People are flocking in droves to Quidi Vidi Lake today to watch some boat races, sample some grubs, or play some games of chance.
VOCM”s Brian Madore has been lakeside since the crack of dawn.
Things got underway at 8:00 with the Men’s Amateur Race with defending champ NTV in tough against the veteran Fine Strokes Plaster and Painting crew, comprised mostly of rowers from Outer Cove. Fine Strokes won the race followed by Capital Home Hardware and NTV. Andrew McDonald General Contracting Ltd., many of whom are pushing 50, and East Coast Kia round out the top five. It’s unlikely there will be another crew to nudge into the championship row.
Fine Strokes Coxswain Craig Whittle says things started falling into place for them a few weeks ago.
He says they were a bit slow in the time trials but three weeks ago it all started coming together so they weren’t surprised to win this morning’s race.
As for the women, only 10 seconds separated first from fifth with defending champ hyflodraulic putting a real push in in the home stretch to finish about a second ahead of Noonan Piercey. Smith Stockley, Dawe & Burke and the Cahill Group round out the top five. It’s unlikely that another crew will finish with a time faster than the fifth-place crew.
The men go first this year at 6:30 followed by the women at 7:00.
Premier Andrew Furey presents the medals to Smith Stockley, who were the only sr. Men’s team to do the short course which, until a few yes ago, was labelled the women’s course. The afternoon program is underway. pic.twitter.com/DiNLf2lEuh
— Brian Madore (@bmadorevocm) August 2, 2023
