Both Canadian men's pair entries and a lightweight men's double finished first in today's preliminary heats at the World Cup in Great Britain today.
In the men's pair event, Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C. and Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. (CAN1) were first in 6:43.58. Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C. and Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C. (CAN2) were first in another heat in a time of 6:43.15 just edging out a strong British pair (6:43.18). Liam Parsons of Thunder Bay, Ont. and Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. took their heat in the lightweight men's double event in 6:26.94 a full eight seconds over the next double from Spain. "It's great to be over here already (attending Oxford University) and to be able to row in a World Cup with Scott in the pair," said Williams, an Olympic silver medallist in the men s four last year. "But it's a wake-up call to realize that the guys training in Victoria have been pushing themselves so hard. I especially thought the performance of the lightweight men's double was impressive - based on their times and relative to their competition, they are really here to win." Although there was a choppy crosswind earlier in the week, conditions were good for today's racing. This is a pre-season event for Canada - the National Team trials take place next month in Victoria, B.C. (men) and London, Ont. (women)
May 26, Canadian Results (2000 metres)
Men's Pair (top three advance to semis)
CAN1 6:43.58 (Scott FRANDSEN, Barney WILLIAMS)
EGY 6:44.65
GER 6:50.01
CHN2 6:51.72
Men's Pair (top three advance to semis)
CAN2 6:43.15 (Ben RUTLEDGE, Kyle HAMILTON)
GBR 6:43.18
USA 6:54.99
CZE 7:15.32
Lightweight Men's Double (top three advance to semis)
CAN 6:26.94 (Matthew JENSEN, Liam PARSONS) ESP 6:34.94
GRE 6:35.71
CHN 6:41.71
EGY 6:50.30