Gardner Cup Class Day Regatta Invitation

The Friends of Dartmouth Rowing invite you to attend the inaugural

Gardner Cup Class Day Regatta

on the 135th anniversary of Dartmouth's first Class Day Regatta

September 26 and 27, 2008

In the fall of 1873, Dartmouth rowers formed freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior class crews to compete over a four-mile stretch of the Connecticut River. The river being too narrow to race four boats abreast, they raced heats and finals. The heats pitted the seniors against the juniors and the sophomores against the freshmen. The sophomores and seniors advanced, where the sophomores won the final by four lengths.

Starting this fall, on the 135th anniversary of that event, Dartmouth rowers will start the academic year by forming freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior crews composed of members of all three programs. They will race the same four-mile stretch of the Connecticut River. Instead of competing for class colors, they'll compete for the Gardner Cup, given in honor of longtime Dartmouth coach Pete Gardner.

Join us as we renew our oldest tradition and celebrate the history of Dartmouth Rowing.

Program of Events

Friday, September 26
5:00pm: Gardner Cup Class Day Heats: Sophomores v. Freshmen
5:45pm: Gardner Cup Class Day Heats: Seniors v. Juniors
8:00pm: Celebratory dinner honoring legendary coach Pete Gardner, and including the Gardner Cup Class Day finalists, MC: Kurt Somerville

Saturday, September 27
9:00am: Gardner Cup Class Day Regatta, Petite Final
9:30am: Gardner Cup Class Day Regatta, Grand Final
10:30am: Shell christenings at the boathouse
11:00am: Awarding of the inaugural Gardner Cup

Please RSVP to Friends.of.Dartmouth.Rowing@dartmouth.edu by August 29, 2008.
$75 per person, check payable to Friends of Dartmouth Rowing