13th NE2KC

[Yankeerunner]

Newburyport was the place to be on a rainy Sunday morning in January. Eighteen ergers from five of the New England states gathered for the 13th edition of the Newburyport Erg 2 Kilometer Championships. When the dust had cleared and the flywheels slowed to a stop after six exciting heats and an epilogue 4 minute race it was declared a good day by all.

A skeleton crew of Massachusetts lightweights kicked off the racing at 9:00am using PM5s and the new Race Venue Application supplied by Scott Hamilton of C2. Paul Geoghegan controlled from the start and won comfortably 7:36.8 to Rick Bayko's 7:42.4

Twenty minutes later Will Haskell and CC Stockly of Maine began heating things up in Heat 2 as Will blasted by the times of the other lightweights and claimed the Bridge Street Toys Tackhammer Award with 7:02.4. CC rowed strong and steady to put up a 7:43.8 for the other women to shoot for in later heats. The venue had become so hot from body heat and racing by then that the front door had to be opened and a fan pressed into service to move heat out of it.

Heat three was led by Winnie Stopps, celebrating her new age-group with a win in the 60-69 division at 8:29.7, while Mary Harada did the same in the 80-89 age division (both lightweight and Open), rowing a PR 11:11.6 which blew away the 11:25 and 11:26 she did as a 78 and 79 year old. She attributed her speed to a lack of training, but I don't believe it. Meanwhile Anne Hird once again made the trip up from Rhode Island to record the fastest women's lightweight time of the day at 8:50.4 despite a bad shoulder incurred while battling a bridge abutment during a recent OTW incident.

The Age 55 Women's heat came next, not because it was intended but because the remaining 50-59 women were in the same sweet spot age-wise. Everyone was sure that Carla Stein would win, and she didn't disappoint. Solid and smooth, Carla kept the average pace nailed on 1:55.4 until the final 500m then kicked in hard for a 7:37.4 and her 6th Bridge Street Toys Mini-Sledge for the fastest women's time of the day. It was her fastest here since setting the still-standing all time women's record of 7:29.9 back when she was 47. Eddie Fletcher's training is paying off. Mary White came in at 8:18.5 and Janet Brooks at 8:33.4 amid much hooting and hollering and general encouragement.

Large Men took over at Heat five with Jeff Barry arriving just prior to the race but jumping out to the lead and never relinquishing it. His 7:06.6 won the age 40-49 division by a few ticks over many-time Sledgehammer winner Paul Flack (who also donated the Bridge Street Toys hammers on behalf of his family business) at 7:08.4. Eric Jones took time out from managing the computer system that was timing the races to score a 7:21.6 himself, and Adam Rosenthal of New Hampshire followed at 7:31.5.

Like Jeff Barry in the previous heat, Damien Roohr from Connecticut barely made it before the final race of the day after having taken a couple of wrong turns that landed him in neighboring towns before arriving. He did all right anyway. Scott Hornney of Maine, a former BU rower, made an early statement with steady 1:37s on his monitor to open up a lead. Roohr was only slightly less cautious at 1:40s as was defending Sledgehammer winner Tom Cattell. This held through halfway, then Tom began to lose a little steam and Damien was loosening up. Into the final 500m Hornney was feeling the effects of the fast pace and was slowing. Meanwhile Damien was in Beast Mode and muscled into the home stretch with some 1:27 strokes. Alas it was too little too late and Scott held on by a solid 5.5 second margin to win the heat and the PaulS Sledgehammer for 2016. Roohr recorded 6:36.7, which topped his best time of last year in only his first race of this year. Pretty darn good. Tom Cattell was next at 6:48.3 which is not at all shabby for age 61, and former Sledgehammer winner Rick Martin used Paul Flack for a cox'n to nip under 7 at 6:59.3 and begin yet another comeback from multiple injuries.

Once the 2K races were done Iain Jones, the 13-year-old son of Eric, led a group in a 4-minute time-trial. His dad, Damien Roohr and Tom Cattell all joined him. It finished in a 4-way tie at 4:00.

It was Bling time. Division winners all took home one of the Coveted Ice Scrapers, hand engraved by me. If by some chance I accidentally time-traveled back to 2015 when I wrote in sharpie pen then it is perfectly legal for all winners to use their own sharpie pen to make a 6 out of the 5 that I wrote. Sorry about that. Runners-up all got mini-scrapers (sans snow brush) compliments of the Newburyport Bank and everyone got a glow-in-the-dark frisbee compliments of Brooks. Concept2 stickers and Concept2 lip balm was also eagerly scarfed up by chapped and likely-to-be-chapped ergers.

