Competitive Masters Women's Team

About us:

We are a group of experienced rowers of varying ages, backgrounds and athletic abilities who have been drawn together by a common love and vision of rowing. We are a highly motivated group that recognizes individuals’ strong desire to compete as well as balance professional lives and family. Our structured and social atmosphere makes this competitive group a rewarding experience.

About our practice schedule:

Organized practices take place 3 times a week year round. The On-the-Water Season generally runs from April to November. We practice from 5:30am-7:00am on Monday & Wednesday mornings, and 7:00am-8:30am on Saturday mornings. These are coached practices that take place on the calm water of the early morning. The focus of Water Season is to prepare for competition at Summer and Fall regattas by enhancing our individual and team rowing abilities.

Winter Training traditionally starts in mid-November and continues until March. Week-day practices are still Mon & Wed 5:30am-7:00am; the week-end practice switches to Sunday morning from 7:00am-8:30am and is often a joint practice with the men’s team. Practices consist of erg workouts prepared by our coach, video sessions and coached in-door tank rowing. The focus is on staying in shape during the “off season”, technique and application of power.

Members understand that rowers need to balance their commitment to the team with their other life commitments; however, they also recognize the high value of consistent training and team participation. In addition to the three weekly-coached practice sessions, many members also dedicate themselves to additional training in the form of strength training, cardio workouts, individual sculling and/or additional erg training.

About our Head Coach:

Abby Loughrey is a Pittsburgh native, level II rowing coach, and has competed as a rower both nationally and internationally. She was a three-time member of the U.S. Junior National team and rowed at the Junior World Championships. Abby also won the 2006 Junior Pan American Championships in the single and later rowed in Augusta, GA under Igor Grinko. She went on to row collegiately at Stanford University and began coaching in Oakland, CA at both the Jack London Aquatic Center and Lake Merritt Rowing Club. She later instructed sailing and marine science for Salish Sea Expeditions in Seattle, WA.

Along with her duties as Head Coach of the competitive Master Women's rowing program at TRRA Abby is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Social and Comparative Analysis in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and working as an environmental science educator for the local non-profit Riverquest.

About our Assistant Coach:

Before joining the Masters Women coaching staff Jonathan Crist served as an assistant varsity coach with the Duquesne Women’s Rowing Team (NCAA Div. I). He coached the lightweight eight to its second consecutive victory and the second varsity eight to a program-best fourth place at the 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships. Prior to that Jonathan served four years as the novice coach and one as the assistant varsity coach with Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh, PA), coaching the 3rd varsity eight to second place in the Allegheny Boat Race (behind only the 2nd varsity eight), a winning regular spring season, and to a bronze in the 2nd varsity eight event at the 2008 Midwest Scholastic Championships. He has rowed for Central Catholic High School, Riverside Military Academy (Gainesville, GA), and Steel City R.C.

Jonathan holds a B.A. in Communication and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.A. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies with emphases on philosophy of communication and communication ethics from Duquesne University.

About joining the team:

Members of the Competitive Masters rowing team are required to:

1. Have some rowing/racing experience

2. Be a dues-paying member of TRRA

3. Be a dues-paying member of the Masters Team

4. Love to Row

In addition, to participate in USRowing-sponsored races, you must be a current member of USRowing.

To become a member of TRRA, contact the administrative office at the Lambert Boathouse on Washington’s Landing. 412.231.8772 and/or
See Online Information

To become a member of the TRRA Masters Women Competitive Team contact either of our captains:
Maureen Busis
Joanne Anderson

Team Blog

2010 Summer Races

Pittsburgh Indoor Rowing Championships – January 30

Pittsford Regatta – May 29, Pittsford, NY

Midwest Masters - June 19, Columbus, OH

Capital Sprints - July 10, Washington, DC

Occoquan Sprints - July 11, Fairfax Station, VA

Cambridge Boat Club Invite - July 17 - Boston, MA

Canadian Henley - August 1 - St. Catherines, Ontario

USRowing Masters National Championships – August 12–15, West Windsor, NJ

2010 Potential Fall Races (Schedule Still TBD)

Head of the Ohio – October 9, Pittsburgh, PA

Head of the Charles – October 23-24, Boston, MA