Rowing Canada Aviron Announces Site of 2010 Commonwealth Championships

 
Rowing Canada Aviron has confirmed that the Welland International Flatwater Centre in Welland, Ontario, will host the 2010 Commonwealth Rowing Championships to be held July 31 to Aug. 1.

"I'm proud to announce that Welland is again hosting a major rowing regatta," said Rowing Canada Aviron President Brenda Liski. "Welland offers a top-notch course that is a favourite of rowers and coaches alike."

Since rowing is not in the Commonwealth Games program, a separate regatta has been held since 1994. “We currently have indications that the following nations will be fully supporting the event: Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Wales – and there has been interest from other countries,” said Liski.  "There’s a lot of work to be done, but we're looking forward to promoting and participating this excellent event."

Welland has hosted the National Rowing Championships before, but this will be the first international rowing event held at the centre.

"The hard work and ongoing initiatives geared toward development of the Welland International Flatwater Centre continue to pay dividends for our City," said Welland’s Mayor Damian Goulbourne. “As part of our commitment to delivering on sport tourism opportunities the selection of the City of Welland suggests again that we are on the right course in regards to flatwater sports and their presence on the Recreational Waterway.”

 “I am absolutely thrilled,” said Stephen Fischer, Executive Director of the WRCC and the Welland International Flatwater Centre.  “The recognition from the high-performance rowing community that the Welland International Flatwater Centre is the place of choice in Canada to host the 2010 Commonwealth Rowing Championships is an incredible boost to our efforts.”
 
Racing for the 2010 regatta will be over 2000 metres, and exhibition races of 500 metres will also be featured. Teams will now be eight athletes: four men and four women, half of whom in each case shall be lightweights. Boat classes include singles, doubles, pairs, women's quads and men's fours.
 
The Commonwealth Rowing Championships was last held in August 2006 in Scotland, and was held Canada in 1994 and 1999 in London, Ont.
 
"This regatta is another important step in recognizing Welland as an international site,” said Bob Mahler, Chair of the WRCC. "We welcome the Commonwealth Rowing Championships and look forward to a fantastic event."
 
Contact:
 
Stephen Fischer
Executive Director
Welland Recreational Canal Corporation
Phone: 905-735-1700 ext. 2311   
Cell: 905-658-3033  wrcc@welland.ca
 
Rowing Canada contact:
 
Jackie Skender
519.661.4234
519.200.1835