Sizing up the competition

The president of the International Dory Race Committee, U.S. side, Mr. James Tarantino, sent us this update following their recent elimination races.

“As always, the American elimination races to determine who will represent us in Canada produced some controversy, some excitement and some great races.

“The first race of the day, in the Junior Division, featured Joe Harmon and Ben Favazza, Randy Parisi and L.J. Robertson, and Joe Ciolino and Kyle Edmonds. The older, stronger crews got out to an early lead. Harmon and Favazza lost their course and forced Parisi and Robertson off their course. Ciolino and Edmonds were undaunted and held their course like experienced veterans. By the time Harmon/Favazza and Parisi/Robertson were halfway to the turning flags they were completely out of the race course, they collided and did not resume rowing. Ciolino and Edmonds took advantage of the other crews misfortune and went on to win the race and the right to represent their country in Nova Scotia.

“The Women's crew of experienced champion Katherine Richmond and strong new-comer Samantha Rose rowed unopposed and showed fine form and had a very competitive time.

“The Masters Division had the largest turn out and had to have 2 heats. In the first heat, reigning champions Joe Sanfilippo and Mark Duval were pushed by the powerful tandems of Dave Quinn and Jim Tarantino and legendary rowers Jack Sultan and Mike Cody. But as always a perfect course and turn put Duval and Sanfilippo ahead for keeps and into the final on Monday night. In the 2nd Masters heat, John Scola and Mike Harmon used a power stroke to defeat the quicker stroke of veteran Ed Parnell and Charlie Mullen. In the final Monday night, Harmon and Scola decided to attack Duval and Sanfillippo with a fast stroke to compensate for a recurring sinus affection suffered by Scola. It was a mistake. The long smooth stroke of the Masters Champs gave them a decisive victory margin.

“Next came the Mixed Doubles Division. Katherine Richmond took advantage of her new partner’s inexperience by hooking up with the Mighty Jimmy T. as her dorymate. Samantha Rose teamed up with Mike Harmon who had just completed his Masters race. There was no quarter given, despite it being the first time in the boat together for Rose and Harmon, who had just exhausted himself winning his elimination. Richmond and Tarantino won handily. Rumor is Tarantino had a chip on his shoulder after being soundly defeated by the Canadian Mixed Doubles duo of Trevor Swim and Nicole Jones. “I'm out for revenge!” Tarantino said after the race. “I haven't had a good night's sleep since Trevor and Nicole beat me!” he growled, with a crazy Manson-like stare!

“The Open class was the heated battle of the day. Incumbent champions Erik Dombrowski and Glenn Harrington had a war with Jerry Ciaramataro and his young strong new partner Mike Lovasco. Geoff Thomas and Billy Edmonds had some technical difficulties and quickly fell behind in the heat. All the way out and back the Committee boat reported mixed lead changes between Harrington/Dombrowski and Ciaramataro/Lovasco. With just a quarter mile to go the experienced champs started to pull away and eventually got the win by just about a boat length. However, due to business obligations, Harrington and Dombrowski are unable to make the trip to Canada so the U.S. will most likely be represented by Ciaramataro and Lovasco in the Open Class.

The International Dory Races are slated for Saturday, September 13 at Lunenburg.