Olympic Medalist Featured Guest at ‘Holiday Regatta’

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Mercer County administration.

In the sweep of an oar the holidays will be here, and there is no better way to welcome the gift-giving season than at the Mercer County Sports and Entertainment Commission’s annual luncheon and holiday shop, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at Mercer Oaks Clubhouse.

This year’s theme is Holiday Regatta in celebration of the 2012 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships on Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park, and featured speaker will be Olympic Medalist and University of Washington graduate Mary Whipple, the coxswain for the USA Women’s Rowing team for the past eight years.

Mary coxed the 2004 Olympic eight to a Silver Medal finish, ending a 20-year Olympic drought. She and her Athens teammates set the foundation for a successful campaign toward the 2008 Olympics where Mary steered the eight to two World Championship titles in 2006 and 2007 en route to a Gold medal performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Mary and her teammates have their sights set on the 2012 Olympics.

The Holiday Regatta luncheon festivities begin with holiday shopping at 11 a.m. and will feature a number of local vendors offering unique quality products and services. 

 In addition to Mary Whipple’s story, the catch of the day will be Jim Hines of Mercer Oaks Catering’s scrumptious “Cape Cod” luncheon featuring seafood chowder, fresh cod, cornbread and chicken followed by warmed apple crisps for dessert. The complimentary signature drink of the day will be Bellinis.

Please join us on Dec. 6 at Mercer Oaks Clubhouse at 725 Village Rd. West in West Windsor.  Tickets are $45 and reservations are required.  Proceeds benefit the Mercer County Sports and Entertainment Commission, a 501 (c)(3).  For more information please visit www.mcsec.net or call 609-737-0927.