Yale takes the Varsity and the 2^nd Varsity…

PHOTO; Yale Heavyweight Crew. Derek Johnson holding the Blackwell Cup. ( COURTESY OF BRIAN JOHNSON-(HVYWGT CREW CAPT DEREK JOHNSON’S FATHER) http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-crewhvy/index

Rotorua’s Harry Simperingham was out a boat due to illness.

DERBY, Conn. – Yale Defends Blackwell Cup Despite Bad Conditions.

PRE RACE REPORT -14.4.11 The Blackwell Cup, against the Penn Quakers and Columbia Lions , is one of rowing's biggest trophies, is awarded in honor of George Engs Blackwell, an 1880 graduate of Columbia.  Since Columbia, Penn and Yale started racing for the cup in 1927, Yale has won the most with a total of 38 times, including last year with a 2.5-second win in the varsity eight on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.  In recent years Penn and Yale have traded the trophy back and forth almost exclusively, up until 2008 when Columbia won for the first time in 67 years.  This year, with Columbia, Penn and Yale already having dual season wins under their belts, all three teams will be contenders.

RACE REPORT -16.4.11 In its final home race of the season, the Yale heavyweight crew team claimed the Blackwell Cup for the second year in a row Saturday when the Bulldog varsity eight won by open water over Ivy League rivals Penn and Columbia.  Yale's second varsity eight also won its race, and by an even more impressive margin.  Unfortunately the waters of the Housatonic were too rough later in the day for the remainder of Yale's crews to compete.

Due to weather concerns the varsity eight race for the Blackwell Cup was moved from 11:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.  The Bulldogs drew lane three and started six seats up to account for being on the outside of the turn.  This margin grew to open water by the time crews were moving into the third 500 meters of the race course.  Yale finished in a time of 6:22.9, with open water back to Penn (6:35.4) and Columbia (6:47.3).

The second varsity followed with another win, this time by an even greater margin.  Yale posted a time of 6:41.0.  In second place was Penn with 7:16.1 and Columbia in third with 7:56.1.

Conditions began to deteriorate after the 2V race.  With winds upwards of 20 mph, races were cancelled before the freshman eight was able to get underway.  The 3V and 4V/2F 4+ did not get a chance to compete either.

The Bulldogs are away next weekend as they race Princeton and Cornell for the Carnegie Cup in Princeton, N.J. 

VARSITY 8+

Yale                        6:22.9

Pennsylvania       6:35.4

Columbia              6:47.3

2^ND VARSITY 8+

Yale                        6:41.0

Pennsylvania       7:16.1

Columbia              7:56.1