Canada will bring home two gold and a silver from the first Rowing World Cup of the season in Munich, Germany.
Nova Scotia native Tracy Cameron added another gold to her collection today, winning the lightweight women's single event.
"It was unbelievable," said Cameron, who won each race leading up to today's finals and is a member of the 2005 World Champion lightweight women's quad. "By far this was the hardest race of the regatta, especially with the conditions. It was a quick start, but then we all hit the wind. I just had to put it out of my mind and go for it. It was exciting to the end and a great way to kick off the year."
Cameron's time was 7:54.52 - Spain (7:56.11) picked up silver in this event, followed by China in 7:57.46. Cameron will now return to Canada for National Team Trials and has her eye on the lightweight women's double, the only Olympic event open to lightweight women.
The women's pair combination of national team veterans Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., and Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B. also won their race today. Their time was 7:17.36, followed by Germany in 7:20.11 and Australia in 7:20.36.
"There seemed to be battle going on with the rest of the boats," said Rumball, who lives in London, Ont. "But we were able to stay focused and conserve a bit thanks to a strong start."
Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C. and Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C. were an impressive second today - beating top crews from South Africa, China and Croatia. The Serbian pair won gold in 6:37.43, followed by Canada in 6:38.98 and South Africa in 6:40.65.
"I applied some of the lessons I've learned in the last few years and put the wind out of my mind today," said Light, who has rowed mainly in the men's eight for the past several years. Howard rowed in the pair at last years Worlds with Chris Jarvis, finishing fourth.
"Malcolm and I complement each other. He's quite powerful, and I just try to lead well. With every race, we learned a bit more and were able to bring some of that together today."
Light and Howard will team up next for Canada's National Team Trials (beginning June 8) in Victoria, B.C.
The men's four was a photo-finish race, with only .5 of a second separating the top three boats. Great Britain, the favourites, won out in 6:00.25. Unfortunately, Canada's entry (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.) was off the pace in 6:07.16 to finish fourth today.
Canada's second women's pair entry - Romina Stefancic of Victoria, B.C. and Heather Mandoli of Kelowna, B.C. - won the B final in this event in 7:30.87 to finish seventh overall.
Teams from 50 countries battled it out this week at the World Cup, the first in the series. In the eights races in Munich - Germany won the women's event beating Romania and Australia, and Germany took the men's race followed by Poland and Australia. Canada did not enter these events.
This team will now join Canadas other top rowers in Victoria and London, Ont. for the early June trials to determine teams for upcoming 2006 regattas.
FISA World Cup Munich
Canadian Results May 27, 2006
Conditions: crosswind
A finals
Lightweight women's single
1 CAN 7:54.52
2 ESP1 7:56.11
3 CHN1 7:57.46
4 CHN3 8:00.12
5 SUI 8:01.22
6 GBR1 8:06.32
Women's pair
1 CAN1 7:17.36
2 GER2 7:20.11
3 AUS3 7:20.36
4 GER1 7:22.37
5 USA1 7:23.89
6 AUS2 7:26.05
Men's pair
1 SCG 6:37.43
2 CAN 6:38.98
3 RSA 6:40.65
4 CHN 6:43.10
5 CRO1 6:47.52
6 CZE 6:47.70
Men's four
1 GBR 6:00.25
2 GER2 6:00.71
3 NED 6:00.74
4 CAN 6:07.16
5 SLO 6:10.17
6 GER3 6:12.44