Dayton Boat Club

Meet Olympians, Try Rowing on June 25

June 20, 2016 By Dayton937

Learn more about Dayton Regional Rowing, the nation’s only Community Olympic Development Program for the sport, at this inaugural event.

A new event, Try Rowing Olympic Day, will be held from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, June 25, at Eastwood MetroPark Lake, 1401 Harshman Road. The event marks the first time Five Rivers MetroParks has participated in the national Olympic Day.

After a brief lesson about rowing, safety and boats used, participants will join experienced rowers and give the sport a try on the lake. On land, participants also can practice rowing on ergometers and learn about the difference between a sweep boat and a sculling boat, who a coxswain is, and why Dayton was selected as home for the nation’s first Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) for rowing. Members of the Dayton Boat Club and Greater Dayton Rowing Association will help youth and adults, regardless of skill level, try rowing.

Also at Try Rowing Olympic Day, participants will get psyched for the 2016 Summer Olympics by meeting an Olympian, who will talk about what it’s like to be a professional athlete who’s participated in the games:
Anna Goodale competed with the rowing team in the 2008 summer Olympics and won a gold medal in the women’s eight. She has won prestigious awards in numerous competitions, including gold medals in the World Rowing Championships and the Rowing World Cup. She served on the National Rowing Team for six years and currently coaches at The Ohio State University. Note: Anna is available for phone interviews in advance of the event.
Heptathlete Chantae McMillan made the Olympic team in 2012 and will again participate in this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Born in Tennessee, this self-described “Army brat” now trains year-round in Ohio with her coach Lynn Smith. McMillan graduated from the University of Nebraska as the best heptathlete in the university’s history with two records.

Participants also can grab a bite from McNasty’s food truck and enjoy a variety of presentations:
11 am — Chantae McMillan
11:30 am — Learn more about Dayton Regional Rowing and how you can join
Noon — Learn from a sports medicine expert about athlete injury prevention
1 pm — Anna Goodale
1:30 pm — Learn more about Dayton Regional Rowing and how you can join
2 pm — Learn from a nutritionist about how to properly eat while training
3 pm — Learn more about Dayton Regional Rowing and how you can join

“We’re excited to host this first-time event that will give our community a chance to meet elite athletes and learn about Dayton Regional Rowing,” said Amy Dingle, director of outdoor connections for Five Rivers MetroParks. “Receiving the Community Olympic Development Program designation in July 2015 was a great complement to the Dayton region’s status as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest. It also offers Five Rivers MetroParks and its rowing partners additional opportunities to serve the community by connecting people to nature, our rivers and promoting healthy lifestyles.”

The mission of Olympic Day, which commemorates the birth of the modern Olympic Games in 1894, is to promote fitness, well-being, culture and education, along with the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

While this is a free, drop-in event, advanced registration is encouraged and available at metroparks.org/olympicday. Participants should bring socks and dress to get wet.

Eastwood MetroPark Lake will be closed to the public during the event.

Sports Galore This Weekend!

September 10, 2015 By Melissa Ledinsky

Daytonians this weekend is full of sports oriented events! Saturday is a big day for active life this weekend. On tap is a 5/10K run/walk to benefit people with disabilities, a free youth rowing seminar, and a tennis mixer open to everyone. Great variety of activities, definitely something for everyone!

The Abilities Dash 5/10K run/walk will be held on Saturday, September 12 at Eastwood MetroPark. The event supports children and adults with developmental disabilities. Registration is from 7:45 am until 8:45 am, the cost ranges from $20-$25. The event will officially begin at 9:00 a.m. and there will be plenty of prizes for the top finishers in each age category. This is an absolutely wonderful cause to support, let’s help make a difference in all people’s lives! Extra bonus: running/walking are two forms of weight bearing exercise that can help to keep your body strong through your entire life.

Also on Saturday, September 12 is a free Learn-To-Row class for students in grades 6-8. The class is from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm at The Dayton Boat Club boat house on East River Road south of Kaplan College. The free class for adults is next weekend. The Dayton Boat Club is home to a competitive Juniors and Masters Rowing programs.

The club competes at regattas across the Midwest and regularly has entries in the US Junior National Rowing Championships. Over the past 10 years, their teams have placed in the Top 10 nationally nine times! The Dayton Boat Club is part of the first Community Olympic Development Program sponsored by The United States Olympic Committee and US rowing. This is going to be a very educational and fun event, best of all it is free. See you out on the water!

