The Occoquan Challenge 2012 was held Saturday, October 7th and several Virginia Boat Club (VBC) participants earned medals. The Challenge is rowed on a 5K course on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax, VA. The race allows competitors to race flat out on a fully buoyed course with several challenging turns. Each year the Challenge contributes most of its profits to a grant program that supports paddling sports throughout the region.
Virginia Boat Club excelled this year against some strong competition--especially strong college programs. The Men's Master 8+ won first place with a time of 14:45 "smashing" the course record of 15:06.
Congratulations to all VBC members who participated!
Results:
- Men's Master 8+ (40-49 age class): First Place. Rowers: Katie Wood (coxswain), Brian Hood (stroke), Will Sauve, Steve Abbot, Paul Georgiadis, Sean Bamman, Joe Manfredi, Olaf Barth, Steve Chilmaid
- Women's Master 8+ (40-49): Second Place. Rowers: Maura Norford (coxswain), Brooks West, Loretta Molin, Kim Nelson, Kelly Kennedy, Caitlin Toynbee, Sheila Bullock, Fran Mason, Katherine Townsend
- Men's 4+ Club Event: Sixth Place "behind some very strong college programs." Rowers: Nick Altimari (coxswain), Brian Searle (stroke), Yuriy Levitskiy, Mark Moran, Josh Crist
- Men's Master 4+ (40-49): First Place. Rowers: Katie Wood (coxswain), Brian Hood (stroke), Jason Rife, Steve Abbot, Steve Chilmaid
- Men's Master 4+ (50+): Second Place. Rowers: Laura Joseph (coxswain), Bob Benway (stroke), Art Mayer, Jeff Molin, Brian Nelson
- Men's Quad 4x: Second Place. Rowers: Sean Bamman (stroke), Joe Manfredi, Mark Willis, Olaf Barth