GVSU Men Bow Out to Brock University
After defeating Durham University on Wednesday, Grand Valley Rowing’s Varsity 8 bowed out to Dad Vail Champions Brock University in today’s heat at the Henley Royal Regatta, officially finishing one and one-fourths of a boat length behind Brock.
The second round of the Temple Challenge Cup commenced for the GVSU rowers at 2:35 p.m. local time, as the GVSU crew lined up at the Berkshire Station against Brock University, the winners of the men’s varsity 8+ at the 2010 Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. Brock would jump ahead immediately off the race’s beginning.
“They just had us off the start, but they never gained any more than what they gained off the start,” sophomore coxswain Hallie Dorsey said.
Down the course, Brock would record a time of 1:54 at the Barrier, 3:14 at Fawley, and finish the race with a time of 6:48. For the Henley Royal Regatta, only times for the winning crews are announced; also, regarding the Barrier and Fawley, landmarks are used in lieu of mileage or distance markers.
“They didn’t take any moves, that I saw,” Dorsey continued. “When we took our move through the center, it seemed as if we were going to regain ground, but they were just faster.”
Officially, Grand Valley was listed as finishing one and one-fourths of a boat length behind Brock.
“Towards the end, it was just really difficult to bring it up for the sprint,” Dorsey said. “We gained a couple of seats, but again, we just ran out of time. It was more of a race against the clock.”
The final lineup of the Men’s Varsity 8+ saw senior Scott Feil in bow, senior Mike Stoll at two, sophomore Jimmy Wilkie at three, and freshman Chad Condon at four. Senior Breck Davis rowed at five, with fellow senior Jeff Slater at six; former assistant coaches Mark McIlduff and Geoff Sadek rounded out the boat at seven and stroke, respectively. Again, sophomore Hallie Dorsey fulfilled the coxswain role.
“It felt like I was giving all I could. I kept trying, but it just didn’t happen,” senior Breck Davis said.
For official results from the Henley Royal Regatta, please click here. The GVSU men’s team remains in England through July 7th, when they will be returning to the United States. This is the end of the 2009-2010 rowing season; the 2010-2011 season unofficially commences with boathouse recruiting tours, beginning on the Allendale campus August 30th. The novice call-out meeting is 9 p.m., September 1st.