This Saturday also marks the day for The Sets in the City Tennis Mixer at The Five Seasons Family Sports Club. The event will be held from 7:30pm until 9:30 pm. The cost is $15 and includes the tennis mixer as well as your first beverage. All skill levels are welcome and you don’t need a partner or membership. There will also be plenty of food and beverage options available at the mixer, and of course prizes! You can even watch some of The US Open tennis tournament as you fine tune your own skills on the court. Sounds like a fun evening!

Run, row, and swing your way to a very active day this Saturday for the whole family! Enjoy the weather this weekend with a nice variety of sporting events. Let’s get out and get moving Dayton!

Dayton Lands Olympic Development Program For Rowing

July 21, 2015 By Dayton937

Dayton Regional Rowing to be only such program for rowing in the nation, providing athletes new opportunities and enhancing region’s outdoor recreation offerings.

Five Rivers MetroParks has entered into an agreement with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USRowing to designate the newly formed Dayton Regional Rowing a Community Olympic Development Program (CODP). Dayton Regional Rowing is a partnership between Five Rivers MetroParks, the Dayton Boat Club and Greater Dayton Rowing Association.

Dayton Regional Rowing is the only USOC and USRowing sanctioned CODP for rowing in the nation and one of only 12 CODPs in the nation.

“This local and national collaboration is another example of how collective efforts can make great things happen in communities,” Five Rivers MetroParks Executive Director Becky Benná said. “The CODP designation elevates the sport of rowing in the region and across the country as the nation’s first CODP for the sport of rowing.

“This designation also complements the Dayton region’s status as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest and offers Five Rivers MetroParks and its rowing partners additional opportunities to serve the community by connecting people to nature, our rivers and promoting healthy lifestyles,” she added.

“The USOC is delighted to announce our new partnership with Five Rivers MetroParks to expand youth sport opportunities,” said Alicia McConnell, USOC director of training sites and community partnerships. “The Dayton community continues to show their commitment to supporting healthy and active lifestyles for their citizens, which is in line with the values and mission of the USOC.”

The mission of Dayton Regional Rowing is to provide lifelong personal development and active lifestyles for Miami Valley youth through the sport of rowing, as well as to enhance high-quality intermediate programs for youth to maximize their potential in the Olympic sport of rowing.

“This partnership with Dayton Regional Rowing is a great opportunity to leverage the value the USOC and USRowing affiliation can bring to the local level,” said USRowing CEO Glenn Merry. “USRowing is excited to amplify the work being done in Dayton, drive rowing growth in the region and strengthen critical constructs, such as referee and coaching development.”

“USRowing has a long and successful history of partnerships through our U.S. Olympic training sites in Oklahoma City and in Princeton, N.J.,” he added. “The CODP is a new opportunity to root Olympic excellence at the local and development level for rowing in the United States. Rowing is a lifelong sport and USRowing serves to unlock the champion within our athletes whether in their first year of youth rowing or at the Olympic podium.”

Beginning in 2012, Five Rivers MetroParks led the effort to establish a USOC-designated CODP to enhance opportunities for youth to connect with nature through Dayton’s rivers. This leadership included bringing together the efforts of the region’s two rowing clubs, the Dayton Boat Club and Greater Dayton Rowing Association.

“This recognition represents a huge achievement for the Dayton region and the sport of rowing,” said Jim Wall, president of the Greater Dayton Rowing Association. “This recognition of the quality of our facilities and our program is extremely rewarding. We look forward to continuing our work with the youth in our community, introducing rowing as a sport and identifying future national-level competitors.”

The Dayton Regional Rowing CODP will collaborate with the USOC and USRowing to offer a community-based rowing program. This program will build partnerships and leverage USOC and USRowing resources to help athletes develop their performance, thus enhancing the Olympic sports feeder system in Dayton. Dayton Regional Rowing’s initial goals include hosting coach and referee trainings, creating a clear pathway of athlete development, and increasing participation and improving performance in youth rowing.

“We are eager to begin this exciting collaboration between Dayton Regional Rowing, USRowing and the USOC,” said Mike Miles, Dayton Boat Club head coach. “I expect we will see Dayton rowers competing at the Olympic Games before too long.”

Five Rivers MetroParks will serve as the local administrator of Dayton Regional Rowing, with Director of Outdoor Connections Amy Dingle (pictured right) serving as lead staff member.