Canada advanced two crews as the sun finally made an appearance today at Dorney Lake at the FISA World Rowing Championships in England (Aug. 20 to 27)
The men's four of Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C., Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C., Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C. and Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C. won today's rep in 6:01.12 and move to the semis.
The Canadians led down the course, with Spain putting on a bit of a challenge in second (6:04.28), followed by Italy (6:04.92) who picked up the final qualifying spot from this repechage.
"We expected to win today and win well," said Mike Spracklen, Canadian men's coach. "It's a different psychology when you are defending rather than attacking, but the four rowed well. The standard is high and the semi will be tough, we'll just have to wait and see the draw."
The British men's four is the obvious home-country favourite and defending World Champions in this event. Great Britain won its heat on Sunday.
The lightweight men's single of Jeff Bujas of Grimsby, Ont. also took charge in today's rep. Canada won in 7:12.50.
"I was more aggressive in my race today," said Bujas. "I was inspired by yesterday's lightweight men's double and lightweight men's four races - just seeing the way they attacked all the way down the course was very exciting."
Also rowing today was the men's coxed pair - Derek O'Farrell of Unionville, Ont., and James Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, Ont. - who were racing for lanes because there are six boats entered in this event. The Canadians were fifth in 7:08.25.
The Canadian women's four was fifth today in its rep in 6:53.55 and will not get a chance to compete for medals at this World Championships. The women's four members are Lindsay Forget of Aurora, Ont., Nathalie Maurer of Vancouver, B.C., Krista Guloien of Vancouver, B.C. and Cristin McCarty of Saskatoon, Sask.
Today also marked the first training day for Canada's adaptive rowing team. Adaptive races, for rowers with various disabilities, take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This will be Canada's first adaptive appearance at the Worlds since 2004.
Racing continues with tomorrow's reps, including Canadians in the lightweight women's quad, lightweight men's four, lightweight women's double, and the women's and men's eights - as well as a race for lanes for the lightweight men's coxed four.
Aug. 22, 2006
Canadian Results Reps (2000m)
World Rowing Championships
Women's four
1 USA 6:41.36
2 BLR 6:42.24
3 NED 6:44.54
4 GER 6:45.19
5 CAN 6:53.55
Men's coxed pair
1 USA 7:05.51
2 GER 7:06.49
3 ITA 7:07.36
4 SCG 7:07.85
5 CAN 7:08.25
6 GRE 7:26.03
Lightweight men's single
1 CAN 7:12.50
2 NED 7:17.04
3 PLE 7:20.60
4 HKG 7:49.24
Men's four
1 CAN 6:01.12
2 ESP 6:04.28
3 ITA 6:04.92
4 POL 6:06.30
5 RUS 6:16.10