Harvard Rowers Enjoying the Spotlight At Ft. Hamer Facility

MANATEE--Come on down if you are a rower! That’s the message being sent back up north to Harvard’s home state of Massachusetts by its own local media. Christina McClintock, a writer for the Harvard Crimson, the university’s newspaper and website, and a member of the rowing team has written a rave review for newly opened Ft. Hamer training site.

Harvard’s rowing team along with several other collegiate squads have been traveling to Manatee County to test out the new facility over the past two months. If all the rowers feel the way Harvard’s team does according to Ms. McClintock, Ft. Hamer will be busy for many years to come.

Both Manatee and Sarasota counties have recently entered the bidding to bring the 2017 World Rowing Championships to this area. Sarasota County is planning to build a similar training facility near University Parkway and I-75.

“After a week of training in the area, I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to go”, wrote Ms. McClintock in her January 26, 2011 article in The Harvard Crimson. “From the moment of our arrival, we rowers were treated like rock stars.” A rower herself, Ms. McClintock was impressed by the area’s hospitality including a picnic hosted by ESPN basketball announcer and Lakewood Ranch resident Dick Vitale. 

“What stood out most to me was how genuinely happy everyone was to have us rowing there. I doubt I’ll ever feel that important again. And if these counties can make me feel that special, I can only imagine what they’d have in store for national team members”, wrote Ms. McClintock.

In her article, she went on to compliment how both counties have worked together to develop their respective rowing facilities. Ms. McClintock commented that the rowers were impressed with the course layout so far and its potential for world class events.

Commissioner John Chappie at Tuesday’s regular commissioners meeting commented on the positive reviews he’s been hearing about the collegiate rowing teams in the area and the impact they have already made on the area’s economy.