June 2008 The Official Newsletter of Capital Club Quick Catch! Community Rowing in the Nation’s Capital

Vol. 1, Issue 4 www.capitalrowing.org

The Rows of : Capital’s Very Own Old INTERVIEW BY HOLLY GERBERICH, Competitive Women’s program

It’s a race so famous that it is simply called The Holly Gerberich: How many Veterans’ Races has evolved to higher standards. Ten years Boat Race. have you rowed? ago, it was a smaller, less intense event. 2008 marked the 154th anniversary of Duncan Spencer: Every year since 1995 – that this notorious competition that began as was the year of the 1965 crew reunion. The And this year, you were not the oldest row- a big idea between two childhood school- last three have been very disappointing. er, even though one website mistakenly re- mates who ended up at the rival universities has been very well organized and ported that you were? Oxford and Cambridge. One challenged the trained all winter. Oxford put together a crew I was not the oldest! Alexander Lindsay, 72, other to a boat race and thus the tradition at the last minute, practiced once or twice and was the oldest to row in the Veteran’s Race began each year, with the loser from the then raced. Since there are so many Ameri- this year. I first rowed with him at Henley in previous year challenging the winner for a cans that come to row, it is nearly impossible 1964. He was a member of 1960 British VIII re-match. to get our crew together for more that. Olympic team. It is by far, the world’s most popular re- Cambridge has beat Oxford for the last We should not be rowing with the 40 and gatta – and not just within the sport, but three years! Overall, they have wins to 50 year-olds, but there is desperation to find with the general population of the UK. An our five. people who can row this race year to year. estimated quarter of a million people line Even though the Veteran’s Race is minor the Thames River in each year to addenda to The Boat Race and the second- Tell me about the day of The Boat Race. view the competition which includes only ary Isie Goldie race, veterans’ rowing overall It’s a terrific hoot! I love going back each year. four crews and two races. The television viewing audience in the UK is another seven “In this sport, you have to drink the cup of humiliation down to the very dregs. to nine million. If you are not willing to be beaten, you will not get ahead. ” The event also includes a Vet- eran’s Race that takes place two days prior to The Boat Race. It was organized 12 years ago by some “Old Blues” (as Oxford alumni are called) that wanted to have a re- union at the time of the Race. This year, Capital Rowing Club’s Duncan Spencer returned again to become, at 67, the second oldest competitor (he kindly reminded me that his mate Alexander Lindsay was the oldest at age 72). Duncan recently took some time to chat with me about this remarkable ex- perience and his rowing life. 1964 Oxford Crew at The Boat Race, with Duncan Spencer at stroke. Cambridge pulled out the win that year.

Capital Rowing Club: Located at 1115 O Street, SE • Washington, DC 20005 Member, Anacostia Community Boathouse Association (ACBA) ing which I rowed just a little at Potomac (Boat Club). It’s only been the last 15-20 years that I’ve really got back into it.

When did you first start rowing? I started at a boys’ prep school in Massachu- setts in 1953 when I was 13. My Scottish father was in the shipping business and came to the U.S. after WWI. He always loved water sports and he taught me to row when I was very young, so it was natural to take rowing where it was offered. And I love boats, I always have.

