Course: 1200 metres. Conditions: Hot, humid with variable breezes diminishing during the day.
HEATS
British Columbia and Quebec each had five boats advance after the heats; Ontario had four boats advance after this morning's racing. Saskatchewan and New Brunswick also had boats advance.
Here's how the heats wrapped up:
-Lightweight women's double (winner of each heat to final) - B.C. and Ontario advanced.
-Women's single (winners of heats to final) - B.C. and Quebec advanced.
-Men's double (top two to final) - Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan
-Men's four (top two to final) - British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick
-Women's four (winner of each heat to final) - Ontario and British Columbia
-Women's double (winner of each heat to final) - Saskatchewan and Quebec
-Men's eight (winner of each heat to final) - British Columbia and Quebec
REPECHAGES
This afternoon, crews that raced this morning, but did not advance, got another chance to go through to the finals on Friday. There were some exciting races, including the final rep of the day in the men's eight with Ontario (3:44.30) being chased by New Brunswick (3:45.09), followed by Saskatchewan (3:49,78); and Newfoundland (3:50.52) just edging out Alberta (3:50:58) for the final qualifying position.
Here's how the reps played out:
-Lightweight women's double (top four to final) - Quebec, Newfoundland, Manitoba and Saskatchewan advanced.
-Women's single (top four to final) - Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
-Men's double (top two to final) - British Columbia and Manitoba
-Men's four (top two to final) - Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador
-Women's four (top four to final) - Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and New Brunswick
-Women's double (top four to final) - British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia
-Men's eight (top four to final) - Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland
Interesting Fact: Quebec rower Jade Lefebvre of St-Denis de Brompton, Que. is the daughter of retired NHL defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre who played on five different teams from 1989 to 2003. He is currently an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche. Jade is rowing in two events - the women's eight and the women's four. The Quebec women's eight qualified for the final yesterday, but the four was fifth in the rep today and will not contend for a medal.
Tomorrow: Wednesday is an off day for rowing. Thursday finals begin and Friday rowing wraps up.
Quotes (Aug. 18):
Ronan Sabo-Walsh, coxswain, British Columbia men's eight, "Our start went really well. At the 500 metre mark we had a good lead and then just kept on going. It was a good race.... Everything happens much faster (because of the shorter course of 1200 metres - rowing is typically raced over 2000 metres), but you just have to go for it."
John Wetzstein, coach Team Saskatchewan, "We're very pleased so far. We're putting ourselves in the position to contend for a medal, and that's what we need to do. We're a solid team this year.... Definitely having the Canada Games in Regina in 2005 has helped in terms of equipment and coaching..... There's still a long way to go, but we're working to increase the profile of the sport in the province and hopefully good results here will help that."
Results here.
Photos here.