Records Break, Oars Clash and World Champions Surrender ? 2003 Head of the Charles

World Championship crews sprinkled themselves amongst junior, collegiate and masters rowers at the thirty-ninth annual Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, United States. Boats from 16 countries and a total of 6,500 racers took to the waters of the Charles River last weekend.

On a course known for rough conditions Boston turned on two days of cool but calm conditions with the water remaining flat for most of the weekend. Five course records were broken of the 48 events raced over the five-kilometre distance.

Day one was highlighted by the women's single featuring two-time World Champion, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria. But the winding Charles River course got the better of Bulgaria's athlete of the year when a missed buoy deprived Neykova of first place. Despite finishing with the fastest time, a 20 second penalty pushed Neykova back to third and propelled United States sculler, Kristin Goodrich, into the winner's position.

But it was day two that created the most interest when Canada and United States faced off in both the men's and women's championship eights. World Champions for 2002 and 2003, the Canadian men's eight, had their winning streak removed when the United States clocked the faster time. The Canadian women came back to take out gold in the women's eight. Finishing the course in 15.31 the crew, stroked by Buffy Williams, broke the course record by 13 seconds in the process. The United States national team eight finish in second place.

Lightweight single World Champion, Fiona Milne of Canada barely stayed in front of her fellow countrywoman when she crossed the line a mere two seconds ahead of Gen Meredith. Canada completed the medal sweep in the single with Shona McLaren taking bronze.

In the club division this year's Thomas Keller medal winner and 1992 Olympic gold medallist, Peter Antonie of Australia stroked his Melbourne University Boat Club eight to a win. Forty-five year old Antonie claimed this would be his last competitive race as he stroked the ?Pot Hunters? down the course at an average of 34 strokes per minute. Starting from 41^st position of 54 crews, Melbourne University used the skill of coxswain Rachel Wilson to navigate past boats, untangle themselves from another crew at the notorious Cambridge Boat Club corner, and cross the line at a blistering 40 strokes per minute.

Melbourne University was not the only crew to tangle on the water. Ample clashes kept the crowds entertained with one of the more spectacular coming from the US men's four who started in first position and finished in last after steering into the Reunion Village and breaking a rudder. 

Boats raced from a moving start leaving one at a time at 15-second intervals. Two boat parks ? at the start and finish of the course ? were made available to accommodate the large number of entries. Head of the Charles' Assistant Director Chris Kerber said every boat was launched without a hitch despite the start line boat park holding a massive 110 boat trailers.

For a complete list of results visit the official Web site: http://hocr.org/index2.html