Canada's men's and women's pairs both advanced after racing today on breezy Dorney Lake, at the Eton College rowing facility near Windsor, England, site of this year's World Rowing Championships and the 2012 Olympic rowing venue.
Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., and Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B. commanded their race to win in 7:03.83 - the Canadian pair advances directly to the final, while Australia, China, the Netherlands and Denmark will row in a repechage.
"We moved right from stroke one," said Marquardt, who also rowed in this event at the 2004 Olympics, finishing fourth with Buffy Williams. "Conditions were a little rough, but we handled that well."
Now this pair, who won the Munich World Cup in May, will not compete again until the medal race on Saturday.
The men's pair of Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C. and Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C., who were second at the World Cup in Munich, advance after finishing second in today's heat.
New Zealand won the heat in 6:22.79 with Canada taking the other qualifying position in 6:24.94. "New Zealand and Germany also had strong starts," said Howard, who finished fourth in this event last year with Chris Jarvis. "We drew even with the Germans at around the 1000-metre mark and came to terms with New Zealand with about 500 metres to go. New Zealand responded to win the race."
"Conditions were a little stressful," said Howard of the wind that rowers faced on the course today. "But Kevin handled the steering well and was poised and in control."
Although the Canadian men's four had a strong first 1700 metres, they couldn't hang on to the lead and allowed New Zealand and Germany to row through. With the top two crews going to the semis, Canada will now row in a repechage. Times were 5:50.93 for New Zealand, 5:51.34 for Germany and 5:52.54 for Canada.
Canada's four consists of 2004 Olympians Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C., Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C., Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C. and Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C. Williams was a member of the Olympic four that picked up silver in Athens, while the others rowed in the men's eight that was fifth overall at the same Games.
Earlier in the day, Lindsay Forget of Aurora, Ont., Nathalie Maurer of Vancouver, B.C., Krista Guloien of Vancouver, B.C. and Cristin McCarty of Saskatoon, Sask. finished fourth in the women's four in 6:46.83.
Jeff Bujas of Grimbsy, Ont. was third in the lightweight men's single in 7:13.65, with only the top finisher in each heat advancing to the semis.
"We had a solid start to the regatta, especially with the performances of the pairs, and I believe the men's four can come back to qualify for the semi-finals. The lightweight single and women's four also rowed well and will have another chance," said Rowing Canada Aviron High Performance Director Alan Roaf. "The pace is very fast out there, as always, and each of our crews will need to be on its best form to make the finals."
Racing continues through to next weekend's finals.
Aug. 20, 2006 Canadian Results - Heats (2000m) World Rowing Championships
Women's four
1 AUS 6:38.61 (first place to final)
2 USA 6:40.74
3 NED 6:41.15
4 CAN 6:46.83
Lightweight men's single (first to semi)
1 GBR 6:56.83
2 GRE 6:57.62
3 CAN 7:13.65
4 JPN 7:22.19
5 RUS 7:27.64
6 ARM 8:04.13
Women's pair (first place to final)
1 CAN 7:03.83
2 AUS 7:07.34
3 CHN 7:08.39
4 NED 7:10.86
5 DEN 7:15.16
Men's pair (top two advance to semi)
1 NZL 6:22.79
2 CAN 6:24.94
3 GER 6:30.34
4 USA 6:37.52
5 GRE 6:39.92
Men's four (top two advance to semi)
1 NZL 5:50.93
2 GER 5:51.34
3 CAN 5:52.54
4 IRL 5:56.29
5 ITA 6:05.06
6 AUS 6:10.25