Rowing Canada Aviron's National Junior Trials will be held next week, June 2 and 3, at the South Course of the Welland International Flatwater Centre, home of the South Niagara Rowing Club

Close to 100 athletes from across the country will compete for a chance to be named to the Junior National Team or Canada's CanAmMex group.

The National Team will go on to the 2008 FISA World Rowing Senior and Junior Championships July 22 to 27 in Linz/Ottensheim, Austria. A larger number of crews will compete at the annual CanAmMex regatta, July 20 to 27, at the Chesapeake Boathouse in Oklahoma City, Okla.

"The junior stage is an important part of our development program, and this event continues to provide some great racing and a glimpse at what the future holds for our National program," says Phil Monckton, VP High Performance for Rowing Canada Aviron.

World silver medalist in the men's pair, Conlin McCabe of the Brockville Rowing Club, will return this time competing with fellow Brockville rower Joel Smylie. McCabe and Anthony Jacob of Vancouver, B.C., competed last year in China, at the site of the 2008 Olympic regatta, bringing home the Junior World Championship silver.

Crews selected to represent Canada at the 2008 World Rowing Junior Championships must have the potential to finish top six. Junior National Team crews are open to athletes who are born in 1990 or later. In the Olympic year, the Junior Worlds are held at the same time as the Senior Non-Olympic-boat-class World Championships. (More info on international rowing at www.worldrowing.com )

Junior time trial heats and semi finals will take place on Monday, June 2, followed by finals on Tuesday.

For more information contact:
Jarret Poitras
National Team Assistant
Rowing Canada Aviron

Ph: +1.250.361.4222 ext.4
Cell: +1.250.217.5414