News Archive

2006

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HBRA to wrap up season
By Bryan Demain
Published: Nov 7 2006, 11:05 PM

Humboldt Sponsors award $78,732 in grants to local youth programs
Published: May 31 2006, 11:32 PM

Humboldt rowing growing in size and skill
By Bryan Demain, The Eureka Reporter
Published: May 26 2006, 11:37 PM

HBRA, HSU to host Blue Heron Sprints
By Bryan Demain
Published: Mar 17 2006, 1:18 AM

HBRA benefits from big grant
By Bryan Demain
Published: Jan 18 2006, 12:23 AM

2005

December - HBRA Receives Humboldt Area Foundation Grants
The rowing association recently received two grants totalling $5900 to fund scholarships and equipment purchases for its community-based programs. The Humboldt Area Foundation-administered the grants from the Humboldt Bay Recreation Enhancement & Water Quality Fund, as well as the Robert M. Lochtie Memorial Fund. Our organization graciously thanks the generosity and support of the donors in helping our programs to serve the Humboldt County community!

Humboldt home to youth rowing
By Bryan Demain
Published: Dec 15 2005, 11:54 PM

Humboldt Bay teams excel at meet on Oakland Estuary
Published: Apr 27 2005, 12:25 AM

Humboldt Bay Rowing junior team impresses
Published: Apr 15 2005, 1:04 AM

May - The novice women’s team of the Humboldt Bay Rowing Association’s Junior Crew Team traveled to Lake Natoma in Sacramento over the weekend to test their speed against some of the fastest junior teams in the United States. The USRowing Southwest Regional Junior Championships, hosted by the Cal State Sacramento Aquatic Center, saw competition from athletes representing all school and club rowing teams in California, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, as well as a few from Oregon and Illinois. Humboldt’s team was one of two first-year programs out of about 40 teams, and entered the competition knowing that it would be tough to make a final in any event.

“The popularity, especially amongst girls, of rowing was evident at this event,” head coach Adrienne McConnell said. “Every category of racing had four heats of seven boats across- a format that allowed only the top boat from each heat to advance to the finals.My goal for this team was to come in in the top half of the pack- and we did just that, as well as opening up a few eyes along the way.”

Humboldt’s freshman four boat (for girls ninth-grade and under) raced to a 5th place finish in their heat and 14th overall, not as high a placement as they had wished for. McConnell noted that the boat had only practiced together a handful of times, and their performance was respectable based on their experience.

The novice four race proved much more competitive for HBRA, with the top four novice athlete from each team representing their club. The crew of coxswain Shenae Bishop, stroke Elizabeth Pierson, Kayla Throgmorton, Naomi Medley, and Samantha Simpson rowed to a 4th place finish in their heat, with the 12th fastest time overall, and besting clubs with much more depth and size. “These girls were my most solid rowers- good overall technique, excellent stamina and fitness. I knew they were capable of making an impact, and they represented our club well,” coach McConnell commented.

In what proved to be the most exciting racing of the day, HBRA’s novice eight raced to a 4th place finish, less than a half a second off of 3rd place and perpetual national contenders Long Beach. HBRA’s time of 7:37.23 over the 2,000 meter race distance was the 14th fastest overall, with the next fastest time over 20 seconds slower. The crew was composed of coxswain Shenae Bishop(Sunny Brae), stroke Elizabeth Pierson(EHS), Kayla Throgmorton (EHS), Kelby Ross (EHS), Ashley Frakes (Zane), Naomi Medley (EHS), Lissa Daugherty (Sunny Brae), Jean Sack (home school), Samantha Simpson (Six Rivers Charter).

McConnell said, “The girls really raced with their hearts, and turned a lot of heads in this race. The team from Long Beach never paid attention to us until they realized they were losing ground to a start-up program, and cranked out the last 100 meters of the race to clip us by a bow ball. I told the girls before the race that this weekend was where we as a team make our mark, and they exceeded my expectations. We all came away excited about next year.”

2004

See us on the Channel 3 News!

Summer

The coaches of Humboldt Bay Rowing Association would like to extend a HUGE thanks to all those that helped to make our summer rowing program a fantastic success. I can go out on a limb and say that all of us, at whatever level in our rowing careers, had a great time.

A few highlights from this summer, and news for the Fall:

We indoctrinated about 50 new rowers into the sport with our adult and junior novice sweep programs. Thanks to HSU and the cities of Eureka and Arcata for making these programs a success! Michael Hughes from the Times-Standard was able to come out on the water for our last practice of the season- look for an article on the club coming soon!

• Our mixed “masters” group got out on the water a couple times a week, coached by Michele Africa, and included old has-beens like myself, current National Champions from Humboldt State, and some converts from the sculling program over at the Adorni boathouse. Fall rowing will commence on Sundays at 9am at the HSU boathouse mid-September. Stay tuned for more information, and let me know if you are interested in participating in the fun sweep program for all levels (recent novices included!).
• Our summer fundraising rummage sale had many items donated to us from club members and supports, and netted a modest $500 for the club equipment fund. Thanks to all who helped out.
• Scott Gibson, men’s coach at HSU, Lisa McDonnell and Matt Bigham (HSU superstar rowers), and myself traveled to a couple of races this summer, bringing home some impressive hardware from the Rural Henley Regatta and theLake Merritt Sprints.
• Our website, created by webmaster Kevin Rardin, is now LIVE! Go to www.hbra.org to check it all out. It’s a work in progress, and if you have suggestions or comments on its layout or content (we’re still working on it), please email them to me.
• The Humboldt Junior Rowing Team begins its inaugural year this coming Saturday, September 18^th, at 10am at the Adorni Center. An informational meeting will provide all the news for interested athletes and their parents. Kids aged 13-18 are invited to attend- please tell a friend, and pass on the news. We expect a great turnout, and word of mouth will surely help the team to grow.
• We’ve completed a grant application to the Humboldt Area Foundation to help support our junior team. Lots of work and help went into its preparation, and we are anxiously awaiting news from HAF regarding it’s approval.
• New equipment purchases are in the works: cox boxes, ergs, oars, and a Pocock 4+ from the men’s team are all on the immediate horizon. Thanks to St.Mary’s College and HSU for providing the “deals” to get us off the ground.
• HBRA will again participate in the HSU Humboldt Bay Paddlefest on October 9-10^th. Volunteers are needed! Please let me know if you are interested in helping out for this super fun watersports event. (Who’s that cute kid eating the ear of corn on the homepage???)
• A Fall Club Social is in the works. Stay tuned.

That’s all for now! Stay in touch, and let us know how we are doing. This is an exciting time for our little club, and as we continue to grow, we’ll need your support more than ever.