The RCA Junior Trials wrapped up today at the Welland (Ontario) International Flatwater Centre. Hosted by the South Niagara Rowing Club June 7 and 8, the trials featured the largest number of entries ever for a Canadian junior trials with more than 100 athletes.
Top finishers included Victoria City Rowing Club's Graham Obee and Niall Paltiel in the men's pair in 7:11.00 (2000m), followed by Brockville's Patrick O'Shaughnessy-Hunter and Coleman Bak in 7:12.92 and South Niagara's Trofym Anderson and Brandon Griffin in 7:15.21.
The men's single was clearly won by Quebec's Jamie Law-Smith of the Montreal Rowing Club in 7:35.52. The silver medal went to Martin Barakso of Brentwood College School in British Columbia in 7:39.02 and Sash Malowany, who rows for Upper Canada College in Toronto, was third in 7:40.36.
"I was surprised to be ahead at the 1000-metre mark," said Law-Smith, who also represents Dawson College. "I row a lot better out front, so I just went for it and was happy with the result."
The women's pair event winners were Adelaide Backer and Stephanie Ridenour of Brentwood in 8:24.94, followed by Anna Ionson of local high school E.L. Crossley rowing with Marissa Kump (St. Catharines/Eden High School) in 8:27.87. Third also went to locals Katie Klassen (Eden/Ridley Graduate Boat Club) and Olivia Martens (Ridley Graduate) in 8:30.92.
"We had no expectations going into the the trials," said Backer, 17, of the first-place women's pair. "I like that we started behind and caught everyone. We are obviously really happy about the outcome."
The junior women's single saw Renae Barks of the Regina Rowing Club well ahead in first in 8:17.67, with local favourite Kayla Wakulich in second in 8:26.04 and Erin Snelgrove of the St. Catharines Rowing Club in third in 8:32.71.
"The junior trials regatta is an important part of our National program," Peter Cookson, Rowing Canada Director of High Performance, said today. "Some of the athletes will be Olympians in 2016 and 2020 and all participating in this week's trials have already made a contribution to the development of our sport."
Rowing Canada Aviron will be sending a team to the Junior World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic in early August and the CanAmMex junior regatta in the U.S. this summer. More information on the team structure will be announced this week. Junior team leaders are John Ruscitti (Thorold, Ont.) and Gavin McKay (Victoria, B.C.)
Full results:
http://www.rowingcanada.org/national_team/junior/
Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=174616&id=81982893039&l=ebe00c84fb