PEMBROKE, N.H. — On a sunny, cool, windy Sunday in Pembroke, New Hampshire, Megunticook Rowing took to the Mighty Merrimack for one last regatta.

Nearly 300 boats and more than 1,000 athletes, ranging from Juniors to Masters took to the river to test their mettle against New England’s best.

Megunticook’s first event was the Junior Men’s 4+A event. Taking on a fleet of 17 boats, Connor Howland (coxswain), Dom Piconi, Devin Guptill, Cabot Adams and Noah Thackeray rowed their way through the field and posted a time fast enough to place them fifth, just 14 seconds out of third place over nearly three miles.

From the master’s program, our very own coach, Abby Chamberlin, and masters rower Polly Saltonstall raced in the Women’s Open Double (2x). Taking on a field of seven boats, they finished with the fastest time over the course in their race, but due to age handicapping, finished 3rd with corrected time. A great accomplishment.

Iselin Bratz and Maggie Gill then took the course in their double (2x). This was their second time racing together and they faced an intense field of 11 boats. Starting near the back of the pack, they finished a strong third place behind St. Paul’s School (a rowing powerhouse) and a very fast boat from Maine Coast Rowing Association, which won the event.

The Men’s Jr Novice 4+ event soon followed. Connor Howland (coxswain), Oliver Haynes, Tanner Carson, Carlton Richmond (sitting in for injured Oliver Castle), and Aaron Dowd took on a fleet of 12 boats and worked their way into fifth place – just four seconds behind the fourth place boat (less than two boat lengths).

Sofia Howell (coxswain), Flora Gurdon, Ava Tobias, Adella Brainerd, and Greer LaFiura, took the river for the Women’s Jr Novice 4+ event. Out of a field of 14 crews and increasing winds, they powered their way to a very respectable seventh place.

The last two events of the day were the Women’s Jr 8+A race and the Men’s Jr 8+A event.

The women’s boat, comprised of coxswain Sofia Howell, Iselin Bratz, Maggie Gill, Lydia Meyers, Veronica Waters, Charlotte Taylor, Flora Gurdon, Laura Riordan and Leah Bloomquist, took on a very fast field of 10 boats and finished 8th in a very tight race.

The men’s Jr boat, comprised of coxswain Conner Howland, Cabot Adams, Devin Guptill, Oliver Worner, Tanner Carson, Oliver Haynes, Carlton Richmond, Dom Piconi, and Noah Thackeray, most of whom had already raced earlier in the day, took on 13 very fast crews and finished 10th.

All in all it was a great day of racing and a great season for Megunticook Rowing.