Canada struck gold twice this morning in Milan, Italy, as the men's four and lightweight women's single won their events at the 2003 Rowing World Championships. Also today, the men's coxed pair picked up a bronze and the women's pair, silver medallists at last year's Worlds, finished a close fourth.
"It was great to hear O Canada played twice this morning," said Canadian head coach Brian Richardson. "There is excellent support and a real team effort going on here, and the wins today can only give those crews that row tomorrow extra confidence. "The only minor disappointment was the women's pair, but they were close and we're very proud of them. Everyone competing today had a good row."
The men's four ended the racing program today in fine style – beating the second-place British and third-place Germans in a time of 5:52.91. "We executed what we planned all year, we've worked really hard and knew we were in the hunt," said crew member Barney Williams. "But it's still a surprise - very satisfying, but a surprise." Last year, Germany won the World Championships in this event, followed by Great Britain, and Canada didn’t even have an entry. Today, the Canadians, who also won a gold at the 2003 World Cup in Lucerne, dominated the field.
Tom Herschmiller, who rowed in the men's eight that finished seventh at the 2000 Olympics, said that nothing compares to being a World Champion. "I've been waiting a long time for this," he said just after coming off the water.
Members of the four are Cam Baerg of Saskatoon, Sask., Tom Herschmiller of Comox, B.C., Jake Wetzel of Saskatoon, Sask., and Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C.
Earlier in the morning, Canadian National Team veteran Fiona Milne of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., the lightweight women's single, finished off a stellar year – she recently won two medals at the Pan Ams – and became World Champion in her event.
"It feels great," said Milne of winning the first gold medal of the day for Canada. "I hope I set the pace for everyone else to follow." Milne’s time was 7:52.87, followed by Mirna Rajle of Croatia in 7:54.49, and Janet Raduenzel of Germany in 7:56.53.
The men's coxed pair of Brian Price, who is also the men's eight coxswain, Geoff Hodgson of Whitehorse, Yukon and Kevin Burt of Ottawa, Ont. rowed to a bronze medal in a time of 7:20.23. It is Hodgson and Burt's first World Championship regatta, but both were part of Canada's strong Pan Am team.
Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont. and Karen Clark of Delta, B.C., last year's silver medallists in the women's pair, were fourth in the women's pair today. In a tight race, Great Britain was first in 7:04.88, followed by Belarus in 7:05.89, and Romania 7:06.16 – Cook and Clark’s time was 7:07.37.
The men’s pair of Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. and Wayne Pommen of Victoria were sixth in their final today in 6:26.08. The real surprise in their race was the British pair of James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent, multiple World and Olympic medallists, finishing a disappointing fourth overall. Australia won in 6:19.31.
The Canadian women’s four of Sabrina Kolker of West Vancouver, B.C., Krista Stewart of Oakbank, Man., Rachelle deJong of Regina, Sask. and Bonnie Fiala of Enderby, B.C. were fourth overall in 7:01.35.
Tomorrow, the lightweight women’s double, lightweight men’s four, women’s eight and 2002 World Champion men’s eight will get a chance to row for medals at the Idroscalo course in Milan on the final day of the championships.