TRR Pictures available from Sport Graphics

Mission Rowing
 

 

Happy Significant Birthday to our Receptionist and Registration Wizard Wilma Breiland

Be sure to say or sing Happy Birthday to Wilma Breiland at check-in...  She is celebrating a milestone birthday on September 30th and has devoted countless hours in the past weeks to assure you a smooth check-in process at the TRR.

Wilma was born in Friesland and came by boat (of course) to America with her family when she was 13 months old to start a better life.  Settling originally in Minnesota , her family first moved to California , then New York , and finally settled on a farm in Addison , VT.   After earning her BS degree in Mathematics at the University of Vermont , she got a job with AT&T at its Western Electric location in North Andover , MA where she met John Breiland.   They were married in 1972 and have two sons Erik and Mark.

It wasn’t until August 2000 that Wilma tried rowing in a double with Erik on a weekend in Vermont . After 30 years of employment with AT&T and Lucent, Wilma retired in 2001 to pursue travel, family, hobbies and charitable work.  Erik encouraged Wilma to learn to scull, and her rowing career was launched for good after a week-long Craftsbury Sculling Camp. Soon after her camp in 2002, Wilma bought a used Red Van Dusen from a woman at the Cambridge Boat Club. Wilma still rows and races that boat today.   

She has won medals in the mixed events at the Master’s Nationals in Worcester , MA , including gold in the parent/child with her son Erik.  They beat all the combinations, including the father/son entrants.   At the Lake Lanier Sprints in March of ’05, in which she flipped out of her boat, got back in, and finished the race – a true sign of the spirit of a dedicated athlete.  This past year she medaled in the same event on the prestigious ’96 Olympic course.

Wilma also enjoys the head race season and she will be competing at the TRR ’07 in an MRRA Women’s quad.  This is the first time the MRRA has entered a master’s quad at the event they host.   Also look for Wilma in the Veteran’s 1x at the Head of the Charles this October.

Why does Wilma row? We think it’s a combination of things.  Maybe it’s for health, or maybe it helps her relate to her two sons, maybe it’s to be an inspiration to others, or maybe it’s just for the love of the sport and those early morning moments of rowing zen and spirituality.  What ever the reason, we know she’s special, and we are lucky to benefit from her dedication to rowing, and her attention to regatta registration detail.

Thank you, Wilma…and a very Happy Birthday to you.

Welcome to the 28th Annual

Textile River Regatta

RESULTS >> Results have been revised for Masters 1x events (#12 through #18)...   We apologize for this late adjustment, but it was clear that we should have applied the handicaps on these events as we did in 2006 and as we stated in our own rules.  There was some confusion early on because we had set up the events by decade, HOCR-style, but in the final analysis that wasn't a good enough reason to eliminate the more exact age handicap.  The change affected the order in only two events; #12 MM1x and #16 WM1x.  If you already received the incorrect medal, we are not asking for them to be returned; if you are due a higher place medal, it will be mailed to you.  
>> Revised results.

T-SHIRTS >> SECOND RUN.  T-Shirts sold out early; If we get a minimum order quantity, we will run a second printing of the t-shirts that were on sale at the regatta. 
>> More Info / Place your order.

FOUND >> We have a few items in the lost and found department, write to us if you are missing:

  • A boat seat.
  • If you wrote to us about something you are missing and it's not mentioned above, then it hasn't turned up yet or else it fits me.
If you wrote to us about something you are missing and it's not mentioned above, then it hasn't turned up yet or else it fits me.

 

UPDATE >> PICTURES.  Candid photos from the regatta.

UPDATE >> MEDALS.  If you didn't pick up your medals, send an email to Paula the Medal Lady -- include your mailing address and the event(s) you rowed.

UPDATE >> RESULTS are at Powerhouse Timing's web site, we hope to get a PDF on our web site sometime today.

 

To all coaches, competitors, referees and staff -- thanks for making this 28th annual TRR a success.  Feedback has been very positive, especially over the great job we did securing the perfect weather.   As always, we had a very positive debriefing with Amanda and the referees, and we've already got a few improvements lined up for next year.  If you have something to add - positive or negative - please drop us a note at info@merrimackrowing.org.  We're especially interested to hear from folks who launched down at the beach and what they thought of the improvements we made this year.

 

Thanks again for your participation, and we hope to see you at our Festival Regatta on July 12th 2008, and of course the TRR on October 5th 2008. 

 

Textile River Regatta Co-Chairs,
Jay Feenan & Carl Popolo

 

UPDATES

 
01-OCT
  • The Regatta, she is done.  Pictures have been uploaded to Shutterfly.com...   Results are at PHT, we hope to have a PDF here on our site and up at RC by the end of today.
  • MEDALS.  If you didn't pick up your medals, send an email to Paula the Medal Lady -- include your mailing address and the event(s) you rowed.
  • RESULTS are at Powerhouse Timing's web site, we hope to get a PDF on our web site sometime today.
27-SEP 19:30 MAPS.  Course Map and Boathouse/Launch/Finish Area maps have been updated on the Course Map page.
27-SEP 11:30

NO MORE BOATS.  Bow numbers are being assigned.  No more boats please.  If you have made a request prior to 11am this morning, it is in play -- wait for a response from us before assuming you are in or out.   Latest boat tally is 383 from 69 clubs. 

