Bronze for Sean Richardson at the 2026 World Rowing Championships

Riverside Boat Club is celebrating a World Championship bronze medal for Sean Richardson!

Sean and his teammate Jamie Copus battled their way onto the podium last Thursday in the Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, closing the final 500 meters in spectacular fashion to take bronze in 6:27.45.

The Americans spent much of the race in sixth before making their move in the third 500 meters, climbing into fourth place. They then launched a furious sprint over the final 250 meters, closing the gap on India and securing the final spot on the podium.

For Sean, the medal marks his first senior World Championship medal and another milestone in an already remarkable international career. After earning his third U.S. Senior National Team selection this spring, Sean has capped his 2026 campaign with a place on the World Championship podium.

Jamie Copus (left) and Riverside’s Sean Richardson (right) celebrate their bronze medal.

For Riverside, this is a moment we are especially proud to celebrate. Sean continues to train and call Riverside home, representing the club every time he takes to the start wearing the Stars and Stripes.

Thank you to everyone in the Riverside community who supported Sean throughout his journey to Amsterdam. Your encouragement and the generosity of everyone who contributed to the Riverside Worlds Campaign helped make this opportunity possible.

We could not be prouder to see a Riverside athlete standing on the World Championship podium.

Congratulations, Sean, and go stripes!

On the Water: Preparing for Worlds

In the final lead-up to the 2026 World Rowing Championships, Riverside members Sean Richardson, racing with partner Jamie Copus in the USA LM2x, and Amel Younis, racing with partner Ryan Ghalayini in the PLE M2x, took to the water for practice alongside HPG teammates and other Riverside members. The group was coached by our very own Dave Lefebvre, who has been a member of Riverside's community for over 30 years and once represented Riverside on the Worlds stage himself. The camaraderie, skill, and speed on display at each of these sessions were exceptional, embodying everything that makes Riverside what it is. All crews looked sharp, hungry, and ready to perform.

We wish Sean, Amel, Dave, and their racing partners the best of luck as they represent us on the world stage. Yeah Stripes!

Support Sean and Dave at the 2026 World Rowing Championships

Riverside Boat Club is proud to be represented by Sean Richardson and Dave LeFebvre at the upcoming 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.

Competing on the world stage is an incredible achievement and reflects years of dedication, training, and commitment, not only from Sean and Dave but also from the community that has supported them along the way.

Sean will be representing the United States for the third time after earning his place on the U.S. Senior National Team this spring, while Dave returns to international competition after first representing the U.S. National Team in the 1990s—a journey that began right here at Riverside more than 30 years ago.

Today, both members continue to call Riverside home and proudly carry our club's name onto the international stage.

We invite you to support their journey by making a gift to the Riverside Worlds Campaign. All gifts will directly support Sean and Dave's participation at the World Rowing Championships, helping offset the significant costs of representing Riverside and the United States in international competition.

Support Sean and Dave's World Championship campaign here.

Thank you in advance for supporting our members and for being part of the Riverside community. Your generosity helps create opportunities like these for the Stripes, and we look forward to cheering on Sean and Dave in Amsterdam on August 25 and 27!

Go Stripes!

Liz Martin Crowned Henley Women's Regatta Champion

Riverside Boat Club is proud to congratulate Liz Martin on winning the Godfrey Rowsports Trophy in the Championship Lightweight Single Sculls at the prestigious Henley Women's Regatta! Returning to Henley after competing there in 2022, Liz arrived with valuable experience on the famous course and a determination to test herself against an exceptionally strong international field. The event attracted several accomplished lightweight scullers from across Europe and North America, reflecting the growing importance of elite racing opportunities for lightweight athletes.

After posting the fastest time in Friday’s time trial to earn a bye into the semifinals, Liz faced her toughest challenge of the regatta. Despite falling several lengths behind early, she remained composed, trusted her race plan, and steadily worked her way back into contention before overtaking her opponent in the closing stages to secure a dramatic victory. Just a few hours later, she delivered a commanding performance in the final, leading from start to finish to claim the Godfrey Rowsports Trophy and become the Championship Lightweight Single Sculls champion.

Beyond the result itself, the regatta was a memorable experience for Liz, who enjoyed racing on one of rowing’s most iconic courses, reconnecting with friends and supporters, and meeting some of her rowing heroes. The victory also earned her pre-qualification for the Princess Royal Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, where she will take on an even deeper field in the coming days. Congratulations to Liz on an outstanding achievement and a well-deserved international title!

See results at: https://rowresults.co.uk/results/hwr26/Tree1012461.pdf

New Shell Dedicated in Honor of Janice Hayes-Cha

On May 31, 2026, Riverside Boat Club dedicated a new boat in honor of Janice Hayes-Cha, recognizing her exceptional dedication, leadership, and long-standing contributions to the club community.

The dedication ceremony brought together teammates and members of the Riverside community to celebrate Hayes-Cha’s impact both on and off the water.

During the event, teammate Anita Verheul delivered remarks highlighting Hayes-Cha’s energy, commitment, and influence within the club:

If you don’t know Janice Hayes-Cha, imagine a Whirling Dervish inside the Energizer Bunny with a Heart of Gold. If you do know Janice then you know this is true. The other thing that is true about Janice is that she loves rowing and she loves Riverside. She brings all her energy and love to the sport of Rowing and to her support of this club which she cherishes. 

I met Janice 10 years ago, shortly after she single handedly willed a masters women sweep program to be a reality at Riverside. Initially she was the driving force to bring in rowers, corral coxswains and persuade coaches to support the fledgling team. Not to mention the goal of world rowing participation. What you see today is a very strong Masters Women Sweep team with over 20 rowers on the roster; 4 new team members joining this Spring alone and a coach back for her second season. 

But Janice doesn’t limit herself to sweeps, she took up sculling during Covid and has her own single which she very graciously offers anyone who doesn’t have a boat to row. All this rowing is topped off with her numerous volunteer activities. Some which are evident and others which she just does for no other reason than for the benefit of Riverside.

I’m so lucky to count her as a close friend and rowing partner. Myself and the Women’s Masters team celebrate this boat christening in honor of Janice Hayes-Cha. Thank you Janice for everything you do!!

We are honored to celebrate Janice and hope this dedication serves as a lasting reminder of the extraordinary support she has given to Riverside Boat Club.

Boston's Run to Remember

On Sunday, May 24, we continued our collaboration with Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon! For the past 4 years, RBC members have volunteered to operate the 5 and 7 mile water stops for this race. The course has a "stake turn" so we have tables set up on either side of Memorial Dr to provide water and gatorade for those going out and back. At this point, we are a well oiled machine from mixing gatorade, stacking rows and rows of cups, mastering the proper hand off technique, and leaving the street garbage free once the race wraps up. Although it was cold and rainy this year, moral was high as we cheered on those running!

From the Boston Globe - Innovation Beat: AI keeps geese off Charles River docks

The Riverside Boat Club’s docks are free of sticky green poop, thanks to a high-tech fix.

(By Aaron Pressman, The Boston Globe)

In recent years, rowers in Cambridge have been on a bit of a wild goose chase, trying to
prevent local water fowl from besmirching docks up and down the Charles River with
sticky green feces. So retired engineer Andy Roy came up with a low-cost artificial intelligence system to
protect the docks at the Riverside Boat Club, where he rows, from the avian menace.

Continue to the full article, here

Want to know more? Contact RBC. or visit this site about the smart Goose Deterrent System (SGDS)

AI supported sprinkler in action.

Night time images from the RBC docks