Men's Development Team Update - Fall 2009

By Terry Paul

The following is a season wrap-up, and to remind and encourage everyone to make plans to race at the National Rowing Championships in London, Ontario on November 3rd and 4th.

This season we had a large group of athletes that contributed to a very dynamic training environment in June prior to the Sr, A Men's 8+'s departure to the World Cup in Lucerne. Based on the depth of the group and theexperience of the top athletes we selected a 4-, 8+, LM 4- and 1x torepresent the U23 Men's Program in the Czech Republic.

After day one of the regatta when all crews raced well things looked to be on track for a banner year. After the dust had settled we came away with an awesome bronze medal performance from Mike Braithwaite in the 1x and a bitter disappointment with a close 4th place result in the 4-. The 8+ really gained momentum through the camp and had an outstanding mature performance
by winning the heat, but never found the same rhythm in the final finishing 5th. Three crews in the A Final is the most we have had in recent years.

Overall I believe we had a positive season and continued the strong tradition of development at the U23 level. The opportunity to train together with the Senior A team always contributes to the success of both the U23 and Senior A team. The Silver Medal Senior Men's 8+ had six new guys this year and seven of the nine guys came through the U23 program in the last four years.
Our job is to keep the flow of athletes through to the next level and ultimately onto the podium at future Olympic Games.

I would like to thank the Doug White and Pat Newman for the great job they did coaching as well as the staff that supported us at home and on tour, Allison Dobb, Adam Parfitt, Jarret Poitras, Michelle Boss, Heather Griffiths, Sue Lott, Kubet Weston and Ellen Mellise.

Adam Parfitt sent out a brief note regarding the Fall Ergometer test ( 6km by October 19th) and the National Rowing Championships. You must contact your provincial associations for entry information. Adam and myself can also help to facilitate entries as well as equipment. The NRC's are a mandatory component to this years training squad identification and carding scheme.

The VTC will be open officially October 5th. We are starting up a week earlier with a Men's 8+ that will race at the Hansa Cup event in Regensburg, Germany on the 2nd - 4th of October.

This fall I will be attending Hansa Cup, The Head of the Charles in Boston, the CURC Regatta in Montreal and the National Rowing Championships in London. I hope to catch up with you and other interested potential U23 athletes for next year's team at one of these events.

If you have any questions please send me an e-mail

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Terry Paul
National Development Coach (Men)
Rowing Canada Aviron
250 516 7585