Forest Hills Central Rowing

2009 Recap

Congratulations to all of the Central crew teams for your outstanding performance today at the Forest Hills Challenge. FHC won (9) of (15) races. Today we saw overcast skies with strong cross winds and several periods of rain. Thankfully the heavy down pour occurred just after the last race of the day. The race distance was 1500 meters against a strong current and into the wind.

Results:

Women's Novice 4+: FHC-A 1st, FHC-B 2nd, FHN 3rd, FHE 4th
Men's Lightweight 4+: FHC 1st, FHE 2nd
Men's Novice 4+: FHE 1st, FHN 2nd, FHC-A 3rd, FHC-B 4th
Women's 2nd 8+ (A Flight): FHC 1st, FHN 2nd, FHE 3rd
Women's 2nd 8+ (B Flight): FHC 1st, FHN 2nd
Men's Varsity 4+: FHE 1st, FHN 2nd, FHC 3rd
Women's Varsity 4+: FHN 1st, FHC-A 2nd, FHE 3rd, FHC-B 4th
Men's 2nd 8+: FHC-A 1st, FHC-B 2nd, FHE 3rd
Women's Lightweight 4+: FHC-A 1st, FHN 2nd, FHE 3rd, FHC-B 4th
Men's Novice 8+: FHE 1st, FHN 2nd, FHC 3rd
Men's 2nd 4+: FHC-A 1st, FHE 2nd, FHN 3rd, FHC-B 4th
Women's Novice 8+: FHC-A 1st, FHC-B 2nd, FHN 3rd, FHE 4th
Men's Varsity 8+: FHC 1st, FHE 2nd, FHN 3rd
Women's Varsity 8+: FHN 1st, FHC 2nd, FHE 3rd

In summary, out of (22) entries over 15 races, FHC had (9) first, (6) second, (4) third and (3) 4th

Participating Schools: Forest Hills Central, Forest Hills Northern, Forest Hills Eastern

Schedule: Coaches & Coxswains meeting at 8:30AM with first race scheduled to start at 9:00AM.  The last race is scheduled to start at 12:15PM.  Unless we experience some unforeseen problems we should have no problem keeping this schedule

Parking:  We’re going to have close to 170 athletes alone competing at this event.  You add in families, coaches, volunteers and team supporters we could have close to 800 people at the boathouse this weekend.  Unfortunately we don’t have the space available to let everyone park at the boathouse, stage the event, and still keep the access road open for emergency purposes.  We’ve come up with 5 different scenarios to get everyone safely to the boathouse and still allow us to stage the event.

1.       Parking pass.  Each team is being allowed an allotment of 10 parking passes for parents and supporters to use.  If you have one of these passes you’ll be allowed to park somewhere in the boathouse vicinity. 

2.       Walk.  Ada Park is not far away, and there’s a nice paved walking path that passes Ada Moorings, shadows the course that we’ll be rowing on this weekend, and ends at our boathouse.

3.       Drop Off.  We’ll allow a drop off area just inside the entrance to McGraw Park/The boathouse drive.  There’s a small turn around just inside the gate where you can turn around after dropping off your athlete.

4.       Shuttle Bus.  We’ll be running a shuttle bus from Thornapple Elementary (6932 Bridgewater SE, Grand Rapids, 49546) to the boathouse.  The shuttle bus will run continuously starting at 8:00AM-9:00AM.  After 9:00AM the bus will run every ½ hour from Thornapple Elementary to the boathouse.  At the conclusion of the event the bus will again run continuously until everyone has left the boathouse area.

5.       Handicap permit.  Please just show the parking guards your permit, and you’ll be allowed to park near the boathouse.

Unfortunately due to safety concerns we cannot park along Grand River Drive.  Please use one of the above methods to get to the boathouse.  If you’re having problems getting to the boathouse please call the boathouse at 682-9286 and someone will help you.