Nov. 17, 2005

FAIRFIELD, CT - Crews generally fell to powerhouse Fordham University at the Grimaldi Cup / Fall Metropolitan Championships on November 5th. Fordham's women took gold in all but the Novice 4+ event and rowed away with almost double the team points of second place Fairfield U. In women's team totals, Iona placed third, followed by Sacred Heart, NYU, Manhattan College and Hofstra.

Sacred Heart's goal of holding off Fairfield was dashed when unforeseen circumstance caused last-minute lineup changes in the novice boats. While the varsity boats were stronger relatively than in past years, one thing or another seemed to conspire against the Pioneers, allowing Fairfield to dominate slightly in all events.

In a late addition to the Pioneer schedule, SHU crews traveled to Philadelphia for regattas on the 12th and 13th. High school, masters and club rowers joined college crews from Temple, Penn State, Lehigh, La Salle, Stony Brook; Lafayette, St. Joseph's, Loyola, Binghamton, Scranton, Haverford, Old Dominion, Oswego St, Dowling, St. Mary's and Wilkes to row the 2000m course at the Frostbite Regatta on Saturday, and many stayed for the 1500m racing at the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta the following day.

Sacred Heart rowed well in the novice 4+ and 8+, varsity (open) 4+ and 8+ events both days, solidly in the mix in all racing. Coaches Turner and Fischetti rowed the mixed double sculls event in a four-boat race on Sunday, and after finishing in second position fell to third place by handicap, a disappointing one-third of a second behind.

Mid-November weather in the 60's and very respectable racing left SHU crewmembers happy at the close of their fall season.

Results from the regattas are posted on www.row2k.com