October 2026 Newsletter
October 2026 Berkshire Community Rowing Newsletter
President’s Message:
So much good stuff has happened this season. Our whole crew of rowers, working together with kindness and positivity, cooperating on the dock to get each other out on the water, working together in team boats. The great coaching we’ve had this summer and the concrete gratitude we’ve shown to them for it. Loren showing up every morning. It’s been easy, consistent and fun. It has been a delight for me to watch it all, and to come down in the morning to join in.
Policy Review ~ Cold Water Rowing
- Prior to May 30th and after September 15, rowers must have CCG-approved personal flotation device in the boat with them at all times.
- If the combined water and air temperature is below 100 degrees: Each rower must have a PFD (personal flotation device) in the boat. Four oar rule. This means rowers may only row in doubles, quads or fours
Random Rower’s Corner ~ Ricardo Reeves
Thank you ALL, my Berkshire Community Rowing Family! Because of your kindness, one more soul is experiencing the true joy of rowing. Mr. Ted Humprey has been the main reason for my development. Ted is a very special instructor/teacher. All of you have contributed to my joy of rowing. Also, I would like to say a special thank you to Mr. Connell McGrath. Continued blessings to all.
Shout Out to Summer Coaching Staff ~ Adrian Shoobs
Another summer season at Berkshire Community Rowing has ended. We’ve said our goodbyes to this year’s cadre of collegiate coaches (excepting Sofia who will thankfully be with us for a few more weeks), and now enter the fall season on our own. We will miss them and wish them the very best as they go on their ways.
Over the years I’ve been rowing on Onota, I’ve seen a number of coaches spend a summer here at our club. Some have been, well, just okay. Some have been good, technically, generally enthusiastic and supportive, and some have been excellent.
This year’s group, Soren, Sasha, Sofia, Andrew, Isabella, and Iris, have been beyond excellent. They’ve been wonderful. What an extraordinary group of young people we’ve had with us this summer! At every level, from coaching experienced masters rowers, to coaching juniors, to teaching beginners, they have met the considerable challenges with grace, humor and technical excellence.
In the past, we have had some young collegians who have excelled at coaching members of the club on a daily basis. On finishing their coaching duties, they’ve gotten into boats themselves and gone on the lake to row with their fellow coaches, their peers. All well and good and to be expected, and actually quite fun to watch. This year’s coaches have been very different. They have pitched in and filled seats in masters quads. They have teamed up in doubles with rowers old enough to be their parents (and in some cases, grandparents). They have done this with enthusiasm and great skill. What a pleasure it has been to see and be part of this. They brought with them a wealth of experience competing at the forefront of college rowing and shared it with us. It doesn’t get too much better than that. I had the pleasure of rowing a double with Andrew once and twice with Iris. On all three rows we moved right along. What fun to get the boat swinging and hear the bubbles coming off the stern. Both Andrew and Iris expressed a wish to row with me again. There can be no higher compliment paid by one rower to another. I hope to row with both of them again as well.
Regattas ~ Save the Dates
Head of the Fish Regatta – October 24 and 25 – Fish Creek, Saratoga Springs, NY
Jack-Row-Lantern – October 31 – a fun invitational at the PVRC in Springfield, MA about which Randy writes, “We’ll mix up experienced and novice crews to get out there, run the course, and have big fun and a big potluck with the other rowing clubs. Don’t think of it as a race, think of it as your last row of the season (which it may well be) on the Connecticut River (something completely different), interacting with like-minded people from our sister clubs.”
Race Results
Rockrimmon Regatta:
September 12 – Connecticut River, Springfield, MA
The days are getting shorter, but the races are getting longer. BCR entered several boats in the Rockrimmon Regatta at Pioneer Valley Rowing. Masters and Juniors competed in the 5,200-meter course on the Connecticut River.
The Masters Quad (Paul St. Germain, Linda Dulye, Lisa Diaz, and Ted Humphrey) began the morning. Despite a navigation snafu, they stayed poised, rowed, strong, competed, and completed a second-place finish. (Interesting point, the same navigation issue occurred to another rower in the next heat.)
