The World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Racice, Czech Republic, began today with more than 60 races to be completed on this first day of the event (July 23 to 26, 2009).
The Canadian Under 23 men's eight won today's heat in 5:47.45; Great Britain also qualified for the final posting a time of 5:49.53 - the top two finishers from each heat in this event move directly to the final. Germany and Poland advanced as a result of the other men's eight heat.
The U23 eight is Richard Anderson (Victoria, B.C.), Spencer Crowley (Lantzville, B.C.), Stephen Connolly (Calgary, Alberta), Will Dean (Kelowna, B.C.), Matt Evans (London, UK), Josh Morris (Victoria, B.C.), Blake Parsons (Toronto, ON), Geoff Roth (Edmonton, AB), and cox Ronan Sabo-Walsh (Vancouver, B.C).
"The men raced well," said Rowing Canada men's development coach, Terry Paul. "They drew on the confidence they have from the training they have done alongside the senior team men in Victoria. Their mission was to focus on their own race plan and see where that put them relative to the other crews. That strategy worked well, and both the four and eight have identified areas they can improve on."
The U23 men's four of Will Crothers (Kingston, ON), Anthony Jacob (Vancouver, B.C), Max Lang (Lumby, BC), and Conlin McCabe (Brockville, ON) won today's heat in 6:10.43. Although this is an Under-23 boat, the crew members are experienced rowing for Canada internationally and all four rowed for the University of Washington.
With the top two boats advancing to the semi, the U.S. crew that was second(6:13.03) to Canada also moves forward from this heat. Germany posted the fastest time of the three heats of this event today - 6:00.79.
The Canadian U23 women's eight was second in 6:44.92 in its heat - Great Britain won the race in 6:39.70 and advance directly to the final. The Canadian women race again tomorrow in their bid to make the final.
The U23 women's eight is Rosie DeBoef (Victoria, BC), Ashton Brown (Calgary, AB), Lauren Hutchins (North Vancouver, B.C.), Kim Kennedy (Calgary, AB), Natalie Mastracci (Thorold, ON), Kira O'Sullivan (Victoria B.C.), Caitlin Trumble (Calgary AB/Perth, Australia), Lauren Wilkinson (Vancouver, B.C.) and Kristen Kit (coxswain) of St. Catharines, Ont.
With the top two advancing to the semi-final, Canada's Ricki Baxter was second in her lightweight women's single heat in 8:23.57. Germany's Helke Nieschlag, who raced in a senior event (lwt. quad) winning gold in Lucerne at a World Cup earlier this month, had a decisive win in this race in 8:14.02.
The U23 lightweight men's four of Rares Crisan (Mississauga Ont.), Travis King (Grimsby, Ont.), Ryan Meyers (Kingston Ont.), and Jeff Overington (Kingston Ont.) was third in today's heat in 6:16.43 and will row in a repechage race.
Michael Braithwaite of Duncan, B.C. was fourth in the U23 men's single in 7:31.72 and will row in a repechage race tomorrow in order to advance.
The U23 women's pair of Sarah Black of Ottawa, Ont. and Erika Shaw of Victoria, B.C. was third in 7:57.59 and are looking ahead to the rep to advance.
The U23 lightweight women's double (Kathryn Twyman of Edmonton, AB and Rebecca Gregory of Brampton, Ont.) was fifth in the heat in 7:50.47, and row in a repechage.
Originally, Canada had entered a lightweight women's quad, however, due to an injury, the entries were made in the lightweight single and double events.