The NIKE National Rowing Trials wrapped up today in Victoria, B.C. with some dramatic racing proving that competition among Canada's elite rowers will be strong leading up to next year's Olympic Games in Greece.
In the women's pair event, Roslyn McLeod of Burlington, Ont. and Buffy Williams of St. Catharines, Ont. (7:16.91) won over 2003 World Cup winners Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont. and Karen Clark of Delta, B.C. (7:17.23), followed Andreanne Morin of Montreal, Que. and Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C. (7:27.33) in third.
"I'm happy that Roslyn and I had time to work together as a pair before the trials," said Williams, a bronze medallist in the 2000 Olympic women's eight. "Our race wasn't perfect - there's always something that you want to improve - but it was better than in the heats and semi-finals. This is only one step toward the Olympics, but it was great to win today."
Andrew Hoskins of Edmonton, Alta. and Joe Stankevicius of Dundas, Ont. won the very competitive men's pair event in 6:34.18. They were followed by Dave Calder of Victoria and Tom Herschmiller of Comox, B.C. in 6:36.51, and last spring’s trials’ winners, Jake Wetzel and Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C. (6:38.66), in third. 1992 gold medallist in the men's eight Darren Barber was fourth in 6:39.60, with his partner, Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. The men have qualified a pair, four and eight for the Olympics and the rowers that did well today will enter a camp to fill the 15 positions in these boats.
Jon Mandick of Victoria and Jon Beare of Toronto won the lightweight men's pair event in 6:28.60. "There was a bit of pressure on us as a favoured pair, and I'm proud of how we dealt with that," said Mandick, who will be hoping to fill a seat in the lightweight men's four event at next year's Olympics.
The second-place finishers in the lightweight men's pair were Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que. and Iain Brambell of Brentwood Bay, B.C. (6:31.95) followed by former Under-23 gold medallists (2002) Dave Stephens of Belleville, Ont. and Mike Lewis of Victoria (6:33.01), who earlier in the day flipped their boat, delaying racing at the trials. Former Olympians Gavin Hassett of Victoria and Chris Davidson of Oakville, Ont. finished fourth in the lightweight men's pair event in 6:34.70.
Lightweight women's single sculls 2003 World Champion Fiona Milne of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. won her event in 7:58.74, followed by Mara Jones of Aurora, Ont. in 8:07.15 and Gen Meredith of Montreal who was third in 8:09.67.
"There was a head wind, so the race was a bit long," said Milne. "I had a lot of confidence going into this race (as World Champion and winner of the last six team trials in this event), but now there's another stage of selection, so it's just the start. I think we have the potential to do very well next year (at the Olympics)." There are only two positions (a double) open to lightweight women at the Olympics.
Jeff Powell of Winnipeg, Man., who was a member of the World Champion (2002-2003) men's eight, won the men's single race in 7:07.03, followed by 2000 Olympian Dominic Seiterle of Montreal (7:08.07) and Adam Gant of Kelowna, B.C. in 7:22.88.
Marilyn Taylor of Calgary, Alta. won the women's single in 7:59.24; Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria was second in 8:04.92, and Stacey Norwood of St. John, N.B. was third in 8:05.01.
"It was a bit unexpected," said Taylor, a 2003 Pan Am gold medallist, of her win. "My start is not the strongest, but from 500 metres to the end, it felt strong and I had a lot of power the whole race."
In the lightweight men's single, Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. won in 7:22.58, followed by Jeff Bujas of Grimbsy, Ont. in 7:22.72, and Matt McCarthy of Peterborough, Ont. in 7:32.10.
Canada has qualified seven boats for the Olympics and the rowers invited into the Olympic training camp (based on results of these trials) will try out to fill 32 seats before next year's Games.