Canada had a strong showing today at the USA Rowing World Challenge on the Oklahoma River.
Canada's men's eight won its 2000-metre race today in 05:54.92; the U.S. was second in 05:57.91, with a Czech crew well back in 06:19.159.
The Canadian eight included Kip McDaniel of Cobble Hill, B.C., Peter Dembicki of West Vancouver, B.C., Ben Rutledge of Cranbook, B.C., Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, Rob Gibson of Kingston, Ont., Andrew Hoskins of Edmonton, Alta., David Calder of Victoria, B.C., Scott Fransden of Kelowna, B.C. and coxswain Mark Laidlaw of Mississauga, Ont.
Byrnes and Rutledge were members of Canada's gold medal 2007 World Championship eight.
The women's pair of Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B,. and Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C. won their event in 07:35.6, the United States (Caryn Davies and Caroline Lind) was second in 07:37.01 and an Australian pair (Sarah Cook and Kim Crow) was third in 07:41.22. Canada's Buffy Williams of St. Catharines, Ont. and Heather Mandoli of Kelowna, B.C. were fourth in the same event.
Canada's Ben Rutledge and Andrew Byrnes were first in the men's pair event in 06:57.34.
The Canadian women's quad (Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria, B.C., Krista Guloien of Port Moody, B.C., Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, Man., and Rachelle de Jong of Regina, Sask.) won its race against the U.S. in 7:23.297; while the Canadian men's quad was second.
The Canadian women's eight was second (6:48.695) in its race that saw the U.S. finish first (6:43.683) and Australia in third in 6:49.62.
In the men's double from Canada (Jamie Faris of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., and Steve van Knotsenburg of Beamsville, Ont) was third. The women's double (Rachelle deJong of Regina, Sask. and Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, Man.) was also third.
Canada's Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria was second in the women's single in 08:05.326 - New Zealand was first in 08:01.48.
New Zealand's World Champion sculler (Mahe Drysdale) won the men's single in 07:10.474.
Racers were rowing in windy conditions today.
The USA Rowing World Challenge is presented as part of the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Regatta Festival - also featuring the Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma collegiate regatta. The event also features 500-metre night races.