This video shows photos and video from various Steel City Rowing Club events.  Special thanks to Megan Gold who created this video. Hope you enjoy!

For more information about SCRC or the sport of rowing please visit our website at http://www.steelcityrowing.org/

Allegheny Clean Ways Tireless Project

Thank you to Allegheny Clean Ways Tireless Project for collecting an amazing amount of river garbage around Steel City Rowing Club's riverfront! So many volunteers! 

This program is a collaborative endeavor of several organizations with a common interest in the waterways of Pittsburgh. The Tireless Project was launched in 2003 by the Three Rivers Rowing Association in partnership with Nat Stone, a free-lance writer and rower who was horrified by the enormous volume of tires along the city's riverbanks when he rowed through on his adventure from New York City to New Orleans. Since its beginnings, more than 2,600 volunteers have extracted 173 tons of debris, including 2170 tires and 310 bags of recyclables from the rivers' shores. 

For more information on this effort please visit their website: http://www.alleghenycleanways.org/tireless

Vintage Scrap Book Series #15 – 2008 Canadian Henley

Matt Maddamma (Oaklahoma City University '15) earned a GOLD medal finish at the 2008 Royal Canadian Henley in the Junior A Men's 1x, pictured here. Matt went onto win the USRowing Youth Nationals and earn the Junior Men's National Team 1x berth in the 2009 FISA Junior World Rowing Championships in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France. 

Matt has also been successful racing with his college team and has had the chance to race the 1x at various races for his college including the Head of the Charles. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity

Vintage Scrap Book Series #14 – SCRC’s first docks!

The picture here is SCRC's first dock, pallets sunk partially in the mud held in place with sticks. This was before even the docks at our house. The Riverview Children's Center was kind enough to let us use their riverfront in 1997 until we moved into the our house. We stored our boats outside in their yard. We had three 1x's and one 2x. 

Vintage Scrap Book Series #13 – 2000 Canadian Henley Regatta

Abigail Loughrey earned the other Canadian Henley first place honor in 2000 Royal Canadian Henley Junior Women's B 1x. Junior B is a racing category used in summer racing and is rowers who are 16 years old or younger. Abby was 15 that year!

The City of St. Catharines is proud to roll out the welcome mat for the best in North American rowing. Over 131 years of competition and tradition. The Regatta strives to offer the best experience for all participating as competitors, coaches, spectators and volunteers.

From its humble beginnings over 130 years ago, a world-class event has evolved. The RCHR is hailed as the top amateur rowing event in North America. Each year we welcome international competitors and visitors from across Canada, the US, Europe, Australia and Latin America.

The regatta has grown in popularity. Last year the 130th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta attracted well over 3,500 visitors who stayed in our city for four nights or more. This year we anticipate continued growth in competitors and spectators.

The Opening Ceremonies on Monday, August 5, 2013 are expected to draw thousands of visitors to Port Dalhousie to enjoy the camaraderie of old friends and new as fireworks light up the sky over Martindale Pond and the 2013 Henley Regatta officially opens. Our SCRC Competitive Camp Session 2 Juniors will be there!

Vintage Scrap Book Series #12 – SCRC combines with North Allegheny for FISA jr. world championship trials

In 2006, Suzanne Maddamma (University of Michigan '12) combined efforts with three North Allegheny athletes to participate in the trials for the FISA Junior World Rowing Championships Trials, picture shown. Winning the trials, they then went onto represent the USA in the Junior World Rowing Championships Amsterdam, Netherlands.

This was the second joint effort between North Allegheny and Steel City Rowing Club to combine Pittsburgh rowing talent that earned the right to represent the USA.

Since graduation, Suzanne is back in Pittsburgh coaching SCRC's juniors and training for the national team again as an open rower while continuing her graduate studies at Chatham University. We are grateful for her commitment to SCRC and setting an example for our current juniors.

Vintage Scrap Book Series #11 – USRowing Mater's Nationals

Ladislau Tompa with his friends from Potomac Rowing Club and Occoquan Boat Club in a composite Men's 8+ winning GOLD (and the laurel wreath) at 1994 Master's Nationals in Augusta, GA. The two missing rowers are most likely hot seating into another boat. With races only 1000 meters, one can race many races in the course of the four day event.

USRowing Mater's Nationals is an amazing opportunity to get to know and row with people from other clubs around the country. Laci attended this race as a coach working with a group of adult rowers from Three Rivers Rowing. When the Potomac rowers met him they asked him to row with them. There was a group of 6 brothers and cousins that all rowed collegiately and at other levels. They had entered the eight, needed another rower and Laci ended up rowing in this boat when they realized his rowing experience.

Rowing is a life long sport connecting people and places.

