Nanaimo Rowing Club members are training on the water at Long Lake and by using rowing machines but no competition is scheduled for the spring of 2021. (Craig Rutherford)

By Dan Marshall

Rowing Again

Return to competition remains on distant horizon for Nanaimo Rowing Club

Apr 25, 2021 | 9:34 AM

NANAIMO — Long Lake is alive with activity for the Nanaimo Rowing Club.

Training in single boats was allowed for most of the past year year but there are no regattas in the spring anywhere in Canada.

NRC coach Craig Rutherford is optimistic some events may get added later in the year.

“There hasn’t been anything officially on what regattas would look like. We’re hoping when we’re allowed to get back to them there will be some sort of modified season with some of the events we normally see in the spring we might see in the fall.”

Both competitive and recreational athletes are allowed to do some timed events internally and some friendly competition measuring results on a rowing machine has taken place among several clubs in BC.

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Two club members are currently competing for university teams in the United States.

Meghan Duifhuis is rowing at the University of Portland and Meg Montgomery is attending Washington State University.

Other NRC members who row for Canadian schools have spent time training in Nanaimo because their university programs are on hold.

Rutherford said he’s enjoyed having extra time to work with rowers like Jordan Isnor (Brock University) and Ben Whiting (UVIC).

“Some of those athletes came through our junior program. To have them around the current youth program so the youth can tangibly see where that next level is brings the whole level of the club up.”

One of the up and coming rowers on the cusp of joining the university ranks is Michelle Mulcahy.

She’ll be attending UMass and recently posted one of the top times in the province on a rowing machine based competition.

Since early April, new members have had an opportunity to get on the water and get some practice time.

Rutherford said the mild April weather and light wind have made the conditions optimal for those sessions although being restricted to single boats means the club can’t get as many people out as he would like.

“We had the same restriction last summer. We’ve started a bit earlier this year and we’re really excited to get people out on the water.”

Anyone interested in trying rowing for themselves can contact the Nanaimo Rowing Club at nanaimo.rowing@gmail.com.

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @danmarshall77