Litchfield Hills Rowing Club

Each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving  Oliver Wolcott Library, hosts it’s Festival of Tree’s.  This year a group of LHRC members decided to participate in the important Litchfield event.  So, gathering their collective artistic talents the group met to design, test concepts, construct, finish and build.

This years tree follows a scandic design pattern, simple and natural, yet elegant.

The tree was installed at the library on Friday and will be part of the silent auction for the library on Saturday evening.

Una and Kendra add the finishing touch to the tree installation.

It was a beautiful afternoon, after a morning of rain the sun finally came out.  Thanks to all the volunteers who made the clebration possible!  Thanks also to the the merely curious, those interested in learning to row and the long-lost suppporters of this program for dropping by to share in the event.  We look forward to seeing you in the Spring, if not before when we have our Fundraiser in late February/early March.  Details to follow.

The Litchfield Hills Rowing Club (LHRC) which includes Masters rowers and High School students, is sponsoring an Open House on October 15^th from 3:00 – 5:00 at the Litchfield Town Beach, off the North Shore Road.

We’re celebrating the completion of the new boat house, its restoration after the roof collapse during last winter’s snows, an expanding Masters program and the energetic High School crew team.

Fingers crossed it will be a beautiful afternoon, fall colors, spectacular Bantam Lake and a chance to try a tremendous low impact, full body/full range workout www.concept2.com/us/indoorrowers/benefits.asp !

The boathouse and lake were busy Saturday morning at 7:30.  6 curious locals, 3 from the Striders running club, were given an introduction to rowing - an initial, not too leisurely, erg*, a guided tour of the boathouse, the boats, rigging etc., then back to the ergs on slides*.  They all picked up the motion very quickly.  3 are returning this weekend for on-the-water instruction.

Meanwhile 7 rowers were out on the water in a more formal session, either fine tuning their skills from earlier this spring, or getting more comfortable in an eight.  The two groups paths crossed towards the end of the session, the “curious locals” were very impressed.

* Please go to  www.concept2.com/us/training/technique.asp for video explanations.

Saturday morning was clear and calm on Bantam Lake: a perfect setting for the Learn to Row Day. After a couple of hours of organizing boats, boards and hardware (not to mention that elusive 5/8″ wrench) the boys had the barge up and running in plenty of time for prospective rowers to arrive at 8. A pyramid of oars, a tent, and ergs on the launch dock completed the scene, as did some morning treats and a Box ‘o Joe. Soon those ergs were rocking the dock as vet rowers showed new recruits the basics of rowing before embarking on the barge. Students, parents, other adults and local dignitaries (you know who you are!) were able to go out on the water under the close and capable tutorage of Corinne, Mike S. and Jason, as other vets hitched a ride to help train the new rowers. We hope everyone had a great morning and, in spite of having to sign waivers, will be joining us on the water this summer. Stay tuned for more Learn to Row info as it develops.