The Hyflodraulic women’s crew of St. John’s enjoyed a splendid start to their 2019 rowing season Saturday, winning the 56th Placentia Regatta championship after setting a new course record in the morning.
The team, which includes stroke Catherine Kelly, Tracy Roche, Wendi Young, Teresa Butler, Amanda Butland, Jennie Wadden and spare Nancy Beaton, along with cox Craig Whittle, stopped the clock in 5:02 flat to win the championship on Southeast Arm.
The men’s crown also went to a St. John’s crew, Belfor, which won in a time of 9:38.40.
The new women’s course record came in the first race of the day, the senior ladies amateur, with Hyflodraulic covering the course in 4:54.87.
Hyflodraulic was first in the Royal St. John’s Regatta’s Time Trials held earlier this month, stopping the clock in 5:09.50. The team was also first in the Discovery Day Regatta last month on Quidi Vidi Lake, finishing in 5:17.50.
Hyflodraulic no doubt has its eyes on the Triple Crown, and is the clear-cut favourite to win. The second jewel in the Triple Crown is the 157th Harbour Grace Regatta next Saturday on Lady Lake, with the 201st St. John’s Regatta slated for Aug. 7.
Cahill Group was second in the final race in 5:09.60, followed by Steers Insurance in 5:22.62 and Kennedy Cleaning in 5:43.08.
The Belfor men’s team is comprised of stroke Eric King, Jamie Traverse, Steve Sweeney, Chris Sweeney, Kenny King, Nick Duke, spare Wayne Walsh and cox Kenneth King.
Belfor beat out NTV by eight seconds. NTV finished in 9:46.79. Ricanna Petro (10:17.48) was third, followed by Woodmar Contracting (10:25.41).
Belfor was second in the Time Trials with a time of 9:31.90. The fastest team in the Time Trials, Fine Strokes (9:23), did not row in Placentia.