Canada is just one of the 53 nations with crews at the 2005 World Rowing Junior Championships that began today in Brandenburg, Germany.
The men's pair of Will Crothers of Kingston, Ont. and Richard Anderson of Victoria, B.C. won today's heat in 6:53.17 to advance to the semi-final, which will be held on Friday. Crothers and Anderson, who are rowing in their second Junior Worlds, had the fastest qualifying time in this event today. Germany also advanced as a result of this heat in 6:59.07.
"It was a good first day for us," said Rowing Canada Junior Team Coordinator John Ruscitti. "The kids with more experience are helping the others and everyone is in good spirits."
The junior men's four of Greg Pupo of Ridgeville, Ont., Grant Doornekamp of Wainfleet, Ont., Ben Tuyp of Vancouver, B.C., and Jeff Overington of Kingston, Ont. also advances to the semi after a second-place finish in 6:28.88. Romania won this heat in 6:22.22.
Although they finished second to Germany, the coxed four of Sterling Reid of Nanaimo, B.C., Max Lang of Lumby, B.C., Josh Gracin of Fonthill, Ont., Danny Matthews of Vancouver, B.C. and Connor Teskey (cox) of Vancouver, B.C. will have to row in tomorrow's repechage to further advance. Canada followed the heat winners from Germany (6:31.55) in 6:35.49.
"All the crews will have to earn their way to the finals - it's very tight racing," said Ruscitti.
Canada's Junior women's four was third in its heat in 7:10.85. Laura Fisher of Simcoe, Ont., Kristin Kelly of Brockville, Ont., Virginia Kane of London, Ont., and Alexandra Shishkov of Mississauga, Ont. will row in the repechage on Thursday to qualify for the next round of racing.
To compete in the World Rowing Junior Championships, rowers must be 18 years or younger. This year's Junior event is held on the Beetzsee regatta course in Brandenburg, approximately 70km outside of Berlin. The course was last used for the Junior World Championships 20 years ago and has since gone through extensive renovations, including a new finish tower, new administrative buildings, boat houses, changing facilities as well as the permanent big video screen.
Canadian Results Heats (2000m)
Aug. 3, 2005
Junior Men's Coxed Four (top one to final)
GER 6:31.55
CAN 6:35.49
SCG 6:36.87
UKR 6:38.84
RUS 6:43.36
ESP 6:43.48
Junior Men's Pair (top two to semi-final)
CAN 6:53.17
GER 6:59.07
CZE 7:02.24
BLR 7:11.53
ARG 7:12.11
RUS 7:26.88
Junior Women's Four (top one to final)
BLR 7:05.53
USA 7:06.81
CAN 7:10.85
ROM 7:11.07
CZE 7:26.43
LTU 7:45.71
Junior Men's Four (top two to semi-final)
ROM 6:22.22
CAN 6:28.88
UKR 6:29.46
SLO 6:33.22
LTU 6:49.25