Pittsburgh Rowing Club members earn gold medal at Masters
Pittsburgh Rowing Club members Beth Bowman and Lori McAninch worked hard in the offseason and it paid off recently in the USRowing Masters National Championships in Sarasota, Fla., with dramatic results.
Bowman, 61, of Hampton, and McAninch, 58, of Collier, were declared the winner in the Women’s Open F 2x final in 4 minutes, 13.249 seconds in a photo finish with secondplace Minneapolis (4:13.263).
It was the Robinson club’s first national title of any kind since its founding in 2008, according to founder and rowing director Florin Curuea.
“This past winter, we decided to push ourselves training on the erg, lifting weights and doing cross training,” McAninch said. “We set up our own televideo sessions outside of club practices to work together and refine our strokes, hold each other accountable and cheer each other on.
“In addition, we worked with our coach to refine our strokes on the water [in the spring]. Florin is an experienced Olympic [Romanian] rower, who can see every little mistake and help you correct it to become the fastest you can be.”
Bowman said it was one of the most challenging things she has done, but it was worth it after they got up on the podium with their medals.
They were making their first appearance in nationals.
“I was hopeful we would be competitive based on past races and because we had pushed each other hard,” Bowman said. “We worked with coach Florin on improving our technique, developing our optimal racing stroke rate and by keeping our head in the boat and sticking with the plan.
“We knew we had the conditioning and were happy after placing first in the morning.”
The two won their heat by about six seconds to advance to the final.
“I was surprised we beat the times of all teams in both heats,” McAninch said. “Once I realized this, I felt confident that if Beth and I stuck to our game plan, we had a very good chance to win the entire event.
“When Minneapolis caught us in the last 100 meters, I wasn’t so sure we came out on top. Our onsite coach, McDarragh Minnock, spoke with Florin right before we launched and the direction we were given was to row fast and stay together.”
Minnock said it was exciting to watch: “You love to see that kind of racing, where everyone is giving their all, down to the wire. It was exciting to see them apply everything they worked on.
“They’re great ladies who have a lot of fun.”
Bowman encouraged McAninch to take up racing after both joined the club several years ago.
“I was looking to supplement my road cycle training in the winter,” McAninch said. “Beth became a quick friend.
“Upon the end of the season, she said, ‘You should come and row with us, you will love it.’ One foot stepped into the boat with Beth and a couple of other teammates and I was hooked.
“She was by my side every step of the way.”
McAninch said she and Bowman have good rapport, which was evident during nationals: “We were able to give each other feedback and not take it personally.”
Curuea said Bowman and McAninch are good listeners.
McAninch said it helps that they can bounce thoughts off of Bowman’s daughter, Salli, an Oakland Catholic graduate and former Cornell University rower.
“Her expertise helps us break things down to a manageable format,” she said.
Beth Bowman said her daughter has been a source of inspiration and a calming influence for her: “She has always stressed I should be doing it for fun, and just to focus on our racing, not anyone else.”
Bowman said her husband, Mike, whom she followed into masters rowing, is proud of her.
Bowman and McAninch plan to enter several races this fall, including the Head of the Ohio Regatta Oct. 1 on the Allegheny River in Downtown Pittsburgh.
“We have the most fun in the boat together,” McAninch said. “Beth and I plan to continue to work together for the upcoming head race season and beyond.
“We hope to defend our win at Masters Nationals next year.”