USRowing would like to announce that the 2020 USRowing National Championship Regatta will be moving from Lake Harsha in Bethel, Ohio, to the Cooper River in Camden County, N.J. The event dates – July 14-19 – remain unchanged.



"We're very appreciative of the Clermont Sports Development Corporation's willingness to work with us to relocate this year's event," said USRowing Interim CEO, Susan Smith. "Harsha Lake at East Fork State Park is a wonderful venue, and the LOC does an exceptional job of providing our athletes with an outstanding race experience. We look forward to bringing national championship regattas back to Ohio in the near future."



USRowing is working with HBC Event Services to facilitate refunds for team bookings in Ohio and to set up new accommodations in New Jersey. A new booking link will be available next week at www.usrowinghotels.com.



In addition to awarding national championship medals in 90 events, this year's USRowing National Championships will include National Team Trials racing in select events including 14 under 23 national team boat categories and 11 senior national team boat categories, including five para-rowing classifications. The top-finishing eligible crews in those 25 races will earn the right to represent the U.S. at the 2020 World Rowing Championships or 2020 World Rowing Under 23 Championships August 23-30 in Bled, Slovenia.



As part of the new race program, USRowing will be moving away from the intermediate and senior skill classifications in 2020 and will be offering under 23 and open racing. This new race format will be reviewed following this year's regatta and prior to establishing the race program for 2021.



The USRowing National Championships also will be part of the U.S. Lotman Challenge. Covering three different race distances and racecourses throughout 2020, the Challenge will identify America's premier single scullers and crown champions following the final race Sunday, October 24, in Camden, N.J. The Challenge will use the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Rowing in Sarasota and the national championships to qualify participants, who then will proceed to the Head Of The Charles Regatta where the top four will be identified for the final race on the Cooper River.



"Cooper River is a wonderful venue and a great location to host our summer national championship," Smith said. "The USRowing National Championships offers the best opportunity for athletes to race in multiple boat classes, develop their overall boat skills, and race against some of the best competition in the country, while having fun and winning medals. And with national team spots on the line, this year's regatta will have added significance. We look forward to seeing all of our top athletes and teams racing for national championships in Camden County this summer."



Hosted by the Camden County Board of Freeholders, the USRowing National Championships will be held July 14-19, 2020, at Cooper River in Camden County, N.J. Cooper River Park has hosted numerous national rowing events including the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships, NCAA Championships, numerous USRowing National Championships, and the 2000 Olympic Trials. Cooper River Park also will host the 2020 USRowing U17/U15 National Championships June 6-7.



For more information on the event, please click here. Registration will open on April 1, 2020, on RegattaCentral.com.