Where are all of the rest of the rowers in your age group? There are a great many of people my age still rowing. I am not sure why our club is so thin in geezers, but there are a bunch at PBC (Po- tomac Boat Club). It may have something to do with this city. DC is a workaholic’s para- Fifty-five years after learning to row, Duncan is still bringing home the hardware. Here he shows off med- als won at the 2007 Masters Nationals in Oak Ridge, Tenn. dise. Masters rowing is more and more fun ev- ery year because I’ve gotten to know more I have dozens of lifelong friends from my three Race training was very much like it is to- and more people in my age group – you know years there and the bonds and the experience day. The only difference is that the training they are going to see each other at various are truly unique. I also have a sister in London, now is much more intense and much more races. and when I go there, I visit as many friends as scientific. We paid little attention to a good I’ve always been fond of rowers – they are possible. diet or even exercise outside of rowing or run- some of the finest people I’ve ever met. In this The Boat Race day is like a national holi- ning. No weights, no heartbeat monitoring, sport, you have to drink the cup of humiliation day. There are over a quarter of a million no professional coaching. down to the very dregs. If you are not willing spectators – something unimaginable in U.S. Old Blues had amateur coaches. None to be beaten, you will not get ahead in this rowing. It’s like a mob scene ... the entire city of them were paid. Neither the Oxford nor sport. It’s a no excuse, racing sport. You can’t pays attention. And there are only four crews Cambridge boat clubs are supported by their blame the ref, luck or anything else. competing! universities. They have to buy everything The Oxford Old Blues hire a large boat themselves. In fact, until the 1980s when very How long will you continue to row? from which to watch The Race. After, the Uni- welcome TV sponsorship came about, all the I don’t think will do too many more years of versity Boat Club hosts a black tie (and riotous) costs of The Boat Race were met by the mem- sweep, but I will continue to scull. As Dave Boat Race dinner in a posh, downtown hotel. bers of the two clubs. It is still one of the big- Challinor, a member of PBC who recently died Only on the 150th anniversary of The Boat gest free sports events. Before that it was a said: the main thing is to keep going. Race (2004) were women were invited to the terrible scramble to get donations. Dinner (aside from the few women who have Professionalism in rowing has increased actually participated in The Race – several enormously. Everything has become more coxswains and one Old Blue, Nick, who, now expensive. Everyone has started to hire pro- trans-gendered is called Nicola). I took my 15 fessional coaches and buy better equipment. year old daughter (at the time) that year. This has brought a much higher class of sports- After that is the Ball – for both schools – man into the game. In the last seven years, the which is a big affair. I don’t go to the Ball these standard of The Boat Race has been nearly at So who won The Boat Race days, but I did when I was in school, and it was the Olympic level. Almost every member of this year? Oxford did, by six always a drunken rout. this year’s crews will be trying out for the na- tional team. boat lengths. And due to the How many Boat Races did you row while at appalling windy and rainy Oxford? Where else have your rowed over the years? rowing conditions, their time I rowed in three boat races – 1963, 1964 and I rowed at Yale before Oxford. Yale was once a 1965 and we won two of those four. great rowing school. But a man named King- of 20 minutes and 53 seconds man Brewster was elected president and he was the slowest since 1947. What was The Boat Race and rowing like in hated rowing. Yale lost the Harvard race for 18 the ‘60’s? years after he was elected. Everyone is going to laugh. It was another age. I worked as a journalist for 13 years, dur-

 How to Go Out in a Single and Not Tip Over Thanks to Michael Brown (Club PM, & VP – Operations) and Ashley Doherty (SAW, Sculling), Capital has three new additions to our sculling fleet – and new oars to boot! BY Sameera Hasan, Michael Brown and Ashley Doherty

id you walk into the boathouse at the January while rowing at the Florida Rowing from Siberia. Dbeginning of May and nearly run into Center, Michael spotted the Maas 24 and the Michael and Ashley have further enhanced a bright yellow single in the middle bay? other Zephyr. the donor spirit amongst Capitalists! Since Thanks to Michael Brown and Ashley Doherty, Delivery from Craftsbury was repeatedly the sculling boat donations, Capital has also Capital’s newish novice sculling program has delayed. The shell was finally delivered to received donated sculling oars (courtesy of three new flat-bottomed training boats. Baltimore and the driver explained that they Michael Brown), cash donations for a new Most rowing camps teach sculling using had been unable to find the boat onsite. As it launch engine, and many man-hours of these boats, and as skill levels progress rowers turned out, one of the Zephyrs had been put donated time to install and reconfigure racks move up to the thinner racing shells. They are on wrong rack and was mixed up with the for the new boats, to train the new novice also excellent boats for recreational sculling. racing shells. But as luck would have it, the scullers, to paint and prep the new oars, and Ashley raised the possibility of donating boat was unwrapped to show a brand new so on. Many thanks to all Capital contributors a novice/recreational shell last summer. With boat or one that had just barely been rowed. – whether you give back with your time, his mind always on Capital’s fleet, Michael Florida Rowing Center delivered their money or both! started to keep an eye out for a possible boat other two shells a week later, and just in time and noticed the Zephyr for sale at Craftsbury for our first Novice Sculling class session. around Thanksgiving 2007. When she Ashley selected the name “Capital Nation” Sculling program member Rob Best takes to agreed to donate the boat, Michael started for her Zephyr. Michael will name the other the course at the 2007 US Rowing Masters Nationals in Oak Ridge, Tenn. thinking of doing something similar since, by the “Capital Donation.” The Maas will be coordinating their two donations, they would known as the “Siberian Express” on behalf of Inset: An example of the Peinert flat- really make a difference for Capital. This Michael’s two daughters, both of whom come bottomed training boat, recently added to Capital’s small boat fleet.

