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By Melissa Bray
 It is known to be difficult to defend your title at United States’ biggest head race, the Head of the Charles in Boston and this year was no exception. On day one of two days of racing defending title holder in the women’s single, Michelle Guerette (United States) struggled in the rough head wind conditions only managing eighth position.
Instead it was France’s top single sculler Sophie Balmary who handled the winding Charles River course the best. Balmary shook off pre-race nerves in her debut appearance at this race and, starting in the middle of the 30-strong field, Balmary worked her way through the other single scullers which included Italian Gabi Bascelli and Canada’s World Champion pair, racing against each other, Darcy Marquardt and Jane Rumball.
Balmary calmed her nervousness with a day’s shopping in Boston before spending 20:50 to take the winning time on the 4828 metre course. Marquardt finished nine seconds back with Rumball hot on her heels in third.
Going from winning Switzerland’s top head race, the Armada Cup last weekend, to travelling across the northern hemisphere to Boston must have taken its toll on New Zealand’s Mahe Drysdale. Instead it was Santiago Fernandez of Argentina who took line honours.
This is Fernandez’s first time at the Head of the Charles and he arrived from Tigre in enough time to have a couple of days getting used to the course. Starting 18th in the 37 boat event, Fernandez had to manage the turns and bridges as well as overtake boats that started ahead of him. Meanwhile Drysdale, starting in number one position, had no one to chase and at the finish neither Drysdale, nor Fernandez, knew how they had done.
 Fernandez admitted he was surprised by his win over Drysdale after finishing 10th at this year’s World Rowing Championships. But the two-time Olympian is no slow-poke in the single. At the Athens Olympics Fernandez finished fourth in the highly competitive men’s single.
Drysdale came to the Head of the Charles to defend his title but despite keeping a steady 30 – 31 stroke rate through the body of the race, Fernandez’s better race pushed Drysdale into second with Canadian national team member, Kevin Light taking third. Light finished third this year at the World Rowing Championships in the pair and his partner, Malcom Howard was a slim three seconds behind Light in fourth.
The Head of the Charles is in its 42nd year and this year 8200 rowers will race over the three mile course that tracks under seven bridges and sees rowers from the age of 15 through to 84 competing.
Racing continues on Sunday 22 October with the championship eights rounding out the event. The World Rowing team values feedback . |
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