Canada's crews enjoyed a sunny reception on the Rotsee rowing course in Lucerne, Switzerland for the first day of racing in the final BearingPoint Rowing World Cup. Canada's entries all won their races in the first round of this important pre-Olympic regatta.
"It was a good morning of racing for Canada," said Canadian National Rowing Team head coach Brian Richardson. "It's rare to have every crew entered win their race - I think that's only happened to me twice in my career."
Canada's racing day got off to a great start when the women's pair of Karen Clark of Delta, B.C. and Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C. beat World Champions Cath Bishop and Katherine Grainger of Great Britain. Germany was also strong in this race leading until half way, when Britain and Canada took over the heat. Canada's time was 7:08.37, followed by Great Britain in 7:08.86, and Germany falling behind in 7:16.65. Clark and Marquardt advance directly to the finals, with the others forced to row in a repechage race to qualify. (Clark, who is a member of the womens eight, is rowing in place of St. Catharines native Buffy Williams, who is injured)
The men's pair of Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C. and David Calder of Victoria, B.C. also won one of the three heats in this event in a time of 6:38.07. The Czech Republic was second and Germany third in the same heat.
Hamilton and Calder, rowing for the first time in the pair together internationally this year, picked up a bronze in at a major competition in Munich last month and now face an even stronger field for medals this weekend.
The powerful Canadian men's four of Tom Herschmiller of Comox, B.C., Jake Wetzel of Saskatoon, Sask., Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C., and Cam Baerg of Saskatoon advance to the semi in their event, after beating the U.S., Poland and China. Canada's time was 6:00.49. The same Canadian combination won the World Championships last year in this event and looked strong again this year after winning the Munich World Cup. The lightweight women's double of Fiona Milne of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. and Mara Jones of Aurora, Ont. convincingly took their heat this morning in 7:16.61 after a strong start over the Dutch crew, who ended up shutting it down and finishing in a time of 7:33.90.
The lightweight men's four, which had a less-than-stellar performance at the last World Cup in Munich, today proved it is among the world's best in this boat-class winning its heat in 6:53.00 in the headwind conditions.
"We did a lot of work at our training camp in Italy and have been working with the heavyweight mens four, which has produced positive results," said Jon Mandick. "This World Cup is the last chance for crews to show their speed before the Olympics, so it's an opportunity for us to show we can move forward in this tough Olympic event."
The two-time World Champion Canadian men's eight move directly to the final after its win today. Italy's men's eight held onto Canada's pace for the first half of the race, but were no match for Canadas power. "We started to inch away and hit our stride in the middle 1000," said Scott Frandsen, new to the men's eight this year and rowing for the first time in the Lucerne regatta.
The mens eight: Jeff Powell of Winnipeg, Man., Joe Stankevicius of Dundas, Ont., Andrew Hoskins of Edmonton, Alta., Adam Kreek of London, Ont., Chris Jarvis of St. Catharines, Ont., Darren Barber of Victoria, B.C. Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C., Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C., and Brian Price (cox) of Belleville, Ont. The mens eight, four and pair are coached by Mike Spracklen.
The women's eight has yet to race at this regatta.
Racing continues tomorrow and Sunday. CBC will televise the Lucerne World Cup on June 26 - check your local listings.