7th NE2KC Oh Yes, It Was Good!

[Yankeerunner]

If the 7th Newburyport Erg 2Kilometer Championship wasn't the best one ever it certainly was solidly in the top two.

Heat #1 got underway right on time at 9:00am with the oldish lightweights warming up the machines for the bigger boys later. Gary Passler (age 55), who has had enough damaged & repaired body parts to rival Evel Kneivel, including an ankle that currently doesn't flex properly, led the way with a fine 7:07.5 despite limited erg training. Apparently Cyclo-Cross is good erg training. Four strokes later Rick Bayko (62) gasped in at 7:12.5 and was followed by Paul Geoghegan (53) at 7:21.4.

Heat #2 saw Big Dick Henry whooping it up to a sparkling 6:55.9 at age 62, ahead of Big Jim Keating's 7:35.1, also at age 62. Joining the seasoned veterans was young Brent Kubik at age 22, having been lured to the event by Dave 'Hard' Nock to attempt his first erg piece ever. After a game effort at 7:08 pace a big bear climbed on Brent's back and turned it into a 7:22.9.

Heat #3 had old power lifter Fred Dickie (age 54) taking on young cyclist Nick Fanaras (age 33). Experience won out in this one as Fred slipped under 7 minutes with 6:59.1, less than 3 seconds slower than he was doing 10 year age, despite cancer battles in the interim. Nick acquitted himself well one second later with a new PB of 7:00.1.

The Women took over in Heat # 4 and were led for the second year in a row by Kinley Gregg. The ocean sculler made her 4th trip to Newburyport her fastest ever at 8:07.5 ( age 46) and won her the Bridge Street Toys Mini-Sledge for a second time. A trio of lightweights followed her in, led by Lisa Doucett's fly & die 8:22.1 (age 54), followed by Mary van Beuren's 9:17.6 (52), and Coxswain winner Sharon Yu at 9:32.2 (56)

Heat #5 had the fast lightweights going off side-by-side with current Nbpt lwt record-holder Mike van Beuren (57) of Vermont taking on former record-holder Will Haskell (43) of Maine. Mike not only won the mini-battle of skinnies and claimed the Bridge Street Toys Tackhammer for the fastest lightweight time of the day, but tied his Championship record to the tenth with 6:47.6 to Will's 6:55.6. The last time van Beuren won here he went on to win The Hammer at CRASH-Bs. He geared up for the big one with splits of 1:43.8 (27spm), 1:43.2(29), 1:41.4(33), and 1:39.2(39). His SPI might well have sucked, I don't know, but it was pointed out more than once that he actually was here and did it, not hiding behind 'Ifs' 'When I' and 'I'm much better than that now's.' Chad Goss (47Hwt) joined in the fun a couple of ergs down the line and copped the 40-49 Ice Scraper with 6:54.8.

At 10:40am, still right on time, the Wicked Fast Guys mounted the well-warmed-up ergs and showed the rest of us how it's done. Jon Bone (54) made the trip from NY again, this time staying in Boston the night before with Mrs Navigation Hazard to avoid the leg cramping that led to his, um, less than satisfying DNF of three years ago. Eric Luck (38), talked into it by training partner Andy Finch who subsequently bailed, was to Bone's left. Young John Sweitzer (22) one more to the left, and three-time Sledgehammer winner Paul Flack (53) rounding out the field. Bone atoned nicely with 6:28.6, including some sub-1:30 pulls at the end, to win the PaulS Sledgehammer that might have been his so many years ago. Luck and Sweitzer battled to the final stoke with fine 6:39.1 and 6:39.6 performances, the first time ever under 6:40 for John. The undertrained Flack finished at 6:47.9, which while slower than his still-standing 6:19.4 record from 2004 was nevertheless faster than his time of last year when he was almost equally undertrained. Someone (probably me) mentioned that he looked to be carrying more weight than usual, and he explained that running one's own Toy company is not slimming work. Since he perennially donates the Mini-Sledge and Tackhammers I wasn't about to put my foot farther into my mouth.

As we replenished with Sharon Yu's delicious cookies and drank Crystal Geyser water the awards were doled out. As usual the division winners left with the coveted Ice Scrapers, the runners up with Nelson Sennit (sailor's knots) keyrings donated by Jim Keating, and third placers a water bottle.

Ergs were hauled in for the day's use by Dave Nock (from his Hard Nock's Gym), Gary Passler, Chad Goss, Doug Smith, Dick Henry, & Paul Geoghegan. Ken Taylor again organized the heats and kept them going off on time, and Dan Edson manned the cameras and took copious pictures that will eventually make their way into this thread when I recover from the day. Thanks everyone. It couldn't be done without you. This is always one of my favorite days of the year. Hope to see everyone back in 2011.