25-SEP

 


Download
the Coaches Certification Form

  • COACHES CERTIFICATION.  In the interest of a smooth check-in process and a double-check on safety items, we will be asking all coaches to certify that they are compliant with waivers and the safety of their equipment.  Download the Coaches Certification form (one page PDF) and sign all sections that apply.  Blank forms will be available at check-in.  
24-SEP 20:30


Download latest Event Schedule

  • EVENT SCHEDULE is further slightly revised.  Version 4.0 has just been published.  In this near-final version, we have moved RC#29 and RC#30 to after RC#41.  This allows for better re-use of athletes of the lightweight species to row the Men's and Women's 4+ and 8+ events.  But they'll still need to hurry to make both.  The only anticipated changes at this point may be race-day calls by referees or small combinations of lightly subscribed events with others in a similar class.  As always, we strive to keep start times constant.  Check the new schedule online or download the schedule to Excel using the link at the left.
  • C&C Meeting Reminder:  Sunday morning, 7:15a at the boathouse.
24-SEP

 


Download latest Event Schedule

  • REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.  Write to info@textileriverregatta.org before Wednesday to check on availability for late registration.  Clearly state your name or RC userid so that we avoid back/forth emails if we are able to assign you late entry status.
  • EVENT SCHEDULE is slightly revised.  START TIMES have been modified to account for subscription rates in each event.  Visit the Event Schedule page for more details.  Summary:  No event moves more than 45' later or 15' earlier than shown on the originally posted schedule.
23-SEP

 



Download
the USRA
Waiver

  • REGISTRATION CLOSES TONIGHT.
  • WAIVERS. If you need paper waivers to sign, we have the USRA Waiver here on our site (PDF format).  Print as many as you need.  Hopefully you were able to waiver through RC when you registered and the paper forms won't be necessary.   Read last year's FAQ on waivers if you need clarification; we believe the same rules are in place this year.
  • WAIVERS, the sequel.  Yes, you can bring your waivers to check-in on Saturday or Sunday.  If you have already mailed them, that's fine we will catch them at the PO box, but at this point forward, do not mail any waivers, just bring them to check-in.  Coaches will be asked to sign a "waiver waiver", certifying that you are supplying the correct and complete waivers for all of your athletes.  We simply don't have time at check-in to match waivers to your rosters.
21-SEP
  • After some discussion at our timing meeting, and with feedback from our head referee, the following language was added to the Start rules:

    "Crews late to the start may start at the discretion of the referees at the start line. If a late crew is allowed to start a time will be recorded, however the publication of this time within the results of the original event and/or the boat's standing in the event are not guaranteed."

    The point of this rule is that Powerhouse timing technology technically allows for boats to row in any order at any time.  But it may be unfair or unsafe for a boat to run so far removed from the event in which they were registered.  Discretion of the referees is final.
20-SEP
  • The Mixed 8+ event has been switched from Masters to Open.  This is RC #22.
  • Registration rate is on pace to crack 400 boats; REMINDER -- DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS SUNDAY NIGHT.  
14-SEP
  • T-SHIRTS.  The T-Shirt order has been placed -- thanks to Tricon Sports in Lexington, MA.  Shirts will be on sale for $15 at the regatta.   We sold out by 1pm last year, so we've ordered more for this year.  Check out the artists rendition of what they will look like.
12-SEP
  • HOTELS.  Mention "TRR" at the Fairfield Inn -- $79/night.  Mention "Textile Regatta" to Hawthorn Suites to get the preferred TRR room rate of $89/nite, a few bucks lower than last year.  More hotel information on the Directions page.
  • MEDALS.  Yes, Medals for first, second and third place in all events.
11-SEP
  • C&C MEETING.  Yes, there will be a Coaches and Coxswains meeting on Sunday morning at 7:00pm sharp.  Heed the words of Amanda or incur the Wrath of Mal.  Your choice.
05-SEP
  • CHARITY.  Today is my mother's birthday, and she would guilt you into supporting the TRR Charities much better than I can, but I'll try my best.  When you complete your registration at Regatta Central, consider making a small donation to this year's TRR Charities -- the American Stroke Association and the Lowell House of Hope.  If you take a moment to read about the good works performed by these two worthy groups, you'll quickly see that the leverage of our small contributions can go a long way.  

    Or as my mother would say; "make the donation, you don't want to burn in hell for eternity, do you?"

    For more information, visit the TRR Charities web page.
04-SEP
  • REGISTER NOW.  Registration is open at Regatta Central.  RC says that registration closes on 9/29, but for the sanity of our registration folks, this is going to change to Sunday night, 9/23.  Late fees apply after that date, $10 per entry.
  • NEW EVENT MIXED 8+.  Note that we are testing the waters with a new event - the Mixed 8+ which we think might be popular with crews coming to race the masters 8 events later in the day.  Event #8 at 11:30...
02-SEP
  • Event Schedule has been posted.  Order of events will likely not change; start times may change slightly depending on the level of subscription for each event.  Check the web site after registration is closed and a final schedule is posted.

 

More about the TRR

The Textile River Regatta is an extremely popular 3.5 mile head race held on the Merrimack River in the fall. The event is organized by the Merrimack River Rowing Association (MRRA) in coordination with the UMass-Lowell and Lowell High School Rowing programs.

A full range of sculling and sweeps events are included, with competition provided by large entries from many local and regional clubs and colleges. The event occurs a few weeks prior to the Head of the Charles and hence provides athletes with ideal competitive training on a great course with a convenient location.