The 2014 racing season culminates this Saturday, May 24 with the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championship Regatta, otherwise known as NEIRA.  The top three boats from the boys and girls squads will return to Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts to race against dozens of other schools.

The 1500 meter racecourse begins near the Donahue Rowing Center to the north and ends in front of Quinsigamond State Park to the south.  Boats will race once during the morning heats and again during the afternoon finals.  The second and third eights must place in the top three of their six-boat heats to proceed to the grand final, while the first eights must place in the top two for the grand final.  The lane assignments in the heats are determined by that boat’s record throughout the regular season.

The below table lists each boat’s record this season, lane assignment, heat time, and final times.

Gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to each of the top three boats in the grand final events. A number of ceremonial trophies are also awarded to winning crews: the Father Frederick H. Sill Bowl and Dixon “Tote” Walker Cup are awarded to the boys first and second eights respectively, and the Kenneth F. Burns Trophy and Converse Prudden Prize to the girls first and second eights respectively. The Hart Perry Cup and Gilcreast Bowl are points trophies awarded to the programs which earned the most points in the boys and girls eights events respectively. Points are awarded based on the place in which each boat finishes in its event–with more points alloted from more competitive events.

A few reminders regarding the regatta:

• The NEIRA 2014 seeds and schedule shown above can be printed out for reference. It is also included with the race programs given to spectators when entering Quinsigamond State Park.
• Crews will launch from Quinsigamond State Park near the finish line. Click here for directions.
• Lanes are numbered right to left: Lane 1 is to the west closer to Worcester, Lane 6 is to the east closer to Shrewsbury.
• Parking for spectators is not allowed along Lake Avenue or in the Quinsigamond State Park lot. However, plenty of parking is available only a few minutes West at the University of Massachusetts Medical School guest parking lot. See the parking and traffic map for directions and information about the shuttle bus.

Best of luck to all crews!