Photo: Rachel Freedman

 June & July Freedman Rachel Photo:

A hearty collection of medals won by Capital Rowing Club at a past Charm City Regatta.

Sat. 6/21 Sat.-Sun. 7/05-06 Sat. 7/19 Charm City Sprints Independence Day CRC 20th Anniversary Baltimore, MD Regatta Gala - 8:00 p.m. Hosted by Baltimore Rowing Philadelphia, PA The Studio Gallery Club. Contact your program Hosted by the Schuylkill Navy 2108 R St., NW

EVENTS representative for more of Philadelphia. Known as Washington, DC information. the People’s Regatta through (near Dupont Circle Metro) 1957, this regatta has been Cocktails, music and Mon. 6/23 held continuously since 1880. silent auction. Sponsors Novice Sculling include Surreal Vodka, (Mon/Sat.) begins Sat. 7/12 Budweiser, SmartWater and Contact michelle_fryc@ Capital Sprints Carafe Wines. Fore more capitalrowing.org for more Anacostia River information, contact Windy_ information or to volunteer. Hosted by Capital Rowing [email protected]. Club. Volunteers needed! Wed. 6/25 Please contact your program For more information on Novice Sculling (Wed./ rep for volunteer information. these events, visit Sun.) begins www.capitalrowing.org. Contact michelle_fryc@ Sat. 7/19 capitalrowing.org (sculling) Competitive Team Erg To submit photos for for more information. Test #3 inclusion in the events Location: Anacostia calendar, or elsewhere in Community Boathouse. Quick Catch, please email [email protected]. CRC



NOVICES DUKE IT OUT Weekend, Weekday And WeCanRow Classes Meet on Anacostia by Dorene haney, Competitive Women’s program

he second annual 11th-Day Novice The second race was rendered far more (Comp Women). TRegatta and BBQ on May 17 featured two exciting by the appearance of power boats, Also, thanks to Jeff Davis (Comp Men), exciting novice races, and the inauguration of one of which motored directly between two of our very own paparazzo, who captured the Capital’s new, ginormous smoker-grill. the racing boats. The WCR recovered action; and Dave Barksdale (Comp Men), who It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we had nicely and their boat moved up at the finish, contributed drinks and guard dogs. Thanks to a great turnout from CRC. WeCanRow (WCR) but couldn’t catch the weekend boat. The coaches Bob Brady (Comp Men) and Austin was having their learn-to-row weekend, and rowers were exhausted but enthusiastic – as Middleton for acting as officials, and warding plenty of WCR participants and alumnae were befits the most exciting 11th-Day Regatta ever. off the power boats that appeared. on hand to cheer on their boats. There were (Ok, ok, there have only been two; but still ...) And last, but by no means least, the two 8s races, with three boats each. The first Everyone had a great time, and I’m happy coxswains, who earned their Hello Kitty race was between the weekend novice class to report that the new grill/smoker is amaz- tiaras on Saturday (in which they looked (coxed by Mae Wu, Comp Women), and the ing. Dan Croghan and Peter Courtney (Comp quite fetching), and during this entire class, WCR program. The WCR boat got off to Men), fired it up and it makes a pretty impres- with their tireless volunteer efforts and a strong start, but the others kept up, and sive mess-o-smoke! The rowers, their family their patience and good cheer: Mae Wu and the weekend novice boat started walking and friends devoured an impressive quantity Sameera Hasan. before the bridge. Despite a valiant effort, the of burgers and hotdogs, but the grill and her The second weekend novice class is going weekend novice boat didn’t manage to catch crew were able to keep up with the demand. on now, coached by Austin Middleton and Bob WCR, missing 1st place by half the bow deck. Thanks to the grill crew: Janet Fitch (Comp Brady. We look forward to having everyone The weeknight boat was a close third, making Women), who towed the grill into place; come down and get a piece of the action, 9:00 for an exciting race. and Danimal, Peter and Joe who cooked a.m. to noon, Saturdays and Sundays (except The WCR boat swapped out four rowers, up a storm without burning their eyebrows July 5). This class will be having its graduation the weekend boat swapped out six, and all off. Thanks also to the finish line crew: Julie regatta/BBQ along with the whole club at three raced again. The weeknight boat gamely Peterson (Comp Women) and Magnus Capital Sprints on July 12, when we put the rowed a second 1,000m race immediately Carlsson (Club AM/Sculling), and the Vanna new grill to its club-wide test. See you there! after the first, with no fresh legs to help out! White of the awards dock, Holly Gerberich

