Canada will be sending a women's eight to Russia to compete in the Golden Blades regatta, a unique event that will see 250-metre sprint races on the Fontanka River, in the historic centre of St. Petersburg.
This top Canadian crew includes coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie (London, ON), Cristy Nurse (Georgetown, ON), Darcy Marquardt (Richmond, BC), Ashley Brzozowicz (London, ON), Natalie Mastracci (Thorold, ON), Rachelle Viinberg (formerly de Jong) (Regina, SK), Krista Guloien (Port Moody, BC), Andreanne Morin (Montreal, QC), and Janine Hanson (Winnipeg, MB).
"We are honoured to be invited to this event and excited to participate in this showcase of world rowing in the beautiful city of St Petersburg," said the women's eight's coach, John Keogh.
The eight is a similar line-up to the boat that picked up a silver medal at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in New Zealand, and includes several Olympians. This boat will be Canada's only entry in the regatta that will take place on June 12, 2011.
The Golden Blades will also showcase single scullers. The international turn-out of singles for the televised Elite Sprint races, reads like a who's who from recent Olympic Games and World Rowing Championships: four-time World Champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand, Great Britain's leading single sculler Alan Campbell, and World Champion and Olympic medalist in the double sculls Luka Spik of Slovenia will all be competing in the men's single sculls.
Similarly, the women's single sculls will include the top women of the moment: Ekaterina Karsten-Khodotovitch (BLR) five-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Champion, racing alongside Frida Svensson (SWE), Emma Twigg (NZL), Mirka Knapkova (CZE), Julia Levina (RUS) and Iva Obradovic (SRB).
Organized by the Russian Amateur Rowing Association (RARA), the event is sanctioned by FISA, the international rowing federation.
Canada's final line-up of crews for the World Cup in July will be announced early in June.