Amherst Crew Sets New Record at Head of the Charles

On Oct. 19, the crew team traveled to Cambridge to compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR), the largest international rowing competition in the world. The team raced three boats, including the women’s first varsity (1V) coxed four (4+) boat, comprised of Claire Beougher ’26, Isabella DePreist-Sullivan ’27, Shani Getz ’26, Elena Rawlinson ’26, and Nora Lowe ’26 (as coxswain), which set a record in time for the course and highest finish for Amherst.

The 1V boat finished the winding three-mile course in 19 minutes and 35 seconds, shaving five seconds off last year’s record and moving up from eighth to seventh place overall in a field of 40 competitors. “It was a good race, and it felt strong, and I gave it everything,” Getz said. “I feel like we’re learning from it and hopefully next year [the team is] going to medal.”

The team had high expectations ahead of the race. “I was nervous going into it,” Getz said. “But immediately, at the start of the race, we passed the boat in front of us. It made us feel like we can actually do this.” Getz also described the atmosphere of being at the biggest event in the sport of rowing: “I know many people race there many times, but for me, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was very special.”

Unlike last year, the team raced multiple boats. The men’s 4+ boat, featuring Ido Kirson ’29, Andrew Glassford ’26, Sebastian Pollock ’27, Amory Maxey ’28, and Isaac Oh ’27 (as coxswain), finished the course in 20 minutes, placing 39th. The women’s second varsity 4+ boat, comprised of Emmanuelle Toulouse ’27, Lauren Kelz ’27, Piper Stimler ’28, Maya Roberts ’28, and Rachel Howell ’26 (as coxswain), placed 33rd after starting from the 34th bow. 

“We’re a great boat, and we knew that the people we were competing against were [Division I] teams who’ve been rowing since they were in middle school. So it was about doing our best in our race against ourselves,” Howell said. “Their performance was amazing. I was so proud of [my teammates]. Also, it’s not just about going fast. It’s about technique ... And we have some really pretty rowing on our team.”

Racing multiple boats allowed the team to better celebrate each other’s successes. Multiple rowers reflected on the atmosphere of cheering each other on. “It was so great ... After we got off the water, we were just telling each other how amazing we did, congratulating each other,” Howell said. “If one boat wins, the whole team wins.”

The 2V raced in the McClure, a boat named after a former Amherst rower and program supporter. The boat’s namesake was in attendance at the regatta, making the race especially meaningful for the team. “He spoke on how important it is to see the program continue to thrive and how he donated the boat because he wanted us to have the resources that he had as a rower here,” Howell explained.

Having concluded their fall season on Oct. 25 at the Wormtown Chase Regatta, the rowing team will continue to train during the winter in preparation for the upcoming spring season.