• Rowing: Rowayton's Brian de Regt earned a spot on the U.S senior national rowing team in the lightweight men’s double sculls during the world championship trials this past weekend in West Windsor, N.J.
The three-boat final featured GMS Rowing Center’s tandem of de Regt and New Haven's Jon Winter, which won with a time of 6:34.04 over the composite entry from USTC-Oklahoma City/New York Athletic Club’s Robert Duff (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) and Tom Paradiso (Blue Bell, Pa.) that finished in 6:37.01.
“That was probably the toughest field we have ever faced in the U.S.,” de Regt told USRowing.org. "It was really tight through 750 meters to go, and then we were able to open up just a little bit and get more comfortable in the last 250 meters."
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A 2009 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, de Reft finished second at the U-23 World Championships in June.
The World Rowing Championships are set for Bled, Slovenia from Aug. 28-Sept. 4.
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
• Diving: Darien's Sammy Scribano, representing the New Canaan-based Whirlwind Diving Club, finished fourth Thursday in the three-meter competition in the under-11 age bracket in the U.S. junior diving national championships in Knoxville, Tenn.
Lee Christensen (14th) and Jackson McGoldrick (21st), also competing for Whirlwind, did not qualify for the finals in the three-meter event in the 14-15 age division.
• Special Olympics: The fifth annual Bender Financial Group Golf & Tennis Tournament to Support Special Olympics will take place on Sept. 19 at the Country Club of Darien.
To register, call 203-380-9990, ext. 604 or email debbieh@soct.org. Advance reservations are required. Sponsors and auction items are also being sought for the event.
The cost to golf is $400 per person; $1,600 per foursome. Lunch will be provided at noon, followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
Registration also includes greens fee, soft drinks and snacks on the course and a cocktail & buffet reception and auction that will follow the tournament at 6 p.m. Beer will be available for purchase on the course. Additional guests may attend the reception only. The cost is $100 per person.
The cost per tennis player is $100. Check-in and warm-up time for tennis players is 1:30 p.m. Cold beverages and snacks will be provided. Tournament start time is 2 p.m., followed by awards at 5 p.m. The format for the tournament will be men’s doubles and women’s doubles. Singles may register and will be paired up. Tennis players may opt to attend the cocktail & buffet reception and auction at 6 p.m. at the (additional) cost of $100 per person.
Wilton’s J. Philip and Lisa Bender and the Bender Financial Group founded the golf tournament, which has raised over $300,000 over the past three years.
Funds from the tournament have allowed Special Olympics athletes from Connecticut to compete locally and travel to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for the Special Olympics National Golf Tournament. It also has helped the organization broaden its reach and expand its programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities who reside in and around Fairfield County.
"Our partnership with Special Olympics began over eight years ago," Phil Bender said. As an office, we wanted to encourage our financial representatives and their families to work collectively to give back to such an important organization. Special Olympics shares our company’s values of personal growth, enduring relationships and commitment to self and others."
If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please email sports editor Bob Birge at bob.birge@hotmail.com
