Carnegie Currents: November/December 1998 Vol. XII, No. 6
Report on the Chase and the Belly
Editor's Note: For a decade, Tom Heebink has been the organizational force behind two premier collegiate head races held on Lake Carnegie in the fall. Each year the races have grown in size and popularity, and each year Tom has devised new ways to improve the events for everyone involved. Here’s his report on the 1998 experience.
The Princeton 3-Mile Chase and the Belly of the Carnegie are invitational head races hosted by the Princeton University crew coaching staff — the Chase for varsity men and women and the Belly for freshmen men and novice women collegiate crews. The Princeton 3-Mile Chase regatta is composed of races for Lightweight Women, Open Women, Lightweight Men, Heavyweight Men and a small boats event competing over a distance of 2.75 miles. The Belly of the Carnegie regatta is composed of three races for Women, Lightweight Men and Heavyweight Men competing over a distance of 2.75 miles.
This is the 19th running of the Belly, and the Chase has been around even longer. The Lakers have been instrumental in contributing to the improvement of these races over the last decade and this year was no exception. As a result of our enthusiastic volunteer help and improved features, college coaches regard these events as key races in their schedule. In fact, the Chase is regarded as the premier collegiate autumn regatta in the country. This year we had a 5% increase in participation and have probably reached our capacity. The University limits the entries by making them invitational races. This year we had over 1,000 athletes at the Chase representing 24 schools, in over 200 boats (many rowers row two events). The Belly, with only three races, had about 750 freshman/novices, from 13 schools, in about 80 boats.
Winners at the Chase included Princeton in the Women’s Lightweight Eight, Men’s Heavyweight Eight, Men’s Lightweight Eight, Women’s Open Eight and Men’s Lightweight Four events. Virginia won the Women’s Open Four and Yale the Men’s Heavyweight Four. Winners at the Belly included Yale in the Men’s Heavyweight race, Navy in the Men’s Lightweight race and Cornell in the Women’s race. But, more importantly, the Belly Bowl went to Yale followed by Princeton, Penn, Cornell, Navy, Rutgers, Georgetown and Columbia. The award is based on the top two times in all three events for each school. The Belly Bowl was started in 1993 when Cornell won it. Princeton took home the bowl for the next four years.
The participating colleges are always impressed by our well run regatta; in particular the low cost ($2 per athlete for the Chase and no entry fees for the Belly), ease of entry (no waiver forms), competitive racing (top rowing programs), great food (Cafe Chase) and probably most impressive is the ability to report results of each race almost immediately after the conclusion of the event. The results have been tabulated for several years by Liv Johnson, who developed the timing system, and Rich Bartolomeo.
In addition to the great features that we have provided for these college kids, this year we arranged for super good weather (708 and sunny) for both races, added a visit by the Princeton Tiger for the Belly and sold out all the popular regatta shirts again at each race. Both races were very successful and enjoyed by all the Laker volunteers, college coaches and the collegiate rowers. The Princeton University coaching staff has expressed their extreme thanks to the Lakers for their work in making these races successful. Thanks to all who made it possible.
— Tom Heebink