Women's 40-49
1. Kinley Gregg 46 8:07.5

Women's 50-59 lwt (135lbs or less)
1. Lisa Doucett 54 8:22.1
2. Mary van Beuren 52 9:17.6

Women's Coxswain (120lbs or less)
1. Sharon Yu 56 9:32.2

Men's 20-29 Hwt
1. John Sweitzer 22 6:39.6
2. Brent Kubik 22 7:22.9

Men's 30-39 Hwt
1. Eric Luck 38 6:39.1
2. Nick Fanaras 33 7:00.1
3. Gene Burnham 35 7:44.3

Men's 40-49 Hwt
1. Chad Goss 47 6:54.8

Men's 50-59 Hwt
1. Jon Bone 54 6:28.6
2. Paul Flack 53 6:47.9
3. Fred Dickie 54 6:59.1

Men's 60-69 Hwt
1. Dick Henry 62 6:55.9
2. Jim Keating 62 7:35.1

Men's 40-49 lwt (165lbs or less)
1. Will Haskell 43 6:55.6

Men's 50-59 lwt
1. Mike van Beuren 57 6:47.6
2. Gary Passler 55 7:07.5
3. Paul Geoghegan 53 7:21.4

Men's 60-69 lwt
1. Rick Bayko 62 7:12.5



Rick Bayko (Grand Poobah of the NE2KC),
Cub Reporter

[chgoss]

Thanks Rick, you do a great job every year!

Mostly, I would like to thank all the 40-49 HWTS that didnt show up so that I could win a coveted Ice Scraper!!

[Bob S.]

If the 7th Newburyport Erg 2Kilometer Championship wasn't the best one ever it certainly was solidly in the top two.
Rick Bayko (Grand Poobah of the NE2KC),
Cub Reporter

Rick,

Did you have other ergs there available for warm up?

In any case, congratulations on running another successful C-B Jr.

Bob S.

[Yankeerunner]

O.K. What the heck. Just one before crashing and sleeping for about 12 hours:


Jon 'Navigation Hazard' Bone, on his way to the PaulS Sledgehammer.

[chgoss]

Here's a vid,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5E24p_rbSg

unfortunately, my battery ran out just as the big hitters were starting...

[rjw]

O.K. What the heck. Just one before crashing and sleeping for about 12 hours:


Jon 'Navigation Hazard' Bone, on his way to the PaulS Sledgehammer.

Where did you get the mini-erg?

[mikvan52]

It puzzles me why more don't come to Rick's Palace of Pain!?

What a great day!
Mary and I were pleaded to be a part of one of the most friendly crowds of ergers ever assembled.

After the dust settled, Paul Geoghegan, Mr & Mrs Nav', Mary and I went to lick our wounds and tell tall tales at a watering hole w/i walking distance of the Yankee Runner. What fun!

Thanks to Bayko and (other) bakers, Paul Flack (awards) and all the folks who brought ergs.

We count ourselves blessed and fortunate to have made friends with the Geoghegans who put us up for the night, fed us, and gave us so much hospitality.

= Mike vB

[Kinley]

Thank you Rick for organizing and hosting the race, and thanks Chad for posting video.

See you all next year.

Kinley

[hjs]

Sounds like a very nice day again. Well done Rick and everyone who competed

[Yankeerunner]

The intense battle for the Bridge Street Toys Tackhammer, awarded to the fasest lightweight time of the day, is waged by Mike van Beuren (6:47.6) in the foreground and Will Haskell (6:55.6).


Chad, you can only race against those who show, not the lily-livered don't. Nice video.

Bob, we had four warmup ergs as well. We are fortunate to have a lot of people willing to lug their ergs to Newburyport.

Raoul, I swear that handle was bigger when I used it an hour and a half earlier. It must have shrunk. Hope to see you here someday. It's not that far from Vancouver.

van Beurens & Kinley, always great to see you guys. It was a nice mix of regulars and newbies.

Henry, thanks.

[Yankeerunner]

Kinley Gregg, winning the Bridge Street Toys Mini-Sledge for the fastest women's time of the day (8:07.5) two years in a row.

[Nomugie]

Rick, sounds like you pulled off another exciting event! Thanks for posting the details (and to Chad for the video).

[ericredaxe]

Thanks Rick!

That was a fun event... I'm glad I took part.

[Yankeerunner]

Eric Luck, from the Wicked Fast Guys Heat, winning the 30-39Hwt Ice Scraper with a fine 6:39.1 at age 38.

[Lisadoucett]

Rick,
Thanks for organizing, great fun. Thanks to all who donated ergs and brought refreshments. Needed my ice scraper today.