of the Riverfront in Hartford on Oct 4th and won 7 medals: three golds, two silvers, and two bronzes. With over 700 boats entered, this regatta featured crews from all over New England and New York.

The 1st place men’s V 4+, which included Norwalk’s Brian Helms, finished 26 seconds ahead of the 2nd place boat, and the 1st place men’s JV4+ with Norwalk resident Chris Martensson, finished 24 seconds ahead of 2nd place. Helms also rowed in the silver-winning men’s V 4x.

Not to be outdone, the masters mixed (men and women) 8+ finished an amazing one minute and 11 seconds ahead of second. The masters 8+ was powered by five Norwalk residents: Sarah Kline, Tom Helmkamp, Tim Hood, Phil Negus and Elisabeth Stonehill.

Norwalk’s Olivia Clark, Gillian Castro, Nicole Vacas and Amelia Ornato won a bronze medal in the women’s V 4+. Clark and Castro also won a bronze in the women’s 2x. NRRA also won a silver in the men’s novice master single (27 and over).

photo: (from) Left: Kris Petreski, Brian Helms, Patrick Lyons, Greg Bauerfeld, and Liam McDonough celebrate their first place finish