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Brentwood Double Sets Course Record at Head of the Charles

25 October 2010
In August, 2010, Martin B and Ruben S met for the first time at the World Junior Rowing Championships. Ruben was rowing in two seat of the German quad and Martin, stroke seat in the Canadian crew. Martin’s Canadian crew had some last minute illness and were unable to row on the final day, while Ruben’s German quad raced from the front and won the gold medal; they were crowned World Champions. This past weekend, these two young men, one from Nanaimo, the other from Hamburg, teamed up in an international effort to win one of the world`s most prestigious regattas.

These two Grade 11 students made a commitment in September to try and win the Youth 2x. Preparing for this event included long rows, weight training, and competitive sessions with the University of Victoria varsity men and the Canadian senior national team.

Travelling to Boston with Brentwood coach and alumnus, Harold Backer, the boys had an opportunity to row out of the Harvard boathouse for a day, Northeastern University for a day, as well as tour the Harvard campus.
On Sunday morning, with each crew starting at 15 second intervals, Ruben and Martin started 40th of 41. They would have to row in the wake of, and pass, several crews to reach their goal. At the first timed interval, the Brentwood double was 2nd by one second. At the second marker, six seconds in front. At the third marker, eleven seconds in the lead. In the last 800 meters, the Brentwood boys hit some congestion from slower crews in front of them, but they were able to move around these boats and cross the line in 16:58. They waited anxiously as the final crews crossed the line. When the official results came up, Ruben and Martin were champions, beating the silver medalists by four seconds. What is also incredible is that they beat the previous course record by 48 seconds. The Head of the Charles Regatta has been run for 45 years; this record will be very tough to break. This is the third time Brentwood has sent a crew to the Head of the Charles, and the first victory for the school.

There were a number of Brentwood alumni racing at the Charles as well. Eric Jackson (2010) was in seven seat for Northeastern University and Spencer Crowley (2007) was rowing for Cal Berkeley in six seat, both in the Championship 8+ event. Cal finished third behind UW and Harvard. Harold Backer (1980) and Greg Hughes (1992) also raced for the Princeton University alumni crew known as the Fat Cat Rowing Club. Greg is also the Head Rowing Coach at Princeton University.

Mr. Brian Carr, Head of Rowing

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