Racing concluded today at the 2011 World Rowing Junior Championships in Eton, England. This regatta also served as the test event of the Eton Dorney 2012 Olympic venue.
Canada had four young crews competing this week. Anna Ionson of Welland, ON, and Erin Snelgrove of Jordan, ON, finished fifth overall in the junior women's double event in 7:23.42. The women faced some tough cross-wind conditions, which they handled well, but couldn't overtake the top boats. Lithuania (7:17.87) Germany (7:19.35) and France (7:20.10) won the medals in this event.
The Canadian junior men's quad was fifth in the B final in 6:15.29, or 11th overall.
The quad is Matthew Coppola of St. Catharines, ON, Stefano Belfiore of Vancouver, Martin Barakso of Nanaimo, B.C., and Aleksander Malowany of Toronto, ON.
Yesterday, the junior women's four was sixth in 7:10.24 in the A final. This crew is Claire Vannelli of London, ON, Catherine Multari of LaSalle, ON and Aleda Kawalek of Welland, ON, and Marissa Kump of St. Catharines, ON.
The junior men's four was second in yesterday's B final in 6:15.30 to finish eighth overall. This crew is Christopher Marshall of Brockville, ON, Lance Brazeau, also of Brockville, Colin Schaap of Richmond, BC, and Gareth Lindstrom of Vancouver, BC.
"The athletes represented Canada well both on and off the water," said High Performance Development Coordinator, Chuck McDiarmid. "Our improved results in this year's event demonstrate that we are on the right track with our development program. We will continue to evolve, looking for opportunities to target athletes and bring them together to train and race."
Next year, the World Rowing Junior Championships joins with the non-Olympic Senior Championships and will be held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
To compete in the World Rowing Junior Championships, rowers must be 18 years of age or younger. An athlete can compete as a junior until 31 December of the year in which he or she reaches the age of 18.