Canada's lightweight men's and women's doubles and lightweight men's four all took charge of their races today to win reps and advance to the next round of competition at the World Rowing Championships in Eton, England.
Members of the Canadian men's and women's eights, however, will have to wait another day to prove themselves, as racing was cancelled just before their races due to potentially unfair conditions. Most of today's reps were completed before this call to postpone competition to tomorrow.
The lightweight women's double - Mara Jones of Aurora, Ont. and Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S. - rebounded from a disappointing heat to win the rep today in 7:15.78. Great Britain also moves to the semi from this rep with a finish of 7:17.85. Canada had the fastest time of the four reps raced today in this Olympic-class event.
The lightweight men's double of Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. and Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que. also took their rep, again with the fastest time in their event today of 6:36.08
Canada's lightweight men's four won their rep in 6:12.10, and move forward to the semi-finals.
"We improved our start, which was not the best during the heat, and that allowed us to establish a better race rhythm," said National Team veteran Iain Brambell of Victoria, B.C. "We're optimistic, but we now have to put together an even better race in the semi. Out of the 22 boats in this event, there are eight to 12 that are strong (only six boats will make it to the final). It makes it very exciting."
Brambell, a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams, is rowing with Mike Lewis of Victoria, B.C., John Sasi of North Delta, B.C., and Liam Parsons of Thunder Bay, Ont. at this Worlds.
A young lightweight women's quad will also row in the A final after finishing fourth in their rep today. Members of this boat are Jennifer Hogsden of Waterdown, Ont., Amber Cuthbertson of Harrowsmith, Ont., Sheryl Preston of North Delta, B.C., and Melanie Kok of St. Catharines, Ont. Denmark won the rep, followed by Germany and the U.S. (the top four moved forward).
Melanie Kok was a gold medallist in this event last year with lightweight women's double members Tracy Cameron and Mara Jones, and Elizabeth Urbach, who is not rowing at the National level this year.
In a race for lanes, Canada men's coxed four (6:20.27) was second to Great Britain (6:19.87). Max Lang of Lumby, B.C., Christopher Aylard of Sidney, B.C., Robert Gibson of Kingston, Ont., and Will Crothers of Kingston, Ont. - are all rowing in their first senior World Championships with cox Stephen Cheng of Toronto, who represented Canada in this event last year.
Canada's women's quad was fifth, and will row in a B final. Members of the quad are Anna-Marie DeZwager of Victoria, B.C., Zoe Hoskins of Edmonton, Alta., Rachelle de Jong of Regina, Sask., and Peggy Hyslop of Kamloops, B.C.
After an exciting morning, there was mixed reaction from coaches and athletes to the cancellation of the races.
"This doesn't bother us, it keeps us on the ball," said Brian Price, men's eight coxswain. "We came here to race, and we just have to go out there and get the job done."
"It was looking promising," said coach Carsten Hassing of the Canadian women's eight that was at the start when the announcement was made. "They really wanted to go out there and prove themselves. They felt that they didn't have their best race in the heat, but wanted to show their best today. But the women are in a good mood and looking forward to the race tomorrow."
In a statement, FISA, the international rowing federation, said that the events commission and members of the fairness committee assured team managers today that none of the races that took place this morning were affected by adverse conditions, but "the evolving wind pattern might have created unfair conditions for the remaining races."
The eights' reps will now take place first thing on Thursday morning.
Aug. 23, 2006
Canadian Results Reps (2000m)
World Rowing Championships
Men's coxed four (race for lanes)
1 GBR 6:19.87
2 CAN 6:20.27
3 GER 6:22.49
4 USA 6:22.56
5 NZL 6:23.39
Lightweight women's quad
1 DEN 6:48.59
2 GER 6:54.57
3 USA 6:54.70
4 CAN 6:58.92
5 POR 7:22.03
Lightweight women's double
1 CAN 7:15.78
2 GBR 7:17.85
3 JPN 7:24.90
4 HKG 8:05.93
Lightweight men's double
1 CAN 6:36.08
2 CZE 6:41.52
3 HKG 6:49.25
4 THA 6:52.62
5 ALG 6:54.21
Lightweight men's four
1 CAN 6:12.10
2 POL 6:14.77
3 JPN 6:18.00
4 RUS 6:18.37
5 TUR 6:25.28
Women's quad
1 RUS 6:37.01
2 CHN 6:40.25
3 GER 6:40.43
4 USA 6:41.65
5 CAN 6:46.66
6 UKR 6:49.87