The Oak Ridge Rowing Association hosted the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta at the Melton Hill Lake course on April 19 and 20.
It was the 30th consecutive year that the regatta has been held in Oak Ridge.
This year, 58 teams and over 1,900 rowers participated in SIRA over the two-day event. Crews came from states as far away as Texas, Kansas, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Championships were earned in 20 events and Purdue University was the overall team winner.
"It was a very successful event that ran on time once we overcame some weather challenges," said ORRA Coach Allen Eubanks. "The level of competition at SIRA is good enough to bring teams from as distant as Philadelphia and Texas.
"They come here to compete, not only for the SIRA championship, but to get ready for the Dad Vail club national championships that will be held in May. The teams that do well here normally do well at the Dad Vail."
With the SIRA Regatta in the books, there's no rest for the weary at ORRA. This weekend the association hosts both the Oak Ridge Dogwood Regatta and the Big East Women's Championship Regatta at Melton Hill Lake.
n PHOTOS: Next week, look for a photo page highlighting the regatta season hosted by the ORRA.