It was the Canadian women's eight turn to make an impression at the 2003 World Rowing Championships in Milan, Italy, today.
The eight fought hard and finished second to Germany (6:06.43) in the repechage race to qualify for the medal race, which will be held on Sunday. Australia was third, followed by Belarus, China and the Ukraine. Canada’s time was 6:08.99.
"Australia really wanted to beat us because we've beat them twice already this year. Like us, they're trying to build confidence for the final," said Canadian women's coach Al Morrow. "The bottom line is that Australia (with a different lineup) was second in the world last year and Germany was third. We're definitely on an improvement curve." Canada finished sixth in the world last year, and must at least be fifth to qualify for the Olympics.
"Our plan was to go at the start and keep going with Germany," said crew member Pauline Van Roessel. Canada had an early lead, but Germany moved up after the first 500 metres. "We had respect for each boat, but we knew Germany was going to be the one to watch."
Since Canada's third-place finish at the Lucerne regatta, the women have spent less time training in pairs and more time as a crew in order to find the fastest seating order. "It made us more uniform," said women's eight coxswain Sarah Pape. "The bodies and blades work well together."
The women's eight members are Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont., Karen Clark of Delta, B.C., Rachel Dunnet of West Vancouver, B.C., Andreanne Morin of Montreal, Que., Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., Pauline Van Roessel of Bow Island, Alta., Roslyn McLeod of Burlington, Ont., Buffy Williams of St. Catharines, Ont. and Sarah Pape of Toronto, Ont.
The crew will face Australia, Germany, Belarus, Romania and the U.S. in the final.
In Canada's only other repechage today, the lightweight men's pair of Iain Brambell of Brentwood Bay, B.C. and Chris Davidson of Oakville, Ont. were unable to maintain the lead they had for most of the race and finished third, failing to qualify for the semi-finals. The pair's time was 6:41.77 - faster than the top two that qualified in the second repechage, but not enough to move forward at this regatta (top two in each rep made the semi-finals).
Canada’s women four, in an exhibition race this afternoon, finished fourth. The U.S. won in time of 6:39.51.
Although today was a light day for Canada, tomorrow the semi-finals begin and racing will step up as crews compete for a chance to move to the medal rounds and, in certain boat classes, earn a berth in the Olympic Games.