THE SPORT OF ROWING “The end had come to one of the most dramatic scenes this old river had ever seen.”2075 www.huskycrew.com: “‘We took off. We just flew by them,’ said Moch decades later, still surprised by the unleashed power of this crew.”2076 Hazel Ulbrickson recalled that after the race, the proud crew asked her husband, “What do you think of that, Al?” He replied, “You didn’t have to be so damn dramatic!”2077 The New York Times: “Washington won all three races on the Hudson River today in the 38th Regatta of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association. “The three-crew victory for Washington was the first for any college here at Poughkeepsie since 19122078 and the golden days of Cornell rowing under old Pop Courtney. “Tonight the Huskies are back in their training quarters, ready for the start of training for the Olympic Trials, which lead to the golden fleece of Berlin.”2079 1936 Olympic Trials The Olympic Trials were held on Lake Carnegie in Princeton two weeks after Poughkeepsie. Washington won its heat easily over Princeton and New York Athletic Club, stroked by a 23-year-old Frank Sulger.2080 2075 Kelley, op.cit. 2076 www.huskycrew.com 2077 Qtd. by Scott 2078 In 1912, the jayvee race had not yet been added to the schedule, so 1936 was actually the first three-race sweep in IRA history. 2079 Kelley, op.cit. 2080 who would become the backbone of NYAC for decades during the mid-20th Century. See Chapters 87 and 88. In the last few meters of the other heat, California overtook the University of Pennsylvania graduate boat with Joe Burk2081 rowing in the 5-seat. Navy finished in third. The final for the top two in each heat was scheduled for 5 PM the next day. The New York Times: “There was very little wind at race time, and what there was of this was almost dead behind the crews. “The race must have been watched by close to ten thousand. They were banked solidly in cars at the parking lot at the finish and in the grandstand there, and they stretched along the full length of the course on both sides. Canoes and sailing dinghies formed a miniature fleet at the start and the finish. “Promptly at 4:45 PM, the crews began coming around the bend from the boathouse and straightening out toward the starting platform. “They all backed into the stalls promptly and rested there, the yellow deck covers of their prows standing out vividly in the shadows cast by the tall trees on the bank at the start. “Veteran Poughkeepsie referee, Julian Curtiss’ strong voice boomed out once in the query, ‘Are you ready?’ “Then, almost immediately, came the flash of his starting gun, and they were off. “For perhaps five strokes the four shells were bow to bow, and then slowly Penn, with Lloyd Saxton keeping the beat high, poked out in front. “For a few strokes Washington disputed that lead. Washington rowed that first minute at 39 strokes, and Penn at 40. Then Washington dropped to 37, while Penn stayed up. “On the University bank, the New Yorkers, rowing high and fighting hard, next took up the argument with the leaders. 2081 See Chapter 58. 574
