Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association

So SIRA was this weekend. We didn't go, but it's still interesting to keep an eye on. The best I ever did at this race was win the petite finals in the varsity 8 back in 2006. But the race has changed a bit, adding an assortment of teams from the Northeast (Temple, St. Joe's, Delaware). It's only gotten more competitive in recent years.
The men's varsity 8 event this weekend was a close one - Florida Tech 6:09.6 followed by Grand Valley 6:13.13 followed by Temple 6:14.00 followed by Purdue 6:15.3 followed by Jacksonville at 6:15.7. Virginia, who used to win the event perennially, finished 4th in the petite final. Who knows what happened there. St. Joe's and Marietta College also failed to make the grand finals.
And once again club teams around the country are clinching their fists at the the Intercollegiate Rowing Association's decision to exclude unfunded teams from competing in the IRA National Championship Regatta. Grand Valley, who finished 2nd and Purdue, who finished 4th in the grand final are technically club teams who are now excluded from going to the IRA effective this year. But Jacksonville, St. Joe's and Marietta, still funded by their school's athletic departments, could be qualified.
It's a shame that this ever had to happen. The IRA nationals was what made collegiate men's rowing such an interesting sport. But the good old boys network on top of the IRA sided with conformity instead of tradition when they ruled that starting in 2009 they'll no longer invite self-funded teams, regardless of performance during the course of the season.
If SIRA proved anything this weekend, it's that unfunded teams can compete and shouldn't be ignored.

Quick side notes:
Grand Valley's club women also finished 2nd in their event. The rest of the 6 schools in their final were NCAA-sanctioned teams.

Concerning UC rowing:
We have less than a week before Indianapolis Invite. Some of the schools the novices will see this coming Saturday raced at SIRA. Ohio State didn't have a good showing, finishing last in their opening heat. But Purdue novice won the petite final. It's just a matter of getting in position.