40-plus rowing teams coming to Oak Ridge for Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta

More than 40 youth rowing teams from 20 different states are coming to Oak Ridge Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, to compete in the Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta.

These young athletes, ages 14 to 19, represent some of the best programs in the nation. They'll travel from multiple regions, as far away as Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Virginia and South Florida to compete on Melton Hill Lake.

Oak Ridge Rowing Association's Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta is the premier competitive opportunity for many teams, as they prepare for USRowing’s regional and national championships. The 2024 edition of this annual event features 1,100 athletes and more than 650 entries, from the single person scull to the coxed 8+. Racing begins with time trials at 7:45 a.m. Saturday morning. Semi-finals are held on Saturday afternoon, and finals on Sunday over the 2000-meter course.

“The 2024 edition of the Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta is our largest ever, growing 10% over 2023. We maxed out entries two weeks prior to race weekend and added a waitlist for participants,” said Ann Edwards, president of ORRA’s board of directors. “The combination of Oak Ridge's unbeatable rowing conditions and the deep, experienced competition makes this event a can't miss opportunity.”

Racing will take place all weekend for anyone interested in watching. Interested in learning more about how regattas such as the Dogwood Junior Championship are executed? Come out and join Oak Ridge Rowing Association as a volunteer. Volunteers can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EACA72D6-48052636-2024#/.

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) was founded in 1978 with a simple and far reaching mission: To promote the sport of rowing in Oak Ridge and East Tennessee.

Jim Rogers is Oak Ridge Rowing Association's regatta committee chairman.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: 40+ rowing teams coming for Dogwood Junior Championship Regatta