Kansas to Host Second Annual Jayhawk Jamboree

Directions to Burcham Park
 
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas Rowing will host the second annual Jayhawk Jamboree on at the Kansas Boathouse at Burcham Park, Saturday, Oct. 18. The Jayhawks will welcome Drake, Kansas State, Iowa and Tulsa to the banks of the Kaw for a fun day filled with multiple races.
 
AROUND THE RIVER

  • Fun Zone: Kansas Athletics will set up the Fun Zone for little ones to come out and play on the river bank during the day’s events. Members of the Spirit Squad and Baby Jay will also be posing for pictures with fans.
  • Live Music: The KU Pep Band will play for fans and rally the teams preparing to compete. The folk band ‘Them’ will also be in attendance to entertain the crowd.
  • Food Trucks: Traditional festival food such as corn dogs, cotton candy and kettle corn will be available to snack on. Beverages will be available for purchase from Free State Brewing Company.

 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

  • 11:00 a.m.: Fun Zone opens
  • 12:00 p.m.: Men’s Varsity Eight
  • 12:30 p.m.: Women’s Varsity Eight
  • 1:00 p.m.: Men’s Novice Eight
  • 1:30 p.m.: Women’s Novice Eight
  • 2:00 p.m.: Men’s Varsity Four
  • 2:30 p.m.: Women’s Varsity Four
  • 3:00 p.m.: Men’s Singles/Doubles
  • 3:15 p.m.: Women’s Singles/Doubles
  • 3:30 p.m.: Men’s Novice Four
  • 3:45 p.m.: Women’s Novice Four

 
A tribute of sorts, the rowing team started the Jamboree last fall in the attempt to revive the Western National Fair, which used to be held at Bismarck Grove (current site of the University of Kansas boathouse), during the late 19th century. This grand event, which celebrates the oldest collegiate sport, annually attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 people to the river. This will mark the second consecutive year KU has hosted the fall Jamboree, with last year’s event drawing a crowd over 2,000.

“Our team is excited to host the Jamboree,” head coach Rob Catloth said. “It’s a great way to get the community behind us and really show what rowing is about.”

The Jayhawk Jamboree will be a head race, using a time-trial format, as the Kansas River lacks adequate width to host six or more lanes for competition. The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude around 4 p.m. Boats will be launched approximately 15 seconds apart from one another and the boat with the fastest time wins the competition.

“This will be a great opportunity for our team to get the competitive juices flowing and see how we match up with other good programs across the nation,” Catloth said.

The rowing event will also include a competition for club teams in the area including the Kansas men’s and women’s crew teams. The Jayhawk Jamboree is not scored by team, rather as individual competition.

The Jayhawk Jamboree is the first of four regattas in which KU will compete in its home state during the 2014-15 campaign. Kansas will travel to the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nov. 1-2, to conclude the fall season.
 
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