The Triad United Rowing Association has upped its game for the 2022 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Sunday Oct. 2 at Oak Hollow Lake.
The HP Autumn Rowing Festival has been held since 2014, but for the first time this year international collegiate competition has been added.
Crews from Duke University, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the University of Cambridge will race for Lenny Peters Cup. The festival is sponsored by Bethany Medical.
HP Autumn Rowing Festival race director Gene Kininmonth said in a press release, “Cambridge University is royalty in the rowing world. The annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge on the River Thames attracts million of TV viewers worldwide. Havin the honor of hosting Cambridge for a race with Duke and Carolina is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the sport and put an international spotlight on the city.”
Cambridge is currently the top women’s rowing program in England and is expected to be the favorite against Duke and UNC.
Up to 800 rowers and thousands of spectators are expected for the fall rowing festival with races beginning at 9 a.m. scheduled in youth, collegiate and adult (Masters) boat classes and set to run all day.
Crews will line up at Skeet Club Bridge and race out to the Center of Oak Hollow Lake, where they will row a 180-degree turn around a giant inflatable duck and head back to the main channel before turning toward the finish line at Festival Park.
Admission is free, but parking is $10. In addition to the rowing competition, there will be Carolina Beach Blast music and food trucks serving a variety of food and beverages.
For those interested in a little more luxury, The Regatta Lounge will be open and serving coffee, pastries, lunch and adult refreshments throughout the day. However, tickets cost $75 and you must make your reservations in advance.
