Winners of the senior events shared in a $20,000 purse today at the National Rowing Championships (NRC) on Fanshawe Lake in London, Ontario.
In the senior women's pair, 2008 Olympians Sarah Bonikowsky of Orangeville, Ont. and Ashley Brozozowicz of Toronto, Ont. decisively won their race in 7:24.15 (2000m), each picking up $1,100.
"There was some high-quality racing at this regatta," said Bonikowsky, who was in the 2008 women's eight that finished fourth at the Games in Beijing. "I didn't have to race at the Nationals, but my goal is to race internationally in the pair event and I'm based here in London, so it was great to get right back into a boat after the Olympics." Most of Canada's Olympic rowers decided to take a post-Olympic break from competition.
Elizabeth "Buzzy" McCord of Toronto and Stephanie Morrison of Nelson, B.C. took silver in 7:35.07 and $600 each; and Sarah Waterfield of Kingston, Ont. and Sandra Kisil of Hamilton, Ont. were bronze medalists in 7:36.08.
Isolda Penney of Kingston, Ont. won the women's single in 7:43.18. She was followed by the University of British Columbia's Audra Vair of Ottawa, Ont. in 7:47.65 and Alison Madlung of Edmonton, Alta. in 7:54.36
2008 World Cup gold medalist Lindsay Jennerich of Victoria, won a battle to the line in 7:48.02 with Lindsay Forget of Aurora, Ont. who finished second in 7:48.45. Katya Herman of Sudbury, Ont. was third in 7:53.31 in this lightweight women's single race.
In the men's single, Fraser Berkhout of St. Catharines, Ont. (7:00.80) won over 2004 Olympian Chris Jarvis (7:04.58) and fellow St. Catharines rower James Dietz (7:06.50)
In the lightweight men's category, Jake Breuer of London, Ont., beat Nick Pratt of Kingston, Ont., and Tim Colson of London, Ont. in the single. The winning time was 7:13.30.
The lightweight men's pair went to Kingston's Rares Crisan and Morgan Jarvis in 06:54.80. In the battle for second and third in this event, Quebec's Renaud Garon-Gendron and Vincent Cote took silver in 06:56.82 while Terry McKall of Edmonton, Alta. and Tim Myers of Penticton, BC, just missed out, finishing in 6:56.92 and taking bronze.
Chris Aylard of Victoria, B.C. and Doug Csima of Oakville, Ont. took the men's pair title in 06:50.44. Aylard was a member of the Canadian Under 23 men's eight that picked up a silver at the 2008 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Germany.
Under-23 and Junior races were also held today (full results attached) at the Nationals. Canada Games' crews and some larger boats will race tomorrow morning on Lake Fanshawe.