Williams Grad Qualifies for U23 World Rowing Championships

By Dick QuinnWilliams Sports Info
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Katherine Robinson
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Katherine Robinson, who graduated from Williams College this spring, will be one of the 600 rowers from 50 nations competing at the U23 Rowing World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic, from July 23 to 26.

On Thursday morning, July 8, Robinson and three teammates representing the GMS Rowing Center, earned the right to represent the United States at the U23 World Championships with an uncontested victory in the quad boat final in West Windsor, N.J.

Robinson's quad boat will compete in the lightweight classification. She is the only rower in the quad who is not a Division I rower as she has two teammates from University of Virginia (Division I runner-up) and one from Oregon State.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Robinson's boat was unchallenged in the U.S. Eph women's head crew coach Justin Moore points out that Robinson and her boat have performed very well in doubles and quads already.

"They've done a very nice job," said Moore. "They've put up some fast times in doubles and quads and they look to be medal contenders in Europe."

Robinson and her lightweight boat recorded a winning time of 7:23.535 on Thursday, while the winning time in the quad final was 7:34.285.

Robinson attracted national attention with the continued success of the Eph boats at the NCAA Division III Rowing Championships, winning a record four consecutive NCAA titles, and when she captured the U23 Lightweight ergometer title this past winter, a result that put her fifth overall among all lightweight women.

Robinson, who was senior captain of the Eph women's team, hails from Marysville, Wash. Over the course of her four years in the Purple Valley, she rowed in the novice 8-plus, the 2V8-plus, both sides in the varsity boat and stroked the 1V8 this season that went undefeated. She earned First Team All-America honors this season.

She is rowing in seat 3 for the GMS Rowing Center quad boat.

The GMS Rowing Center will compete in the World Trials at either 4:24 p.m. (Czech time) or 4:30 p.m. on July 23 to determine if they advance to semifinals and then, hopefully, the finals.
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Former Country Club Reopens as The Venue at Skyline

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The new Patty Barnaby's name is all over the venue. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A new but familiar space is opening for event rentals as The Venue at Skyline.

Patty Barnaby recently leased the former Skyline Country Club building at 405 South Main St. Barnaby used to attend events there, including holding her own "Jack and Jill" wedding shower.

"I've been to the golf tournaments. We've been to fundraisers. We've been to benefits. Actually, sports banquets for our girls, my oldest daughter. We had quite a few of her sports banquets here, just town events, truly, but our Jack and Jill was here," she said. "I had my stepfather's retirement party here, so, we've had a lot of events here as a family."

The golf course closed in 2021 after 58 years and sold to Mill Town Capital, which is using the course for a solar installation. The town's eyed the driving range for a new police station, and the club has been used intermittently, such as for the town's winter festival last year.

Barnaby is active in the community, including serving on the Lanesborough Community Development Committee. She enjoys hosting events and having get-togethers.

"I just have always loved to bring people together, like at our house, doing parties. And our house is very small, so it's always a big summer party," she said.

Barnaby wanted a place for people to host events that may be too big or busy for their homes, but also in an open and beautiful area.

"We need a space like this, not only in Lanesborough, for Lanesborough residents, but in general, for people to be able to come and have events, whether it be inside or outside when the weather permits," sshe said. "It's a beautiful spot, it really, truly is. And I didn't want to see it sit because it really is one of those staples in our town that everybody just knows."

Barnaby had indicated interest in the space after the Winter Festival. She signed the lease on Oct. 31 and has worked hard to make it her own.

She's painted, added new seating, redone the bathrooms, and some other cosmetics upgrades. She also added six televisions, more bar equipment, and will be adding a jukebox.

Barnaby kept the name Skyline because of the location's history and just added "The Venue" to make it her own.

"I just love this space. It is just one of those spaces that, like you don't want to see ever sit," she said.

The former pro shop will be turned into a thrift store. She currently sells clothes out of her house and hosting pop-up thrift events but is now excited to have a permanent space. It will have hours outside of events and will be listed on her social media page once it is ready. 

Barnaby is asking that vendors should reach out so that she can compile a list for those who want to host events. She is also looking for a food vendor to sublease the space.

"I would love to have people reach out to me as I have reached out to them, to be put on a list of like vendors that we can suggest to people that are coming up for events," she said.

Barnaby said she'll help with planning at the location and that she wants to create a comfortable and joyous environment that people would like to come back to.

"It's family friendly, like I am very community-oriented and being very family oriented, so I understand when you're trying to plan a birthday party, or you just need a space, or you're trying to put little details together. I want to be able to help with that," she said.

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