Oak Ridge Today

USRowing Masters National Championships begins Thursday

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The USRowing Masters National Championships is in Oak Ridge from Thursday to Sunday.

The regatta is hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

The event draws competitors who are 21 years old and older from all across the United States. For many rowers, it will be their first big regatta in two years, a press release said. The regatta was last hosted by ORRA in 2017.

Racing will run each day from about 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Setup for the four-day regatta began on Saturday, August 7. Teams began to arrive Tuesday, August 10. and practice Wednesday, August 11.

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More than 100 teams register for USRowing National Championships

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The 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta is pictured above in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

There are more than 1,400 entries from 112 teams from across the United States for the USRowing Masters National Championships in Oak Ridge next week.

The championship regattas will be at Melton Lake Park in east Oak Ridge from August 12-15.

There will be rowers from as far away as Boston and San Diego.

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Oak Ridge to host 2021 USRowing Masters National Championships

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Rowing at Melton Hill Lake (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The 2021 USRowing Masters National Championships will be in Oak Ridge in August.

The championships, hosted by Oak Ridge Rowing Association, will be on Melton Hill Lake from August 12-15.

“We’re looking forward to offering the opportunity for our masters rowers to get back on the water at the USRowing Masters National Championships later this summer,” said USRowing Director of Events James Rawson. “Oak Ridge is a beloved racing venue, and we’re thrilled to be working with them for another national championship regatta. As always, our number one priority will be to run a safe regatta. We will be putting COVID protocols in place and will announce these measures closer to the event.”

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Oak Ridge Rowing Association hosting USRowing Masters National Championships this week

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The 2017 USRowing Masters National Championships will be held in Oak Ridge in August. The championships are scheduled for August 17-20 on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy USRowing)

 

Oak Ridge Rowing Association will host the 2017 USRowing Masters National Championships from Thursday, August 17, to Sunday, August 20.

“With 3,000 rowers coming to town to compete in the highest masters level race and a peninsula filled with food and shopping, come experience the event!” the Oak Ridge Rowing Association said in a press release distributed by the City of Oak Ridge.

This regatta will take place down at the Oak Ridge Rowing Association Boathouse and on the waterfront. Rowers will arrive on site to practice on Wednesday, August 16, and will compete August 17-20, the press release said.

The parking lot in front of the boathouse will remain closed from August 17-20 for the championship regatta, the press release said. The public boat ramp next to the boathouse will be closed for the duration of the regatta also. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will close the waterway that is affected by the regatta until Sunday, August 20, the press release said. [Read more…]

Road detour for USRowing Masters National Championships this weekend

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The USRowing Masters National Championships will be at Melton Lake Park this weekend, August 17-20.

There will be a detour for non-local traffic at Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road to reduce congestion and increase pedestrian safety, a press release said. The Melton Lake Greenway will be open as usual, but users should be cautious as there will be considerably more activity on the section that parallels the rowing course, the press release said. The parking lot and boat ramp at Melton Lake Park will be closed to the public from Thursday through Sunday.

Oak Ridge Rowing Association is the local host of the regatta. Questions or concerns should be directed to the regatta director, Sarah McAuliffe, at (508) 488-0868.

Explore Oak Ridge will be on site supporting the event and providing visitors with information about Oak Ridge, the press release said.

USRowing Masters Nationals returns to Oak Ridge in 2017

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The 2017 USRowing Masters National Championships will be held in Oak Ridge in August. The championships are scheduled for August 17-20 on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy USRowing)

 

The 2017 USRowing Masters National Championships will be held in Oak Ridge in August.

The championships are scheduled for August 17-20 on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge. USRowing announced the dates and location on Friday.

There were more than 2,000 entries from 165 clubs for the 2016 event on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts, in August. It was the largest USRowing event ever, according to USRowing. (Oak Ridge rower Michael Schay won several gold medals there.)

The bar has been set even higher for 2017, USRowing said, citing Oak Ridge Rowing Association Regatta Director Sarah McAuliffe.

“Oak Ridge Rowing Association is extremely excited to provide an excellent athlete experience for rowers at Masters Nationals 2017,” said McAuliffe. “With our race course recognized as one of the best in the country, and an organization that has decades of experience hosting high-caliber events, rowers will have the ability to connect with other athletes socially and competitively…With our race course that is recognized as one of the best in the country, and an organization that has decades of experience hosting high-caliber events, rowers will have the ability to connect with other athletes socially and competitively.” [Read more…]

Local rower Mike Schay takes gold at Masters Nationals

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Mike Schay

Michael Schay, an Oak Ridge resident who rows out of the Oak Ridge Rowing Association boathouse, competed in the 2016 USRowing Masters National Championships in Worcester, Massachusetts, from Aug. 18-20, 2016, and he won gold medals in the Men’s F1x, Men’s E4x, and Men’s F4x. (Submitted photo)

 

By Evelyn Radford

Oak Ridge resident Michael Schay is making a big splash in the rowing community.

Accompanied by his wife and training partner Nancy, Mike rows out of the Oak Ridge Rowing Association boathouse, competing under the name of “Atomic.”

The couple recently traveled to Worcester, Massachusetts, to compete in the 2016 USRowing Masters National Championships. Unlike the flat waters of Melton Hill Lake that Mike is accustomed to, Lake Quinsigamond, the body of water where the 1,000-meter head-to-head races were held, is known for its hazardous conditions and constant choppy water.

Yet if you know anything about Mike, you know that when he puts his mind to something, he intends to accomplish it. Mike ended up sweeping almost every single event, advancing through heats to win gold medals in the Men’s F1x, Men’s E4x, and Men’s F4x. [Read more…]