Canadian Women Win at Britain's Henley Royal

July 04 - click here for earlier reports

Canada's women eight beat out the local favourites today to win at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England.

The Canadian women set the tone for the race with a solid start (see video clips here) and ended up winning by two lengths in a total time of 7.29 minutes over the British team, representing Leander Club and Oxford Brookes University. They raced a distance of 2,112 metres, unique to this regatta, in gusty headwind conditions.

"We train in all conditions (on Fanshawe Lake in London, Ont.) and we're accustomed to the wind, but we didn't underestimate the British. We took some sloppy strokes, and so did they. The results speak for themselves," said women's team veteran Darcy Marquardt, who won this event once before. Of today's winners, only Marquardt and crew mate Andréanne Morin were part of the Canadian boat that took this title in 2003 beating out an Australian crew.

"This win feels sweeter this time around, and it's a reaffirmation of where we want to be as we head into the World Cup in Lucerne and prepare for the Worlds in November."

The women's eight is Lesley Thompson-Willie of London, ON, Cristin McCarty of Saskatoon, SK, Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, BC, Ashley Brzozowicz of London, ON, Krista Guloien of Port Moody, BC, Andreanne Morin of Montreal, QC, Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, MB, Sandra Kisil of Ancaster, ON and Emma Darling of Burnaby, BC.

"It's an exciting time for women's rowing," said the eight's coach, John Keogh, who recently came to Rowing Canada from Australia via the British women's program. "The women have trained hard with (lead women's coach) Al Morrow the past winter and this shows we are moving in the right direction. It was a good race against quality opposition - I'm encouraged for this squad."

High Performance Director Peter Cookson agreed: "It's a confidence builder for this group of young women who are very motivated. It's still early days for as a crew, but today's race is a good indication of the potential they have."

Women's eights races first appeared at Henley in 1998. In 1999, it was decided to make this event into an open women's eights event, formally incorporated in the rules of the regatta and to be known as The Henley Prize. At the 2002 regatta the event became known as the Remenham Challenge Cup when the Henley Stewards accepted the gift of a trophy presented by the nearby Remenham Club in recognition of the support its founding clubs had given women's rowing and in memory of its past President, Mr. Ian Rogers, M.B.E.

This was the only Canadian crew in the finals today. This year's Henley had a total entry of 505 crews and included 116 overseas crews from 20 different nations.

More on the Henley Royal at the regatta web site:

http://www.hrr.co.uk/

The Canadian women's and men's senior teams now move to Switzerland to take place in the third - and arguably the most important - World Cup race of the year in Lucerne.

Media contact Jackie Skender

Women's Eight Keeps Canada's Hopes Up at Henley

July 03, 2010 Click here for July 1 and July 02

Henley-on-Thames, England: The high-quality of the international entries showed today at the Henley Royal Regatta, as many crews were eliminated in the this head-to-head rowing challenge.

The Canadian women's eight (entered as Western Rowing Club), however, managed to keep Canada's hopes up by beating the Dutch boat (Hollandia Roeiclub) nicely by three lengths.

The crew had a powerful start, which set a course record to what is termed the "barrier" mark of the course (approx. 637 meters) in 1.55 minutes. The eight's final time was 6.53.

"This group has not rowed together in an eight for long, so it was nice to test our speed in a race situation," said veteran women's coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie, who has competed at six Olympics, but is only on her second Henley Royal. "We had a decent start, but we will have to be sharp for tomorrow."

The women's eight is Thompson-Willie of London, ON, Cristin McCarty of Saskatoon, SK, Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, BC, Ashley Brzozowicz of London, ON, Krista Guloien of Port Moody, BC, Andreanne Morin of Montreal, QC, Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, MB, Sandra Kisil of Ancaster, ON and Emma Darling of Burnaby, BC.

Tomorrow, the Canadian women face local favourites - a top British crew entered under Leander Club & Oxford Brookes University - in the final of the open women's eight event called the Remenham Challenge Cup.

The rest of the Canadian crews racing today faced stiff competition, and do not advance to the finals.

Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C. raced Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand, a four-time singles World Champion, in the Diamond Challenge Cup semis today. Drysdale ended up winning by four lengths in 7.47.

"You really get to learn from each race," said Howard. "Mahe is very experienced, and I'm still learning what it takes. I have a long-term goal and that's what I have to keep in mind."

The New Zealand sculler now faces top Swedish sculler Lassi Karonen tomorrow to determine the final champion.

The Canadian men's eight faced a similar fate - in a fast and furious race against a strong German eight (Hansa Dortmund), the Canadians missed out by 3/4 length when the 2,112 metre Grand Challenge Cup race was done.

The men's eight is Mark Laidlaw (cox) of Mississauga, ON, Derek O'Farrell of Unionville, ON, Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, ON, Doug Csima of Oakville, ON, Rob Gibson of Kingston, ON, Conlin McCabe of Brockville, ON, Anthony Jacob of Vancouver, BC, Gabe Bergen of 100 Mile House, BC, and Steve Van Knotsenburg of Beamsville, ON.