The Juniors followed and closed out their event. The Viper Red (Robyn Gregg, Benjamin Hatcher, Jasper Sharkey-McQuinn, and Catherine Henessey) came in first. The O Yea (Jaelyn Reynolds, Lila Flax, Sean Morin, and Olivia Hatcher) finished second.
After her first-place finish, Catherine Henessey took an encore 5,200-meter victory lap by competing with her mother Giovanna Fessenden in the mother-daughter race.
Special nod to Don Roche and Loren Paduano. Don oversees the de-rigging and rigging of boats, the one who arranges and drives the trailers. Without Don, boats don’t get there. Without Loren, the boathouse is just a building. Both Don and Loren competed at the end of the day in the Men’s Double event. Loren has competed before, but his erg training over the winter and his summer training on the water made this competition special.
Recognition to Sean Morin who helped at the boathouse at the end of the day. That’s the BCR way.
Gratitude to Sofia Bové, who during this past summer led coaching for Masters, Juniors, and other coaches. Two weeks into the Fall Season, she got her rowers ready for their first regatta . . . and victories. Check for updates on competitions for both Masters and Juniors.
Photos from Linda Dulye. Results from Ted Humphrey.
Paper City Regatta:
September 26 – Connecticut River, Holyoke, MA
Cancelled due to the Nor’easter!
Mohawk Fall Classic Regatta:
September 27 – Mohawk River, Scotia, NY
Juniors Journey to Scotia
On a weekend when most of New England and the country were talking about the Nor’easter, the Juniors were rowing.
The Paper City Regatta on the Holyoke River did not survive the storm. The regatta was called off ahead of the weekend, but the Mohawk Regatta on Sunday, September 27, proceeded as scheduled — give or take a delay or two.
Berkshire Community Rowing sent two quads of Junior Rowers to compete. Each quad competed in the Boys’ division, even though women comprised the crews.
Averill Oxborough stroked the Red Viper. Jasper-Sharkey-McQuinn, Robyn Gregg, and Catherine Hennessey completed the boat.
Ben Hatcher stroked the O Yeah. Sean Morin, Peter Shields, and Olivia Hatcher completed that boat.
It was a cold, blustery day. The rain held off except when rowers were rowing, but they competed against top regional talent. Coaches and rowers agreed: The Juniors braved the elements, stayed tough, and rowed well. Leo Ithete volunteered as team manager for the event.
The parental support was inspiring as was the rowers’ work ethic in preparing the boats for trailers and unloading and re-rigging the boats.
Coach Ted Humphrey and parent Kara Shields surrendered shoelaces for a last-minute launch-time repair, and Randy Oberle went over and above on arranging the trailer and driving.
Coach Sofia Bové deserves recognition for her summer coaching that has continued into the Fall. Two more regattas are on the schedule, the very competitive Head of the Fish on October 24 and the whimsical Jack Row Lantern on October 31. The Miss Halls Rowers, who just began the school year so were not yet ready for this past weekend, are scheduled to be prepared and ready to row for the October events.
Rowers and Friends, thank you for the support and enjoy the last days of unfrozen water.
Coaches Sofia, Randy and Ted
We note with sadness the loss of one of our own.
Eric Hatcher, the father of two of our juniors, Benjamin and Olivia, and an assistant BCR coach, passed away unexpectedly on September 21, 2026. A liturgy of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 9 am at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield. Randy Oberle asks BCR members who are planning to attend to wear their yellow/gold BCR shirt.
A celebration of Eric’s life will follow.
https://www.deryfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Eric-C-Hatcher?obId=49704852
Policy Review: High Viz Clothing and Liability Waiver
- All rowers must wear high-visibility shirts and/or hats: neon green, yellow, pink or orange.
- All members and program attendees must sign US Rowing’s liability waiver on their website.https://membership.usrowing.org/ If you need help with this, reach out to info@berkshirerowing.com
BCR Swag
Think we all need some new, matching BCR swag? Grab a friend and solicit your club friends to buy some stuff! Contact Connell McGrath for guidance, president@berkshirerowing.com
Best Resource Ever!
You can always find the most up-to-date information on the club’s activities by visiting BCR’s website, berkshirecommunityrowing.org.
Come Row with Us!
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