Cranberry Bog Challenge

Buckeye Lake Winery Hosts Inaugural Cranberry Bog Challenge  on Saturday. May 22. Also, this year’s challenge will feature a first-time event for the Midwest – a Coastal Beach Sprint race. The race will initiate on the South shore of Buckeye Lake at Fairfield Beach 9AM, Sunday May 23rd, as the conclusion of a two-day camp for invited youth rowers from Cincinnati, Hamilton and Columbus Ohio.

Marc Oria selected the Buckeye Lake site for the introduction of Beach Sprints in the Midwest. “This is a beautiful area and what is most exciting is the opportunity young people in their boats, on the beach and at the Winery will all have to be in on the action.” Marc has been leading development of the Beach Sprints sport with US Rowing and World Rowing leaders since the announcement Beach Sprints events are on track to be introduced at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Marc is a Medical Researcher at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati and has loved rowing since his youth in Spain where Beach and Coastal rowing have been big parts of every club. “We want to send a full team from the United States to Oeras, Portugal this October and get a Youth Team working toward the next Youth Olympics. Buckeye Lake and Buckeye Lake Winery sites will attract Midwest athletes looking for a new and exciting sport.”

To get them started, Tracy and Laura Higginbotham, owners of Buckeye Lake Winery, are offering “Discover Rowing” experience; 4-hour rowing sessions headed up by Ryan Worth, US Rowing certified coach and head coach of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Ryan has run All America Rowing Camps across the country and guides complete novices to an understanding of the fundamentals of boat handling, rowing and safety. The sessions will be for a maximum of 36 youths (12 each session) (ages 12 and up) on Saturday May 22 at 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm and Sunday, May 23 at 9am-2pm.

Buckeye Lake Winery will be providing boxed lunches for the camp participants and, thanks to community donations, the cost will be $30/Youth participant. Ohio Department of Health and CDC Guidelines will be adhered to for this event.

To kick off the weekend, at 10am Saturday, May 22nd,  we will row the first ever Cranberry Bog Challenge race starting and ending at the Winery and crossing the Lake to circle the historic Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve. Racing will be in open water racing boats, with experienced open water rowers racing to be top spot on a new All-Time Leader Board for future racers to beat as they develop their skills. “We have some wonderful athletes in our membership and invite youth from the three counties bordering the Lake to participate. We are making the opportunity available for all our families to see what they can do. Thanks and come on out and see us.”

For more information, please Contact: Bill Donoho at [email protected] for rowing/race questions. Please Contact: Elisha Rose at [email protected] for Press information, specific questions related to Buckeye Lake Winery and event details. Please Contact: Peggy Mahler at [email protected] for questions regarding your interest in Discover Rowing and whether you or your children can participate.