15th NE2KC

[Yankeerunner]

Knowing A Good Thing

For the 15th straight year ergers from throughout New England made their way to Newburyport to kick off the 2018 Indoor Rowing season by racing 2K. For the first time ever all participants were returnees who have spilled guts here before and wanted more of it. Discerning people who appreciate diamonds in the rough.

After a brief delay getting the ergs to communicate with C2s Venue race software the Skinny Old Men's Heat got the blood pumping. Paul Geoghegan jumped out to a solid lead over Rick Bayko and extended the advantage right to the last stroke for 21-second victory margin and the Bridge Street Toys Tackhammer for the fastest lightweight time of the day.

The Slender, Attractive, Experienced Women's Heat followed and Anne Hird made the trip up from Rhode Island a winning one with an outstanding even-paced effort in her final competiton before some necessary surgery. Lisa Doucett followed shortly thereafter and rowed within two seconds of her winning time of five years ago despite erging only twice a week while concentrating on long distance XC Ski racing. Mary Harada continued to set the standards for women age 80+, and sliced a sizeable 12 seconds off her time of last year. All three times set or broke a record in their respective age divisions.

The third heat featured the Other Old Men, all heavyweights this time, and were led by Charlie Carr from down Maine. He took the early lead for the coveted PaulS Sledgehammer award for the fastest time of the day in any category and began praying for natural disaster of some sort to cancel the rest of the racing. No such luck. Adam Rosenthal of New Hampshire shook off recent illness to place second and Andy Griffith (no, not THAT one) followed.

Amazons were up next, and Carla Stein continued to dominate, as she has every year that she has been here. Her outstanding time of 7:36.8 vaulted her 4th place in the World Rankings! To say nothing of winning the Bridge Street Toys Mini-Sledge for the fastest women's time for the 8th time. It was also her fastest here since 2008, which may bode well for CRASH-Bs next month. Winnie Stopps and Kimberly Gregg rowed fairly even paces in placing 2nd and 3rd.

Before the final heat some Mini-Ergers took over for a Chickadees 4-Minute regatta. Teagan, age 9, and Maggie, age 6, rowed side-by-side and kept looking over at the other to make sure no one was getting too far ahead. Brooke, age 8 and two ergs over from Teagan had a brief equipment malfunction when her massive stroke knocked her off her seat. But she recovered and rejoined the fray. All three tied at 4:00. Then it was off together to feed the fish in the backroom. Three times. Undoubtedly the happiest guppies in the world for a least a day.

At 10:40 the Big Boys Heat finally provided the grand finale. Tom Cattell built up a big lead on multiple Sledgehammer winner Paul Flack and held off a late charge to win his own 2nd Sledgehammer in the past three years. Frank Knight returned after a few years absence to establish a new age 72 record in placing 3rd.

Prizes galore were awarded, including the special hammers, coveted Ice Scrapers for division winners, C2 donated rowing shorts, C2 water bottles, C2 tote bag, C2 laces, C2 croakies, and C2 lip balm. Then for good measure some 13 of us retired to Nancy's Marshview Cafe in Salisbury for hearty breakfasts and lively conversations. We kept the staff there well beyond the 1:00 PM closing time, but they didn't seem mad at us and we were appreciative.

Tom Cattell 63 Hwt 6:53.8
Paul Flack 61 Hwt 6:58.7
Charlie Carr 57 Hwt 7:21.4
Paul Geoghegan 61 lwt7:25.5
Carla Stein 57 Hwt 7:36.8
Rick Bayko 70 lwt 7:46.9
Adam Rosenthal 60 Hwt 7:50.2
Frank Knight 72 Hwt 7:56.3
Anne Hird 58 lwt 8:18.4
Lisa Doucett 61 lwt 8:26.2
Andy Griffith 68 Hwt 8:31.2
Winnie Stopps 62 Hwt 8:32..8
Kimberly Gregg 54 Hwt 8:46.8
Mary Harada 82 lwt 11:37.7

Teagan 587m
Maggie 566m
Brooke 524m
(Three way tie at 4:00)

And so another NE2KC is in the books. Mucho thanks to everyone who helps make it happen. To Dan Edson for helping to organize heats, etc. in the absence of Ken Taylor who missed for the first time after having a hip replaced a couple of days ago. To everyone who lugged an erg here for us to use, Lisa Doucett, Eric Jones, Andy Griffith, Pauls Geoghegan & Flack, and Charlie Carr. To the best landlord in Newburyport, Saul Katz, who keeps my rent low enough that I can stay in business and provide a venue, and to Concept 2 for the swag and for technical help when we need it. Next up, the Northeast Erg Sprints in North Andover on Saturday January 27th. I'll be there and I hope many of you will be too.

Everyone who shows up here is First Class, and makes this the best day of my year here at the Yankee Runner store. Thank you, sincerely. I hope we can all do it again in 2019.

Renegade Rick Bayko,
Cub Reporter

[Kinley]

Rick, thank you for hosting us again.

Obviously my preparation was not over-strenuous, but I just made up my mind that nine minutes is the new eight & participated anyway. I'm glad I did.

Good Luck in North Andover & beyond.

Kinley

[PaulG]

Another great competition, Rick, and thanks for hosting us. I was pleased to win my second straight Lightweight tackhammer at a record slow time. That's economical rowing. Now, where are the pictures? We want pictures!

[Edward4492]

Nice write up Rick! Maybe I'll make the trek up there next year and join in on the fun!

[Yankeerunner]

Thanks Kinley. I feel your pain. 8 is my new 7. For Paul Flack 7 is his new 6, etc. It feels worse to not do it all though.

PaulG, economy of effort is a virtue. I think.

Ed, it would be great to have you. If you were to come I think you would surpass Navigation Hazard's current Comptitor-From-Farthest-Away, which stands at NYC to Npbt.

[PaulG]

Thanks Kinley. I feel your pain. 8 is my new 7. For Paul Flack 7 is his new 6, etc. It feels worse to not do it all though.

PaulG, economy of effort is a virtue. I think.

Ed, it would be great to have you. If you were to come I think you would surpass Navigation Hazard's current Comptitor-From-Farthest-Away, which stands at NYC to Npbt.

Unfortunately it was a maximum effort.

If Ed comes up I think that alone would be worth a Coveted Ice Scraper. He can stay in my room for itinerant ergers like Mike and Mary van Beuren did.

Paul

[Edward4492]

Maybe some of Mike's speed will rub off on me. God knows I could use all the help I could get! As a side note, I see MVB posted a 500m time on C2; maybe a come back?