Wilton Rowers Reach Semi-Finals at Canadian Henley Regatta

Press release:

Wilton rower Greg Bauerfeld reached the semi-finals in two events, joined by fellow Wilton rower Patrick Lyon in one event, at the 132 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ontario. The Canadian Henley is widely regarded as the premier amateur rowing event in North America.

This year, the regatta was held from August 3 to 10 and attracted 2,173 crews from 136 teams in ten countries, including the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Great Britain, Kuwait, Lebanon and Mexico. Bauerfeld was in stroke seat and Lyon was coxswain in the mens’ under 19 four plus coxswain that advanced to the semi-finals. Bauerfeld had the bow seat in the mens’ under 19 pair (a boat where two rowers use one oar each) that missed making finals by only nine-tenths of a second.

It was a record year for Norwalk River Rowing at the Canadian Henley, with Pound Ridgers Kris Petreski and Liam McDonough winning a Henley Gold for Norwalk River in the mens’ under 17 double (a boat where two rowers each use two sculling oars). Their double was first in every qualifying race. The final was held in a strong headwind and choppy conditions that caused them to “catch a crab” (where an oar gets stuck in the water and slows the boat dramatically) in the last ten strokes of the race, but they were able to regain both their composure and the lead.

This is the first Henley Gold won by Norwalk River Rowing in the prestigious Canadian Henley Regatta, and the only Henley Gold won by a Connecticut crew this year. Petreski also took third place in the mens’ single dash (an open age category).

The club placed three additional boats in the finals, all mens’ under 17 singles. Norwalk River Rowing also advanced two additional boats to the semi-finals, a womens’ under 17 double and another under 17 single.

Head Coach Yuri Kolomiets remarked that “Our rowers were up against some of the finest rowers in the world. A Henley Gold is an impressive achievement. All of our athletes worked hard mentally and physically to get to this point and brought their ‘A game’. They should be very proud of their results. If they continue to master their technique, they should have a very good fall season.”

The Norwalk River Rowing Association is a community-based rowing organization promoting a lifelong passion for the sport of rowing – regardless of age or income. Rowing is a sport that people generally only begin in late middle school or high school or even after. If you are interested in joining the team or learning to row, check out the team at www.norwalkriverrowing.org or on Facebook.

Photo: NNRA’s mens’ under 19 four plus (from left) with coxswain Patrick Lyon, Greg Helms, Liam McDonough, Kris Petreski, and Greg Beaurfeld. Credit: Norwalk River Rowing Association