Photo: Jeff Davis



FRIENDS OF CAPITAL TEST YOUR CAPITAL I.Q. Do you know your Capital Trivia? This year’s 20th Anniversary Capital Gala Fundraiser, on Saturday, July 19, promises to be one for the ages. CRC was founded in 1988. Who is the only original In planning this event, CRC’s Devel- Capital member still rowing with the Club today and opment Director WIndy Shepard which program does this rower belong to? (Comp Women) and Social Direc- tor Dan Croghan (Comp Men) have received loads of support from the ** Newsletter Committee, Board The first two current members to respond correctly following beverage sponsors: members, and the provider of will get $1 off of their next race fee. this Capital fact are not eligible Email your answer to: [email protected]. Surreal Vodka to win. Budweiser SmartWater Carafe Wines May Capital I.Q. Answer: Kelley O’Connell (Comp Women) correctly replied that in 1999, at the 12.5 mile-long Wye Island Regatta, Capital’s Intermediate program (predecessor to Club AM) entered a The next time you order a beverage, mixed 8+ that ran aground during the race. Kelley and Jeff Loftus, the provider of this Capital fact, were make an effort to support those who the ones who had to jump out of the boat when it got stuck. help support us!

(If you drink, please do so responsi- bly and take a cab or the Metro.) COACHES’ CORNER Tips on Making Your Training Most Effective BY coach elena bratichko with SAMEERA HASAN, Competitive Women & Sculling programs

Capital’s Competitive Men’s and Women’s coach and former Olympian Elena Bratichko, was interviewed for this month’s Coaches’ Corner article. Here she stresses the importance of obtaining and maintaining flexibility by incorporating stretching into your rowing workouts.

hile the April and May Coaches’ Cor- TOE TOUCH: LAYING TORSO STRETCH: prior to getting into your Wner pieces focused on transitioning (without shoes, preferably) Lay down slowly, vertebrae by boat. into on-the-water training and getting into Standing position, with bent vertebrae. Bring the right an- While standing (without shape for sprint season, this month Coach knees, put fingers under the kle up to the left knee. Mak- shoes), take one foot and curl Elena decided to focus rowers’ attention on sole of the feet (reaching un- ing sure the shoulders remain it under so that the big toe’s flexibility. der the toes, from the front). on the floor, bring the right nail is touching the floor (or While admitting that she’s no doctor, Slowly straighten the knees, knee down to the floor, cross- dock.) Then, reach up with Coach Elena wants rowers to know that flex- going up vertebrae by verte- ing the body. Return slowly to that side’s arm, stretching that ibility keeps people healthy. For rowers, con- brae. the upward position, switch side of your torso. Switch feet stantly leaning to port or starboard works sides and repeat. and repeat. You should feel one side of the body, but does not build TORSO STRETCH: this in your hip flexor muscles muscles equally. After a rowing workout, it is Standing position with legs LAYING SPINE STRETCH: and also in your torso. imperative for rowers to do “self alignment” spread more than shoulder- Lay down slowly, vertebrae In summary, increased exercises immediately after rowing. These width apart, point one foot by vertebrae. With your arms flexibility means increased exercises only take about 5 minutes to do, forward and the other to the on the floor beside you, slow- control over your body mo- but save rowers from having problems that right (so that foot is perpen- ly lift your pelvis up and down tions, which leads to in- arise from being out of alignment. After row- dicular with the other, for- using your spine. Next, with creased control in the boat. ing, your muscles are inflamed. Coach Elena ward-facing one). Extend your arms now outstretched These simple and quick exer- says that even if rowers don’t feel it at the the arm up so that body is in and reaching forward, slowly cises are designed to correct time, they’ll feel the pain later. She recom- a straight line from the right- lift yourself up and down us- a rower’s body after working mends the following five exercises to self- pointed foot all the way to the ing your spine. muscles on one side of the align and to increase overall flexibility that is right hand and hold. Then, body more than the other. so needed in rowing. bring the arm down behind The final recommend- This “self-alignment” will help the back and open up the ed stretching exercise may reduce soreness and prevent chest to stretch the shoulder, be done when first getting injury, in addition to adding chest and torso. Switch sides up (before you put on your flexibility and gaining even and repeat. shoes) or when on the dock, more control over your body.