Tradition

Celebrate the anniversary of Dartmouth's Class Day Regatta every fall in Hanover! In 1873, Dartmouth rowers formed class crews to compete over a four-mile stretch of the Connecticut River. With the river too narrow to race four boats abreast, they raced heats and finals. In that first race, the sophomores beat the seniors by four lengths! The tradition was reborn in 2008 and, every year Dartmouth rowers start the academic year by forming freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior crews composed of members from the women's, lightweight's and heavyweight's squads. In these mixed boats, the athletes race for the Gardner Cup—awarded in honor of longtime coach, Pete Gardner. More recently, alumni and friends have come together to join the underclassmen in races of their own. View more information, including photos and results, at Friends of Dartmouth Rowing.