|
Row, row, row your boat . . . for 7 miles Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 07/13/07 BY TRISTAN J. SCHWEIGER TOMS RIVER -- Ken Motz and his friend Bill Singley haven't let age slow them down. Motz, 69, of Brick and Singley, also 69, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., are longtime friends who grew up together in Margate and later served together in the Army. And the two men still keep in touch through competitions -- grueling competitions -- like triathlons. This year, they decided to participate in the seven-mile New Jersey State Rowing Championships, held Thursday in the Toms River. "We thought it would be a good challenge before we hit 70," Motz said. "We've been training for about two months." Started in 2001, the race is a diverse one, with many different ages and boat designs represented, according to Rich Schlatter, the race director. The race includes people rowing solo or with a partner and attracts many lifeguards as competitors. About 35 boats were competing Thursday. Schlatter said it is serious competition -- the race draws participants who are not only among the best rowers in the state, but among the best in the nation. "The best of the best is here," Schlatter said before the race began at about 6 p.m. in front of the Toms River Yacht Club. "There are a couple of guys in Florida, a couple of guys in California that can keep up." Mike Fitzpatrick, a lifeguard in Long Beach Township who has participated in the race several times, said he likes the event not only for the competition, but because it helps build skills and physical fitness. "One of the goals of any of the lifeguard competitions is to promote overall conditioning without having to get out there and crack the whip, have them do pushups," joked Fitzpatrick, 56, who is competition director for the Long Beach Township's lifeguards. Tom McLoughlin, a lifeguard for 39 years at Sandy Hook, said he enjoys the race because he likes the course, which goes out the Toms River to Barnegat Bay and back. "It's a good distance. Seven miles is a good distance. It's a pretty well controlled course in the river here," said McLoughlin, 54, of Middletown. |