Four Canadian boats advanced to the next round of the 2006 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in in Hazewinkel, Belgium (July 20 to 23). The women's four, men's pair, lightweight men's double and lightweight men's four will join the men's eight in moving forward to the semis or finals.
The Canadian women's four set the pace in their repechage race this morning to win in 6:50.66. The crew - Katrina Wechselberger of Vancouver, B.C., Stephanie Connolly of Victoria, B.C., Stephanie Morrison of Nelson, B.C. and Allison Kryszkiewicz of Victoria, B.C. - will now have a chance to race for a medal.
The men's pair of Liam Brennan of Perth, Ont. and Graham Rusk of Victoria, B.C. also won a rep, in a time of 6:58.60, and will row in the semi-finals.
"They will continue to learn and will gain confidence from their solid race today," said Rowing Canada Aviron Development Coach Terry Paul.
Cameron Sylvester of Caledon, Ont., and Tim Colson of London, Ont., rowing in the lightweight double event, won their rep in 6:44.49, and will move to the semi finals.
"They were much better off the start today," said Paul. "But the standard is very high in this event, so they need a good row in the semi tomorrow."
The Canadian lightweight men's four (Kurtis Boyd of Brockville, Ont., Simon Gowdy of Montréal, Que., John Haver of Saskatoon, Sask. and Rob Pratt of Kingston, Ont.) will also get the chance to row in the semi after finishing second to the U.S. in 6:19.04. Haver and Gowdy are experienced in international competition, while Boyd and Pratt are new to the Under 23 team.
The men's coxed four of Brent Holmes-Heron of Peterborough, Ont., Andrew Rastapkevicius of Kingston, Ont., Michael Wilkinson of North Vancouver, B.C., Daniel Matthews of Vancouver, B.C and Matthew Swaile of Victoria, B.C. were third today in the rep, just missing out on a chance to move to the medal rounds. Australia and the U.S. finished ahead of Canada (6:22.61) in their rep today.
The women's pair - Laura Pidgen of Orillia, Ont. and Anne Cowan of London, Ont. - were fourth in 7:53.56, and will row in the B final. Their time today was 7:53.56.
Lightweight women's double of Susan Ross of Kingston, Ont. and Michelle Burnham of Surrey, B.C. was fifth in 7:32.88 in a tight race, and will row in the B final.
The Canadian womens eight was fifth in 6:27.18. It was disappointing for the womens eight, they really had a good second 500 (leading at the 1000-metre mark), said Paul, but they just couldnt keep it going. Belarus, Germany, Russia and Australia picked up spots in the A final, while Canada must move to the B final.
Women's eight members are Elizabeth McCord of Toronto, Ont., Sarah Waterfield of Kingston, Ont., Evan Wilson of Toronto, Ont., Meghan Thomas of Victoria, B.C., Larissa Lagzdins of Burlington, Ont., Cara Troelstra of Halifax, N.S., Kerry Maher of Welland, Ont., Kristina Macdonald of Langley, B.C., and Julia MacDonald of Port Moody, B.C. (coxswain).
The women's single of Kara Farquharson of Mississauga, Ont. finished sixth, and will move to the C final.
No wind and temperatures in the high 20s made for great racing conditions, according to regatta organizers. Racing continues through to Sundays finals.
Canadian Results - Reps
2006 World Rowing Under 23 Championships
(2000 metres)
Women's Four (top four advance to final)
1 CAN 6:50.66
2 POL 6:53.10
3 BLR 6:54.96
4 RUS 6:55.32
5 ITA 6:57.28
Men's coxed four (top two advance to final)
1 AUS 6:17.06
2 USA 6:18.04
3 CAN 6:22.61
4 GER 6:23.80
5 IRL 6:35.35
Women's single (top three advance to semi)
1 UKR 8:03.50
2 LAT 8:03.55
3 AUT 8:06.25
4 JPN 8:06.67
5 ITA 8:18.35
6 CAN 8:20.24
Women's pair (top two advance to final)
1 BLR 7:34.76
2 GER 7:36.56
3 GBR 7:44.44
4 CAN 7:53.56
5 CZE 7:54.36
Men's pair (top three advance to semi)
1 CAN 6:58.60
2 ARG 7:00.20
3 LTU 7:00.49
4 CHI 7:00.54
5 EST 7:08.59
Women's lightweight double (top two advance to final)
1 GRE 7:28.98
2 ITA 7:29.94
3 ESP 7:31.62
4 SUI 7:32.40
5 CAN 7:32.88
Men's lightweight double (top three advance to semi final)
1 CAN 6:44.49
2 AUT 6:48.49
3 TUR 6:51.73
4 IRL 6:52.41
5 ESP 6:55.35
Men's lightweight four (top three advance to semi final)
1 USA 6:17.80
2 CAN 6:19.04
3 POR 6:20.93
4 UKR 6:23.50
5 RUS 6:25.01
Women's eight (top four advance to final)
1 BLR 6:23.52
2 GER 6:25.92
3 RUS 6:26.63
4 AUS 6:26.69
5 CAN 6:27.18
6 UKR 6:41.94
(Friday report)