The strength of US masters rowing

The 199 events available included some for as young as 21 year olds (AA) through to 80 year old age groups. There was also mixed gender events, parent-child events and an adaptive single (legs, trunk and arms) event.

Competitors came from 98 clubs in 80 cities throughout the United States as well as crews from Canada and France. Racing over 1,000 metres, competitors often enter in more than one event as they aim to score points for their club to win the coveted team points trophy. At the end of racing the Minneapolis Rowing Club (Minnesota) had won the overall trophy beating Saugatuck Rowing Club (Connecticut) who have held on to the points trophy for the past seven years.

Unlike the World Rowing Masters Regatta, this regatta required rowers to go through a progression system of heats and semifinals before they could race in the finals.

Oklahoma City hosted the event on the Oklahoma River. This venue is one of the newest rowing venues in the United States and has already hosted a number of regattas including the Oklahoma Regatta Festival at the end of September. This regatta includes the USA Rowing World Challenge, where some of the top rowing nations compete, and the popular night sprints.

The venue is also a national and local high performance centre with a number of United States national team members training there. The rowing area has been renamed the Boathouse District and it features two new boathouses and a new finish tower that was used for the first time at the master nationals.

For results go to: http://www.usrowing.org/events/MastersNationals.aspx