South Jersey Beach Patrols Fight M.S. in Bay Races

By LESLEY GRAHAM The Upper Township Beach Patrol hosted its annual M.S. Six Mile Bay race to benefit the fight against multiple sclerosis. The event Tuesday evening consisted of two heats of approximately 15 doubles crews as well as multiple heats of paddle boarders that participated in an over five-mile paddle.  Crews from South Jersey beach patrols competed in different divisions, including mixed doubles and alumni crews.  The pair of Derrick Kobeirowski and Terry McGovern from Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol took the title in the six-mile doubles race in 1:12:56. Upper Township’s crew of Kyle Rumaker and Ryan Fisher finished second, while Pat Baker and Joe Klecko of Wildwood Crest placed third.    Brothers Dan and Matt Garbutt of Ocean City cruise to the finish line. The Ocean City crew of current Lt. Matt Garbutt and alumni Dan Garbutt raced to a ninth place finish in a time of 1:15:22. The Garbutt brothers, legends in the South Jersey rowing scene for decades, paired up for the second time in as many years after an over 10-year hiatus.    Dan Garbutt, who currently coaches collegiate women’s crew at Old Dominion University, traveled back home just to compete with his brother in the Upper Township M.S. Six Mile Bay race. The Garbutt brothers, who competed for a South Jersey doubles championship three times, represented Ocean City over the years. Dan Garbutt also won a singles championship in 2005.    Ocean City's Dan Casey is all smiles post-race. In the paddle race, Ocean City had multiple participants, including Brian Pasternak, who won the prone division, and Liam Garbutt, who won the unlimited (open division).  Senior Guard Dan Casey competed for Ocean City in the paddle race and really enjoyed the evening’s paddle. Casey finished behind Pasternak to give Ocean City a 1-2 finish in the prone paddle division.  “The first two miles were easier because we were going with the current. Once we turned the halfway point the current was with us, so that was helpful,” Casey said. “Towards the finish, the field took off and it became a sprint. Brian (Pasternak) is a great competitor and I’m glad I was able to keep him in my sights and he was able to win for the patrol.”  The annual race is hosted by the Upper Township Beach Patrol, which protects the shores of Strathmere. Entry fees are used to help battle the fight against multiple sclerosis.   Boats in the first heat float into position for the start of the race.