A red metal bottle was found here after everyone had departed. So if you have a top to your bottle but no bottle, I have it.

Post-race a group of 8 hit the Marshview Cafe in Salisbury to unwind with a hearty breakfast and lively conversation. Nice end to a great day. Thanks, Dave & Carla Stein, for picking up my tab!

Scott Hornney 50 Hwt 6:31.2 PaulS Sledgehammer Award
Damien Roohr 56 Hwt 6:36.7
Tom Cattell 61 Hwt 6:48.3
Rick Martin 60 Hwt 6:59.3
Will Haskell 49 lwt 7:02.4 Bridge Street Toys Tackhammer Award
Jeff Barry 47 Hwt 7:06.6
Paul Flack 58 Hwt 7:08.4
Eric Jones 51 Hwt 7:21.6
Adam Rosenthal 58 Hwt 7:31.5
Paul Geoghegan 59 lwt 7:36.8
Carla Stein 55 7:37.4 Bridge Street Toys Mini-Sledge Award
Rick Bayko 68 lwt 7:42.4
CC Stockly 52 7:43.8
Mary White 55 8:18.5
Winnie Stopps 60 8:29.7
Janet Brooks 55 8:33.4
Anne Hirl 52 lwt 8:50.4
Mary Harada 80 lwt 11:11.6

Renegade Rick Bayko,
Grand Poobah of the NE2KC,
Cub Reporter

[Bob S.]

Thanks, Rick. Your NE2KC reports are always fun reads. I particularly like the result of the 4 minute race - that ended in a 4-way tie at 4:00. Classic!

Bob Spenger

[jackarabit]

Good read, Rick. Nice to see youself and Damien on track to Beantown.

[Edward4492]

Sounds like a lot of fun Rick. Love the write up. I'll be hanging out at the CRASH B's weigh-in waiting for the high point of the day......the much anticipated Bayco weigh-in complete with over-coat and gym bag.

[PaulG]

Another great day at the NE2KC. The internal atmosphere was great. Once the big guys got going on the ergs and the flywheels started spinning, I remember posters were almost pulled off the wall due to the airflow (no exaggeration) and us lightweights started to look for heavy objects to prevent getting blown out the front door (slight exaggeration).

After the pain session was over, breakfast was much appreciated. The Marshview Omelette is recommended.
Paul

[Yankeerunner]

Thanks guys. Ed, I may never win another hammer, but I think I could win the weigh-ins every year if they make that into a competition.

[Hillclimber]

Thanks for hosting this terrific event, Rick. And thank you for the kind words. Will look for you at CRASH-B.

Damien

[lindsayh]

that sounds like heaps of fun - next year I just have to be there!!

[thecrashton]

Very cool report and awesome results guys and girls!!

[Yankeerunner]

Thanks Damien (I'll look for you at CRASH-Bs too), Lindsay (that would be great if you could make it to Newburyport. You can stay at my mancave if you don't mind rustic accommodations.), and Chris (I seem to be able to report races better than I can row them ).

[Edward4492]

Rick, looks like you have some "interesting" competition in 65-69LWT this year.

[Yankeerunner]

Rick, looks like you have some "interesting" competition in 65-69LWT this year.

I noticed. Will he make weight? If he starts, will he finish? If he finishes, will he row 6:16? The mind boggles.

[lindsayh]

Thanks Damien (I'll look for you at CRASH-Bs too), Lindsay (that would be great if you could make it to Newburyport. You can stay at my mancave if you don't mind rustic accommodations.), and Chris (I seem to be able to report races better than I can row them ).

That is very nice Rick thanks for the offer - rustic mancave sounds great.
I am seriously planning to be in Boston next year (I will be just 65+) but it is very complicated from this far away.
The timing is tricky - need to acclimatise but not too early as it might affect training/taper plus all the logistics, costs, time away from work etc and the late announcement of the date of CRASH B is a complicating factor.
It is not a great time of the year for holiday travel either unfortunately!
I would love to do more than one race though. I need a travel planner/coordinator.

[Bob S.]

Rick, looks like you have some "interesting" competition in 65-69LWT this year.

I noticed. Will he make weight? If he starts, will he finish? If he finishes, will he row 6:16? The mind boggles.

Ah! I wondered what Edward meant. My first interpretation was that he meant that you would have some strong competition. I think that Roy and Mike might be in that age category now. Now it is all clear as mud, but it covers the ground, as the old song says. I hadn't realized that the list of entrants had already been posted. I've got to check that out. The problem there is that the satellite qualifiers don't show up on that list, since their registration is handled directly by C2.

Bob S.

[jackarabit]

Don't tell me let me guess. Voltemort?