Canadian crews had a solid day of racing in the heats of the BearingPoint World Cup on the famous Rotsee course in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Overall, this was an encouraging start to the regatta for our team, said Alan Roaf Rowing Canada Avirons High Performance Director.
The mens four of 2004 Olympians Cam Baerg of Saskatoon, Sask., Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C., Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C. and Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C. advance after a second-place finish in their heat today. A Dutch crew won the heat in 6:21.83, with Canada finishing in 6:22.83, followed by a crew from Denmark in 6:23.73.
Mens four Olympic silver medallist Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C. and Olympic mens eight member Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C., now rowing in the mens pair event, were also second in their heat and advance to the semis. The Skelin brothers of Croatia, Olympic silver medallists in the pair, won the heat in 7:07.89. (Full Canadian times are below).
In the lightweight womens double, Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S. and Elizabeth Urbach of Carp, Ont. were second and advance to the semi-finals. It was a solid start to the weekend, said Urbach of her first Lucerne World Cup experience. The lightweight womens double event has a very large entry and it was intimidating at the beginning, but we executed our race plan really well. Were anticipating a tough fight in the semi.
In the same event, Melanie Kok of St. Catharines, Ont. and Sheryl Preston of North Delta, B.C. were also second and advance. The Canadian lightweight womens doubles will race each other in what promises to be a very competitive semi-final race tomorrow.
Liam Parsons of Thunder Bay, Ont. and Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. had a second-place finish in the lightweight mens double in a time of 6:49.41. I know we can go a lot faster, we struggled with our rhythm a bit today, said Parsons. Weve got those jitters out now and are looking forward to the next race.
Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que. and Jeff Bujas of Grimsby, Ont. were sixth in the same heat. Both lightweight mens doubles will row in tomorrows repechage race in order to qualify for the next round of racing.
Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria, B.C., rowing for the first time internationally in the single, had a respectable third-place finish in 8:00.06 today. You feel a bit exposed in the single, and you cant hide from a bad stroke, said de Zwager. But its also exciting and thrilling to be out their racing on your own.
DeZwager was able to get some pre-race advice from Olympic rowing medallist Silken Laumann She told me that the pre-race nerves were normal and we chatted about some of the rowers that she raced in the single.
Laumann is in Lucerne in support of the charity Right to Play, which has organized a rowing legends race on the World Cup course this weekend. Right To Play is an athlete-driven international humanitarian group that uses sport and play to improve the lives of the world's most disadvantaged children.
Its nice to come back to Lucerne with a purpose and a charity that I really feel passionate about, said Laumann. And it was very exciting to watch this young Canadian team that has so much potential.
The Canadian heavyweight womens doubles of Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B. and Rachelle de Jong of Regina, Sask., and Roslyn McLeod of Burlington, Ont. and Romina Stefancic of Victoria, B.C. finished off the pace in their heats and will row in repechage races tomorrow.
BearingPoint ROWING WORLD CUP III - Lucerne, Switzerland (8-10 July 2005).
2000 metres
Women's single - Heat 1 (first to final)
BLR 7:51.46
SWE 7:54.46
CAN 8:00.06 Anna-Marie DE ZWAGER
LAT 8:06.70
SLO 8:10.44
RSA 8:22.68
Men's pair - Heat 2 (top three to semi-final)
CRO 7:07.89
CAN 7:10.94 Scott FRANDSEN, Barney WILLIAMS
LTU 7:15.02
BRA 7:17.30
Women's double - Heat 1 (first to final)
BUL 7:15.15
GER 7:17.93
GBR 7:19.10
NOR 7:27.15
CAN1 7:30.06 Jane RUMBALL, Rachelle DE JONG
Women's double - Heat 2 (first to final)
NZL 7:19.47
ITA 7:28.53
POL 7:33.76
AUS 7:33.96
CAN2 7:48.16 Romina STEFANCIC, Roslyn MCLEOD
Men's four - Heat 2 (top three to semi-final)
NED 6:21.83
CAN 6:22.83 Cameron BAERG, Kevin LIGHT, Ben RUTLEDGE, Kyle HAMILTON
DEN 6:23.73
IRL 6:23.84
SUI 6:48.53
Lightweight women's double - Heat 1 (top two advance to semi)
POL 7:33.17
CAN2 7:35.01 Melanie KOK, Sheryl PRESTON
SWE 7:39.87
GRE 7:39.92
ROM 7:46.38
Lightweight women's double - Heat 3 (top two advance to semi)
GER1 7:20.14
CAN1 7:23.38 Elizabeth URBACH, Tracy CAMERON
ITA 7:30.30
AUS 7:32.18
JPN1 7:46.63
Lightweight men's double (first goes to final)
DEN 6:44.94
CAN1 6:49.41 Matthew JENSEN, Liam PARSONS
SVK 6:53.77
GBR 6:54.92
AUT 6:55.52
CAN2 6:58.90 Douglas VANDOR, Jeff BUJAS