This Sunday, April 3rd, the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series, which brings together 20 previously independent events into the first year-long regatta series in the United States, features the third of five "Manny Flick Regattas" for the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association.
Sunday's high school rowing event begins at 8:45 a.m. with the boys' novice races, and continues through approximately 5 p.m. with the girls' varsity eight races.
Those who are new to rowing in the Philadelphia area often ask, "What's a Manny Flick?" Manuel A. Flick was the parent of several rowers who competed in crew in the 1950s at Archbishop Prendergast High School (later Monsignor Bonner) in Drexel Hill. During the 1995-1956 season, Mr. Flick organized a round-robin series of events for the Catholic League high schools, which over time evolved into the larger PSRA. The races have been known as the "Manny Flick" regattas ever since.
This is the debut season for the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series, which features 20 major rowing events on one historic river, the first organized year-long series of rowing events of its kind in any major U.S. city. The schedule runs through late October, and features over 35,000 competitors in over 7,700 boats representing not only high schools but colleges, clubs, masters and open programs from around the country.
The Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series is organized by the Schuylkill Navy, which is the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the country, representing the 12 rowing clubs based on Philadelphia's landmark Boathouse Row.
With three of the largest regattas in the Mid-Atlantic region on the schedule, as well as two of the nation's oldest regattas, the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series connects the rowing competitors of today to the historic home of the international rowing elite.
It is built upon a tradition that launched November 12, 1835 with the first organized regatta on the Schuylkill (a full eight years before the start of the rowing program at Harvard).
The Schuylkill River hosts more regattas annually than any other river in the nation, as well as two of the country's oldest continuing regattas, The Schuylkill Navy Regatta (dating back to before 1860) and the Independence Day Regatta (initiated in 1880). Those two historic events are a significant part of the 2011 schedule for the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series, which also includes the second largest regatta in the nation (the Stotesbury Cup Regatta), the nation's oldest and largest high school rowing event.
The 2011 Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series schedule continues this weekend, with 18 regattas on the slate to come including this weekend's events
Sunday, April 3: 3rd Manny Flick Regatta (high school)
Sunday, April 10: 4th Manny Flick Regatta (high school)
Sunday, April 17: 5th Manny Flick Regatta (high school)
Saturday, April 30: Catholic League Championships (high school)
Sunday, May 1: Dr. White Regatta (high school)
Sunday, May 8: Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Assoc. Championships
Fri., May 20 & Sat., May 21: Stotesbury Cup Regatta (high school)
Saturday, June 18: Schuylkill Navy Regatta (clubs/open)
Fri., July 1 to Sun., July 3: Independence Day Regatta (clubs/open)
Saturday, July 16: Philadelphia Youth Regatta (clubs/juniors)
Saturday, July 30: Quaker City Masters Regatta (clubs/masters)
Saturday, September 17: Philadelphia Turn & Burn Regatta (clubs)
Saturday, September 24: The Hutchinson Cup (Masters/High School)
Saturday, October 8: Navy Day Regatta (clubs/high school/collegiate/masters)
Sunday, October 9: Row for the Cure (clubs/high school/college)
Sunday, October 23: Philadelphia Children's Foundation Regatta (h.s./coll.)
Sat., Oct. 29 & Sun. Oct. 30: Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (h.s./coll./clubs/open)
Sponsorship opportunities are now available for national, regional and local companies seeking access to this grand sport and its powerful demographic. For additional information, please visit the Schuylkill Navy website at http://www.boathouserow.org, the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association website at http://www.phillyflicks.com, or the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series newsroom website at http://www.pitchengine.com/newsroom.php?id=32852. You can also contact Jim DeLorenzo at Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations, 215-266-5943 or jim@jhdenterprises.com, for further information on sponsorship opportunities.
About the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series:
The Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series brings together 20 separate rowing events into the first unified series of its kind in the United States. From March to November, the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series features over 35,000 competitors in over 7,700 boats representing high schools, colleges, clubs, as well as masters and open programs from around the country. It includes several of the nation's oldest and largest regattas, all conducted on Philadelphia's historic Schuylkill River. It is organized by The Schuylkill Navy, the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the U.S., representing the 12 rowing clubs based on Philadelphia's landmark Boathouse Row. Additional information is available at http://www.boathouserow.org.
Media Contact:
Jim DeLorenzo
215-266-5943
jim@jhdenterprises.com