Rowing Canada Aviron today confirmed that there will be a $12,500 purse (originally $10,000, but an additional donation has made it a total 12,500) at the upcoming National Rowing Championships in Welland, Ont. (Nov. 5 to 7).
"The significance of a purse for the National Championships is not that money will go directly into the hands of the best rowers in Canada, but that Rowing Canada recognizes the value of this performance as a stepping stone to becoming the best in the World," said Rowing Canada's VP of Marketing, Marnie McBean - three time Olympic gold medallist. "It's also a great way to put a little more significance and pressure on the athletes performance in a particular race, mimicking in a small way the pressure that is put on single-moment races like the Worlds and the Olympics."
The formula is being created to distribute the money as an incentive to event winners.
"We are encouraged by this development and by Marnies efforts," said 2004 Olympic silver medalist Barney Williams. "This gives the races some added significance and it fits with the philosophy of rewarding excellence."
The first National Rowing Championships is a new regatta that RCA hopes will become an annual event. Top rowers from the National Training Centres and the provinces will compete in small boats to be named the National Champion.