Blair Rowing delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 Battle of the Blades, the annual opening race against Peddie to start the season. Blair secured the trophy with 5 wins to Peddie’s 3 in a competitive day of racing that also included boats in the mix from Hill and Wyoming Seminary.
Racing took place over 1500 meters at Mercer Lake in sunny but challenging conditions with 11mph northwest cross-tailwind and choppy waters from the 300M mark to the finish. Despite an unexpected crab that meant restarting the Boys Novice 8 from the 250M mark, Blair’s crews showed up ready to race and ultimately won the day.
Girls Sweep the Field
Blair’s Girls team led the charge, sweeping every event they entered showcasing the depth of the Girls program across all boats:
- Girls 1V4+: Blair dominated in 5:44.0, ahead of Peddie and Hill.
- Girls 2V4+: Another decisive win in 5:56.1.
- Girls 3V4+: Blair continued the streak, finishing in 6:05.7.
- Girls 4V/5V/6V 4+: Blair claimed the top two spots, with the 4V winning in 6:20.8, the 5V coming in at 6:33.0 and the 6V coming in at 7:11.4
- Girls Novice 8+: A strong closing performance secured first in 6:13.2.
Girls Novice 8+ Highlight
In their first race ever the Girls Novice 8 delivered a remarkable debut, dominating the field from start to finish. Racing together for the very first time they showed power and form well beyond their experience level, crossing the finish line in an impressive 6:13.2, comfortably ahead of Peddie (6:56.0) and Wyoming Seminary (7:07.5), announcing themselves as a boat to watch this season.
Boys Racing Highlights:
Blair’s Boys 1V4+ led the way with a strong and composed race, finishing second in 5:11.5 against a fast Hill crew in challenging conditions. The 2V4+ followed with a competitive third-place finish in a tight field, continuing to show progress early in the season.
Highlighting the depth of the program, the Boys 4V4+ secured a key win, edging out Peddie in a close race with a time of 5:38.2, holding their speed through the choppy closing stretch. The 3V4+ and Novice 8+ crews gained valuable race experience as well, with the Novice 8 navigating a restart after an early stopped crab.
Overall, Blair Rowing’s depth across lineups and the ability to perform when challenged by difficult winds and waters shows a promising start to the Spring 2026 Rowing season. From the girls’ dominant sweep and standout novice debut to the boys’ hard-fought racing and key victories, Blair leaves the Battle of the Blades well-positioned and confident as they enter the next stretch of the season.