University of Virginia Library

Crew Victors In Richmond

By Fred Leffel

After seven preparatory months
of grueling workouts, the
University of Virginia Rowing
Association opened its 1971 season
with two weekend regattas. On
Saturday the crew journeyed to
Richmond to take on Notre Dame
and a host of local colleges, while
Monday afternoon the Cavaliers
played host to powerful Marietta
College on the home Rivanna
Reservoir course.

In Saturday's races, despite
numerous delays, the Virginia
oarsmen seemed to outclass their
visiting Irish competitors, as well as
those from East Carolina, North
Carolina, Salisbury State, and VCU.
Rowing against a stiff current that
made the finishing times seem more
like those for the Boston Marathon
than those for a 2,000 meter crew
race, Virginia's first-year, junior
varsity, and varsity four crews won
easily by impressive margins. In the
feature varsity eight event,
however, the slide of Cavalier bow
man Larry Davis dislodged with
500 meters to go in the race and
Virginia bow-to-bow with a
surprising East Carolina. The effects
of Virginia's final sprint were
minimized as a result of the
equipment failure, and East
Carolina went on to win by open
water. VCU, North Carolina, and
Notre Dame trailed in the Cavaliers'
wake.

The significance of their
Richmond performance somewhat
dimmed by the unfortunate varsity
finish, the Cavaliers were up for
Monday's test against perennial
powerhouse Marietta.

In the freshman race, both crews
got off to good, clean starts, with
the baby Pioneers at a slightly
higher stroke. By the thousand
meter mark, the superior size
(average: 190 lbs.) and experience
of Marietta began to show as they
pulled away steadily up to the
finish, winning in the spectacular
time of 5:57.7. The JV race, on the
other hand, was a much closer
affair, with Virginia this time
pulling away to take a slight lead at
the start. Rowing strongly, Virginia
increased its lead by the 500 meter
mark and held on to it through
most of the "body" or middle 1000
meters. In the final sprint, Marietta
put on an extra burst of power to
win by just under a length.

The varsity race was the most
exciting of the weekend. Again,
Virginia moved out to slight
advantage on the start and
increased their lead to over one
length at times in the body. The
Pioneers, however, put on a
fantastic sprint effort to barely nip
the taller and heavier Virginia eight
at the finish. Marietta's winning
time was 5:54.3, and Virginia's.
5:57.0.

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