Skricki and Free win Singles at Head of Charles

Australian Duncan Free and Carol Skricki from USA both took 1^st place in the championship singles of the Head of the Charles Race which took place this weekend in Boston, Massachusetts.With both Olaf Tufte and Xeno Muller away from the field, the three remaining favourites in the men’s championship singles had an easier task at securing their positions.Duncan Free completed the 2.5 Mile course in 17:55.26. He was followed by Steve Tucker from the USA (17:58.83). Marcel Hacker of Germany came third just under one second behind.Free told a local newspaper he had not been expecting to win, especially with a tough challenge from Marcel Hacker. It was his first time in Boston and he was delighted by the challenging course.The women’s championship singles race was won by over five seconds by 2001 World Championship bronze medallist – US sculler Carol Skricki. The 39 year old from Princeton took the field ahead of Russian Joulia Levina, and Belarus Olympic Gold medallist Ekaterina Karsten no doubt hindered by persisting back problems.The Cromwell Trophy, awarded for the men’s championship double, was taken by Canadians Mc Carthy and Beare from London Training Centre in 16:54.27. Runners-up Abdullah and Peterson from US Rowing and Miller and Gillespie from Pocock finished in 16:54.37 and 16:57.26 respectively. The Belgian National team of Hendrikx and Smulders finished fourth.Three US crews topped the womens championship double, with US National team members Kelly Salchow and Hilary Gehman coming away with the Craig Swayze Trophy. US Rowing crew – MacKenzie and Jones rowed in second. US Rowing took the Scheafer Cup for the 5^th year in a row in the men’s championships four. They were followed by the University of Technology crew who finished a full 15 seconds behind. Third was Penn AC.The women’s championship fours was dominated by a German crew from Frankfurter Rudergesellschaft in 18:22.85. They beat US Rowing by nearly five seconds. Danish Rowing Federation Crew finished third. The crews were racing for the Barnes Plate, presented in memory of Hope Barnes, former captain of US Olympic Rowing team and two-time winner of the Head of the Charles.Six – time defending Head of the Charles champions – US Rowing were fastest in the men’s championship eights and awarded themselves this year’s Boston Globe Trophy. They defeated the German National team crew who beat the US for bronze in the FISA World Rowing Championships this year by 11.7 seconds. Runners up for the Trophy was Harvard University.The two favourites for this years women’s championship eight Governor’s Trophy – US Rowing and Princeton University took first and second place respectively. Third was Canadian crew from the London Training Centre who finished 16 seconds behind the winner.In it’s 37^th year, the Head of the River race attracted a large field of top International athletes.Athletes competed in 39 events, comprising Clubs, Youth, Masters, Grand Masters, Senior Masters and Champs.The 2.5 Mile course on the River Charles is appreciated by rowers for it’s challenging bends and curves and the beauty of it’s setting.More than 90 000 spectators watched the events from the river banks.