Vintage Scrap Book Series #10 – Abby Loughrey at the Cologne International Regatta

Pictured below, Abby Loughrey, is receiving her GOLD medal at the medal docks from the German Rowing Federation's director at the Cologne International Regatta in the Spring of 2002 for the Junior Women's 1x. Abby was preparing for the USRowing Trials and wanted to not only be competitive at the USA level but at the international level. That spring, Abby also raced successfully in Mexico City. Abby went on to win the USA Trials for the Junior Women's 1x and raced in Trakai, Lithuania that summer at the FISA World Rowing Junior Championships.

The Cologne rowing club who hosted the event, Bayer International, sponsored not only the German National Team, but also the Belarus athletes where Ekaterina Karsten trained with her team. Ms. Karsten is a two-times Olympic champion and six times World Champion. She won Olympic gold in single sculls in 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens she won a silver medal and in 2008 she picked up a bronze. It was a rare treat to be able to see Ms. Karsten train while we were in Colgne for that regatta. Watching an Olympic champion train was life changing.

Vintage Scrap Book Series #9 – longtime SCRC member earns hammer in the ’06 CRASH B’s

Ms. Peggy Reding is a long time member of SCRC that earned her hammer in 2006 in the 80-89 Lightweight Women's 2000 meter erg at CRASH-B in Boston. Her winning HAMMER time was 10:31.5. CRASH-B is the yearly Indoor World Rowing Championships held in Boston, MA. High performing athletes from around the world are invited to compete at this event.

Peggy continues to be a SCRC member and served on the SCRC Board for 7 years. She also volunteers for other impactful non-profit organizations such as Sojourner House.

Rowing is a life long sport. You can be competitive at any age in your age category. There is a great deal to be said about that!

Vintage Scrap Book Series #8 - Schuylkill Navy plaque

In the early years of SCRC, if there was a race, we went to it! You excel at what you do a lot of! The Schuylkill Navy Race still exists, but is currently the weekend after Youth Nationals. In the late 1990's, Youth Nationals (then Youth Invitationals ) was the 1st weekend in June, so it was possible for us to go to the Shuylkill Navy race, a one day opportunity to race highly competitive sculling teams in Philadelphia with adult races as well.

Abby Loughrey (Shaler, Winchester Thurston, Stanford) rowed this race with Rachana Vajjhala (Fox Chapel, Johns Hopkins). Both were quite young but won the Junior A (up to age 18) 2x. This race only awards with an elegant plaque as shown in the picture to the first place earners. This plaque along with 2 others from subsequent years are proudly displayed in our office.

The SCRC Competitive Camp Session 1 this summer will attend the Independence Day Regatta and the Philadelphia Youth Regatta, two shorter but intense racing experiences. SCRC looks forward to going back to Philadelphia for great racing opportunities!

Vintage Scrap Book Series #7 - Junior rower receives the Chatham College Patience T. Blayden Spirit of Sport Award

On February 10, 2006, SCRC Junior rower, Suzanne Maddamma received the Chatham College Patience T. Blayden Spirit of Sport Award, part of the College's annual celebration of Nationals Girls and Women in Sports Day. The award was presented during a luncheon hosted by the events's honorary chair, Andrew Stockey, WTAE 4 Sports Anchor at the College's Athletic & Fitness Center. Sally Wiggin was also a guest speaker at the event.

The Patience T. Blayden Spirit of Sport Award celebrates the lif of Ms. Blayden, Former Chatham College athletic director. The award recognizes high school and college students for academic commitment, athletic inclination and achievements, competitive spirit, sportsmanship, forthrightness and integrity, and significant community contributions.

Congratulations Suzanne! Our athletes not only achieve athletically, but in all facets of life.

Vintage Scrap Book Series #6 - 2001 Youth Nationals

2001 Youth Nationals, 1 GOLD and 2 SILVERS. What a year! Athletes worked extraordinarily hard to achieve these amazing results.

Top pic: Junior Women's 1x: SILVER
Heather Schofield (Fox Chapel High School, Harvard)

Middle pic from L to R: Junior Women's 4x: SILVER
Emma Shoucair (Fox Chapel, Princeton, Harvard), Meaghan Froehlke (Fox Chapel), Maret Bernard (Ellis School), Karen Cornell (Allderdice, Rutgers), Abigail Loughrey (Shaler, Winchester Thurston, Stanford)

Bottom pic from L to R: Junior Women's 2x: GOLD
Kate Gordon (Ellis School, Indiana University), Abby Loughrey (Shaler, Winchester Thurston, Stanford)

Why 5 athletes in the 4x you ask? Emma rowed the heat but suffered from health issues after. The regatta committee permitted us to substitute an athlete and Abby jumped right in for the semis and finals. Amazing work and amazing results! If you recall, Abby and Heather represented the USA that summer in Germany at the Junior World Rowing Championships