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The 21st George Washington Invitational Regatta Set For April 11 & 12 :: Collegiate Rowing Competition to Feature 13 Men's and Women's Crews
 
 
 

 
The 21st GW Invitational Regatta is this Friday and Saturday
  
 
The 21st George Washington Invitational Regatta Set For April 11 & 12

Collegiate Rowing Competition to Feature 13 Men's and Women's Crews

April 9, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - The 21st George Washington Invitational Regatta will be held Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, on the Potomac River race course. The event is part of the 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place from March 29 to April 13. The George Washington University rowing program hosts the event, which is the largest collegiate rowing competition in the Washington metropolitan area.

For the second straight year, each team will compete in three dual or trial races - one on Friday afternoon, and two on Saturday. The 2,000-meter, four-lane buoyed course begins near the Spout Run area of the Potomac River with the finish line at Washington Harbour in Georgetown. An awards ceremony will follow the competition Saturday at approximately 6:00 p.m. at Washington Harbour. GW Rowing is headquartered at Thompson Boat Center near the intersection of Rock Creek Parkway and Virginia Avenue, NW.

Admission is free.

Men's and women's crews from 13 universities, including the host Colonials, will compete in the two day-long event with more than 300 rowers expected to take part. Men's squads from George Washington, Georgetown, U.S. Naval Academy, Virginia, Michigan, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Gonzaga will compete for the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy. The women's teams are from George Washington, Georgetown, U.S. Naval Academy, California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, George Mason, Iowa and Saint Joseph's.

Collegiate men's and women's events this year will include: Varsity Eights, 2nd Varsity Eights, Varsity Fours, Freshman Eights, 2nd Freshman Eights and Freshman Fours.

Last year, The George Washington University amassed 142 points to win the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy at the 20th Annual George Washington Invitational Regatta on a cold, blustery Saturday on the Potomac River. It marked the first time the Colonials won the point trophy. Cornell was the runner-up with 135 points followed by Georgetown with 105 points and Clemson with 89 points. Points were awarded based on finish in the grand final races and petite finals.

 

 

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week, citywide event celebrating spring. The 2008 Festival is March 29 - April 13, and will feature daily cultural performances, sporting events, arts & crafts, demonstrations and other special events. The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the 96th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the citizens of the United States and Japan.