(Photo by Ella Bramwell)

Another Year, Another Win, Another $10,000

After months of brushing off speculation about her performance ahead of this year’s Head of the Charles Regatta, Michelle Sechser’s focus was trained on her stern deck as she glided to a first-place finish in the Women’s Championship Singles Saturday afternoon.

“My real goal and intention has just been to enjoy racing for the sake of racing, the joy of pushing my body, training with incredibly wonderful, strong women and enjoying the process,” said Sechser, 37, the race’s defending champion. “I tried to not have too big of expectations today or put too much pressure on myself.”

At the CBC checkpoint, Sechser’s bow was more than seven seconds ahead of Olympic singles finalist Kara Kohler’s, and her lead held strong through the finish. Britain’s Imogen Grant, who won gold in the lightweight double sculls in Paris where Sechser finished sixth, finished 27 seconds back in 11^th.

“I might have throttled the first half of the race a bit hard because I saw Kara and Emma behind me, duking it out and switching positions,” said Sechser, who dubbed her subsequent performance “ugly but effective.”

Last year was the first time a significant cash prize was introduced to the champ singles, greatly increasing the level of competition and number of entrants overall. Seven Paris Olympians and two past HOCR champions vied for a total of $17,500 Saturday afternoon — $10,000 for the winner, $5000 for second place, and $2500 for third.

Sechser, used last year’s prize money to support her training for this year’s Olympics.  She has no plans yet for this year’s money, but the 37-year-old now has some money in the bank as she contemplates her future.

“I haven’t actually announced any official retirement,” said Sechser. “It might still be used for the same purposes.”

For five-time Olympian Emma Twigg, the race marked a pivotal moment in her career. With numerous world championships, a gold from Tokyo and a silver from Paris, Twigg, 37, said this year’s champ singles was her last elite flat-water race before she transitions to coastal rowing.

Emma Twigg (Photo by Ella Bramwell)

“It was a lot of fun, it’s always nice to be on the Charles,” said Twigg, 37, who never won the champ singles in 12 tries. “I’ll be back, just not in the champ singles.”

Sechser was already sipping a cold can of Modelo by the time she stepped off the boat ramp, but her victory is only the start of her weekend. She’ll be rowing alongside Grant in a lightweight Great Eight in the Championship Eights race Sunday afternoon.

As fans screamed from the riverbanks to congratulate Sechser, she raised her can with a smile. As exciting as the money is, Sechser said the real prize is spending time with the athletes she’s been competing against for years.

“It’s so fun to be up in the starting area with other national teamers, other Olympians,” Sechser said. “Even in such a competitive, fierce moment, we all just find the fun and the joy of racing boats on a beautiful day in Boston.”