Canada's heavyweight women rowers get their first chance to race on the world stage this week in Munich, Germany (Aug. 1 to 3).
Canada sent nine women to compete in the Munich World Cup, but has entered four heavyweight crews - two pairs, a four and an eight. Most of the athletes will have double duty, rowing in two events at this regatta - a great opportunity for international racing experience.
The women's pair (CAN 1) of Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont. and Karen Clark of Delta, B.C. - bronze medallists at last year's World Championships - will also row in the women's eight, as will the second pair (CAN 2) of Dorota Urbaniak of Toronto, Ont. and Katy Dunnet of Vancouver, B.C. Urbaniak rowed in the bronze-medal women's eight at the 2000 Olympics and is returning after a year's absence from competitive rowing.
The women's four is Pauline VanRoessel of Bow Island, Alta., Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., Rachelle deJong of Regina, Sask. and Roslyn McLeod of Burlington, Ont.
The eight is Sarah Pape of Toronto, Ont. in the coxswain seat with Pauline VanRoessel, Dorota Urbaniak, Karen Clark, Jacqui Cook, Rachelle deJong, Darcy Marquardt, Katy Dunnet and Roslyn McLeod. The eight has five new members since the 2001 Worlds.
"All three events are good tests for us," women's coach Al Morrow said before leaving for Munich. "The field is going to be even stronger than I thought."
Rowers from more than 40 nations will be competing in the final leg of the Zurich Rowing World Cup in Munich. A total of 680 athletes will row in 275 boats and entries to race on the 1972 Olympic rowing course counts an impressive 37 Sydney Olympic medallists and 41 World Champions from 2001. The complete rowing program of 24 boat classes will be raced in this last international meet before the 2002 World Rowing Championships to be held in Seville, Spain, September 15 to 22.
Canadian rowers in the lightweight and heavyweight men's divisions already competed at the World Cup level in Lucerne - bringing home two medals from the regatta in mid-July - and are in Victoria training for the World Championships.
-- Jackie Skender - Rowing Canada Aviron