Pictured: Radcliffe got its 2010-11 season off to a strong start (photo courtesy Gil Talbot).

Regatta Site | Results | Lightweight Recap

SHELTON, Conn.—The Radcliffe heavyweight crew opened its fall season with a first-place finish in the pair and a second-place finish in the collegiate eight event at the Head of the Housatonic regatta Saturday at Indian Well State Park.

The Black and White varsity trailed only Yale's top boat in a 17-boat field in the women's collegiate eight.  Radcliffe crossed the finish line of the 2.7-mile course in 16:06.296, more than nine seconds ahead of third-place Williams. The second varsity was one spot behind the Ephs and one ahead of the second Yale boat, in 16:25.231.  The third varsity finished eleventh with a time of 17:37.916.

Earlier in the day, Radcliffe raced in the women's open pairs and the collegiate fours events.  Radcliffe finished first, second, and fourth in the pair in a four-boat field with sophomores Shelley Pearson and Celia Kohl securing the gold-medal position.  In the collegiate fours, the Black and White heavyweights took fourth, seventh and eighth among 17 entries. The top-finishing boat of the three reached the finish in 18:52.416, with the others completing the course in 19:32.844 and 19:47.796.

“It was great to come down to a well-run regatta, and give almost our entire team a chance to race twice down the course,” said assistant varsity coach Cory Bosworth.  “We learned a lot and are looking forward to the Head of the Charles in two weeks."

Radcliffe returns to action on familiar waters at the Head of the Charles Regatta Oct. 23-24.