5/24/2006

The Tulsa Rowing Club will host more than 100 rowers from the region Saturday, June 3 for the 15^th annual Tulsa Sprints Regatta on the Arkansas River.

            Teams from Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois and Indiana will compete in 1,000-meter sprint races on the Arkansas River, beginning south of the 21^st Street Bridge and finishing near the River West Festival Park.

            Spectators can watch high school, college and master’s crews race in a full day of rowing events. Races are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and will run until 4 p.m. 

            According to Janeann Taubel, sponsorship chairman for the Tulsa Sprints, the annual regatta has additional significance this year as Tulsa works to expand its rowing program for adults and high school students.

            “Our juniors rowing program has become a force in the region thanks to the work of Coach Neil Bergenroth and the community’s support,” she said. “Our goal now is to raise $6,000 through race sponsorships that can go toward acquiring new boats and rowing equipment – something these young athletes need to remain competitive with teams from other cities.”

            In addition to obtaining regatta event sponsorships, members of Tulsa’s juniors rowing team will sell concessions during the regatta, with all food/beverage proceeds going to benefit the Tulsa Rowing Club. Additional donations will be accepted at the race and are tax-deductible.

            Tulsa Rowing Club officials believe the growing popularity of the sport and the success of the Tulsa Sprints regatta help boost the city’s image to individuals and companies considering moving to Tulsa.

            “Tulsa has one of the best facilities in the region for rowing,” said Suzanne Dudding, Tulsa Rowing Club race chairman. “The fact that we have such a well-established rowing program here in the Southwest is a great attraction to people from other parts of the country. We hope to build on that awareness – by inviting former rowers to become ‘reacquainted’ with the sport and by introducing rowing to all Tulsans through our club’s inexpensive summer lessons.”

            In addition to its monthly rowing lessons, the Tulsa Rowing Club is offering Summer Rowing Camp for juniors and adults in June and July.  

            For more information about the June 3 Tulsa Sprints Regatta, or to learn how you can become a sponsor and support Tulsa Rowing Club, please visit www.tulsajuniorsrowing.org, www.tulsarowingclub.org, or contact Suzanne Dudding at tulsasprints@aim.com.