West Side Rowing club preps for Henley

By Jessica Miranda and Ashley Stobnicki 
Bengal News West Reporters

The West Side Rowing Club is busy preparing rowers to participate in the highly competitive Royal Canadian Henley Regatta that is held annually in St. Catharines, Ontario.
        Celebrating 133 years, the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, St. Catharines, Ontario, welcomes competitors from across the world to compete again for the Henley gold. This year the race takes place August 2-9 giving every team ample summer preparation.  

“The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta is one of the largest rowing events in North America,” said Peter Scott, Jr., regatta chair.

Experienced rowers travel from across Canada,  the United States, Europe, Australia and Latin America to compete in this yearly event.

“The Royal Henley race originated in Henley, England. The race was made to showcase the most well-known and skilled rowers in England. It wasn’t until many years later that the race became international and then many years later from that would it be held in St. Catharines,"   Scott said.

Women rowers prep for the Henley race

In particular West Side Rowing Club, 40 Porter Ave., sends  one female team and one male team yearly to compete in the prestigious race.
 “We’ve competed in Henley for a little over 80 years,” Boathouse Director and Head Coach Miles Schwartz said. “Whether we leave with a trophy or not competing in this race has always been an honor at West Side Rowing Club. It’s even more special for the competitors. It’s not often you can say you’ve raced against some of the best from all around the world,” Schwartz said. 

 The race is comprised of 20 events where every team or single rower is to race one mile, which is longer than the standard race distance. There are often two races at once on the course for much of the day so the finalists can be determined faster. The last day of the Henley, of course, is for the finalists. 

The rowing club  is assembling teams to compete in this year’s race for both the men’s and women’s divisions. Each boat will contain eight rowers and one coxi, the boat coordinator. So far three of the eight  seats are  filled for the women’s boat but determinations are still being made for the men’s boat.
 Just to qualify to compete in the Henley, rowers need to pass several tests of their strength and endurance, as former Henley gold medalist Monica Lorenti can attest.
“I had to try out for the team. I was timed for how long it took me to run three miles, how long it took to row a half mile, and the coaches looked at our rowing techniques,” Lorenti said.
 Lorenti said that preparation for Henley took about three to four months. This not only included physical training, but their coaches would encourage all of the teammates to hangout outside of practices to form a stronger bond that would later unify the team for the race.

          


          “We won Henley back in 2007. Your whole heart, body and mind had to prepare for this. I felt amazing. Winning Henley was one of the best days of my life honestly,” Lorenti said.

          Throughout its 100 year existence, the rowing club   has been managed by a volunteer board of directors and officers  that commit themselves to the success of high-status races like Henley.

          According to Scott, it is races like this that have put the rowing club  on the map and showcased rowers who gone on to represent their country in the Olympics, Pan American Games and European Championships.