More than 100 current and former rowers, coaches and parents came to the boathouse on Sat., July 28 to celebrate AJRA’s 25th season of rowing, which begins this fall.  The kick-off event included the dedication of the club’s new trophy case and  a display featuring each boat that earned a trip to Youth Nationals as well as a timeline of AJRA highlights during the its first 25 years.

The club’s newest 8 — the Coach John Pearson — also was christened.  Following the program, alumni took to the water to challenge current rowers but, despite a great effort, were narrowly edged out.

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate this important milestone!

This past weekend, AJRA rowers competed at USRowing Club National Championships in Camden, New Jersey, to cap off the first ever elite summer camp experience provided by AJRA. Five rowers and two coxswains were selected to train this summer as an AJRA Elite squad, coached by Michael Gibel, and to then compete against teams from across the country in both pairs and fours in New Jersey. The five-day regatta provided valuable racing experience for our rowers, and the schedule of racing allowed them to each compete in several events. AJRA boats raced in events of all levels: in junior events, against other clubs with high school rowers, in intermediate events, which are open to both junior and college-aged athletes, and even in one senior event, which is the highest classification an athlete can race at the national level. The highlight of the weekend’s racing for AJRA was the Men’s Intermediate Lightweight Pair of James Virgo and Josh Brown, advancing to the final from heats and finishing 5th overall in the country. Without a doubt, all of our rowers will come back from New Jersey ready to bring AJRA to a new level in the fall.

Men’s Intermediate Lightweight 4+: (c: Jessica Geng ’14, Harris Kiefer ’13, Josh Brown ’13, James Virgo ’14, Joe Cecil ’15), 6th in heat
Men’s Junior A 4+: (c: Healy Chait ’13, Brown, Joe Milley ’14, Cecil), 6th in heat
Men’s Junior A 2-: (Milley, Cecil) 6th in heat
Men’s Intermediate 4+: (c: Chait, Virgo, Brown, Milley, Kiefer) 6th in heat
Men’s Senior Lightweight 4+: (c: Geng, Kiefer, Brown, Virgo, Cecil) 4th in final
Men’s Intermediate Lightweight 2-: (Virgo, Brown) 5th in final, (Kiefer, Cecil) 5th in heat

Several other AJRA athletes were also racing at Club Nationals, while training for other clubs during the summer.
US Men’s National Development Camp, Pittsburgh PA: Trevor Appier ’13
Crescent Boat Club, Philadelphia PA: Cassi Lobaugh ’13, Maggie Nugent ’13
Atlanta Rowing Club, Atlanta GA: Morgan Bean ’13, Katherine Christel ’12, Sarah Hudnall ’13, Maddie Wilson ’13, Alex Weeks ’12

Online registration for all AJRA fall programs is now open! Returning and new rowers interested in signing up for Varsity, Novice or Developmental Squads should go to the RONIN SIGN UP link and complete the registration forms as soon as possible.  Instructions for payments (option of credit card or check) are detailed when you register online.  All forms are completed online except for the physician’s fitness verification, which you should print when you register.

Dates for all fall regattas and events can be found on the Calendar listed under Events and here on the HOME page Upcoming Events in the sidebar.

Rowers and parents should plan to attend the Fall Registration Meeting on Sun., Aug. 19 at Roswell River Landing (next to the boathouse):

• 1 pm – Varsity (those rowers who participated on Varsity or Novice in
  Fall 2011 or Spring 2012)
• 2:30 pm – Novice and New Families (e.g., New rowers, Former D Squad
  rowers, Rowers from other Rowing Clubs)
• 4 pm – New and Returning Development Squad

Remember to bring a completed copy of the physician’s fitness verification form and a copy of your insurance card to the meeting. Parents can sign up for their Volunteer position if they haven’t already done so. Come meet our coaches, purchase required travel shirt  ($15) for Novice and Varsity, shop for spirit wear, and order uniforms if needed. Don’t miss this kick-off event for the fall season!

It’s history in the making!  With Olympic rowing and our 25th season coming up, Atlanta Junior Rowing Association is one of the oldest junior rowing clubs in the Atlanta area. Check out the exciting publicity AJRA received in the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Living section this morning, Wednesday, July 12 – http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/sport-teaches-teens-to-1475762.html.

We appreciate the AJC highlighting the efforts put forth by rowers and ultimately the rewards they reap by participating in this growing sport.

If you’d like to share more of what rowing is all about, post this article on your own facebook page and share the post from the AJRA Facebook page!