In calmer conditions today, Canadas crews showed they belong in this deep international field at the Munich Rowing World Cup in Germany (May 25 to 27) - qualifying four boats for the medal races.
Canada's lone lightweight at this event, Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S., won her semi today in 7:44.79. Cameron, a member of the Calgary Rowing Club, is the 2005 World Champion in the lightweight women's quad.
"I used the same race plan (as yesterday)," said Cameron. "Basically, I wanted a good start, then in the middle 1000 metres I wanted to push and put the pressure on, then evaluate what I needed to do in the last 500. I was just constant through the finish today, so I know there's still another gear." Cameron finished in 7:44.79.
The women's pair of Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., and Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B., also won todays semi-final (7:10.22) to advance to the medal rounds.
Romina Stefancic of Victoria, B.C. and Heather Mandoli of Kelowna, B.C., also rowing in the women's pair event, do not advance to the A final after finishing sixth in their semi today.
The men's pair of Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C. and Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C. finished just over a second behind Ramon Di Clemente and Donovan Cech - the Olympic bronze medallists and 2005 silver medallists from South Africa. Howard was fourth in the pair at last year's Worlds with partner Chris Jarvis. The top three crews advance to tomorrow's finals. The Canadian pair's time was 6:35.52.
Canada's men's four (Peter Dembicki of West Vancouver, B.C, Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C., Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C., and Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C.) went up against perennial favourites, the 2005 World gold medallists from Great Britain - Steve Williams, Peter Reed, Alex Partridge, and Andrew Triggs Hodge.
"We knew they (Great Britain) had a fast first 500," said former UBC rower Kyle Hamilton. "We felt good off the start, then we pushed and we made some ground on them."
The British crew was first in 6:00.87, followed by the Canadians in 6:01.94 and then Slovenia 6:02.84.
"Tomorrow, we have to row our own race," said Hamilton, who was a two-time World Champion in the men's eight. "There are several strong crews, so you can't get caught up in watching just one other boat."
FISA World Cup Munich
Canadian Results May 26, 2006
Conditions: Slight tailwind
Semi-finals (2000m)
Results source: www.worldrowing.com
Lightweight women's single (top three advance to A final)
1 CAN 7:44.79 (Cameron)
2 ESP1 7:47.52
3 CHN1 7:49.10
4 DEN 7:50.57
5 RUS 7:56.44
6 FRA2 7:59.22
Women's Pair (top three advance to A final)
1 CAN1 7:10.22 (Marquardt, Rumball)
2 GER2 7:13.95
3 AUS3 7:16.81
4 ROM 7:27.39
5 AUS4 7:30.96
6 USA2 7:34.71
Women's Pair (top three advance to A final)
1 USA1 7:14.22
2 GER1 7:15.43
3 AUS2 7:17.66
4 DEN 7:18.48
5 GER4 7:23.40
6 CAN2 7:24.32 (Stefancic, Mandoli)
Men's Pair
1 RSA 6:34.42
2 CAN 6:35.52 (Howard, Light)
3 CZE 6:37.08
4 GER1 6:38.58
5 SLO1 6:38.99
6 GRE 6:40.93
Men's four (top three advance to A final)
1 GBR 6:00.87
2 CAN 6:01.94 (Frandsen, Dembicki, Rutledge, Hamilton)
3 SLO 6:02.84
4 ITA2 6:06.25
5 IRL1 6:06.78
6 GER1 6:07.03