The eight will now put this race behind them and focus on the World Cup, held next week in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The men's four of Will Crothers of Kingston, Ont., Fraser Berkhout of St. Catharines, Ont., Mike Wilkinson of Vancouver, BC and - returning from an illness this week - David Calder of Victoria, lost to the Princeton Training Center, the U.S. National Team's base, in their Stewards' Challenge Cup race today.

Also despite a valiant effort, the Canadian women's quad (which was a mix of light and heavyweight rowers who typically do not row together, competing here under the Western Rowing Club banner), succumbed to the British women's quad by more than three boat lengths. The women's quad event is named after the late Princess Grace.

"All the boats racing put up a strong effort," said Peter Cookson, Rowing Canada High Performance Director. "Henley is a unique regatta and we had some very good crews to race against in today's races. I believe the whole team has benefitted from our experience here at Henley Royal... It will be exciting to watch the women's eight race in the final tomorrow."

Photo above by Kevin Light.

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Canadian Eights Start Their Henley Royal Campaign with Success

Jul 02. Click here for July 1

Both Canada's men's and women's eights - along with several other National Team crews - saw success today at England's Henley Royal Regatta.

The National Team men's eight - rowing as Victoria City Rowing Club and Shawnigan Lake School - finished ahead of the U.S. Princeton Training Center eight by a half length. The final winning time was 6.02 minutes.

"It felt good off the start, and we set a decent pace through the middle," said Andrew Byrnes, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist. "It's a lot different than a six-boat (Olympic-style) race - you are more focused on just the one boat you're racing.... We're looking forward to the next race."

The men's eight this year is Mark Laidlaw (cox) of Mississauga, ON, Derek O'Farrell of Unionville, ON, Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, ON, Doug Csima of Oakville, ON, Rob Gibson of Kingston, ON, Conlin McCabe of Brockville, ON, Anthony Jacob of Vancouver, BC, Gabe Bergen of 100 Mile House, BC, and Steve Van Knotsenburg of Beamsville, ON. Of this eight, only Byrnes raced in the 2008 Olympics.

Malcolm Howard of Brentwood College - a former member of the men's eight now taking on the singles event - also won his race, amid the growing crowds of Henley spectators and partygoers, many on boats that run alongside the rowing course.

"Today's race felt good," said Howard, "with each race you learn how to manage the distractions such as the pleasure boats on the river, and today I definitely felt more comfortable on this course."

Tomorrow Howard faces tougher competition in New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale, a four-time World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, in a race that will be closely watched by rowing enthusiasts in the crowd.

Also today, the women's eight from Canada - rowing here at the Western Rowing Club (London, Ont.) - took command of their Remenham Challenge Cup race beating a crew from Oxford Brookes University and Cardiff University easily in 7.14 minutes.

The women's eight is Lesley Thompson-Willie of London, ON, Cristin McCarty of Saskatoon, SK, Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, BC, Ashley Brzozowicz of London, ON, Krista Guloien of Port Moody, BC, Andreanne Morin of Montreal, QC, Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, MB, Sandra Kisil of Ancaster, ON and Emma Darling of Burnaby, BC.

"It was a successful start to the eight's European tour (that will include the next World Cup in Lucerne)," said Hanson, who rowed in the last Olympics in the women's quad. "We've been training hard and we were looking forward to putting all the parts of our race together, and this was a good way to start."

Tomorrow the women will face a strong Dutch crew that promises to provide more of a challenge to the Canadians.

One of Canada's entered men's fours (with a revised lineup of Will Crothers of Kingston, Ont., Fraser Berkhout of St. Catharines, Ont., Mike Wilkinson of Vancouver, BC and Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. won its race in the Stewards' Challenge Cup against an Argentinean crew in 6.56 minutes. The other Canadian four entered in this event lost its race against the Yamoto Rowing Club of Japan today.

The Canadian women's quad (representing Western RC) in the Princess Grace Challenge Cup won today; one and a half boat lengths ahead of an Italian crew. The Canadian quad rowing here is a mix of light and heavyweight rowers - Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, NS, Romina Stefancic of Victoria, BC, Peggy DeVos of Kamloops, BC, and Katya Herman of Sudbury, ON.

The men's pair of lightweight rowers Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. and Rares Crisan of Mississauga Ont. were knocked out of the regatta's Silver Goblets and Nickalls' Challenge Cup today. Jensen, however, had success when he replaced David Calder in the four, who withdrew to day due to illness, and still advances with this crew.

In the Temple Challenge Cup for student eights, both Brock (St. Catharines, Ont.) and the University of Victoria, B.C., were raced out of the regatta with losses to Ireland's Queen's University and the University of Washington respectively.

Races are head-to-head knock out competitions, raced over 1 mile, 550 yards (2,112 m). The regatta has been a British tradition since 1839. The Henley, however, is also known as a social event with visitors required to wear proper dress.

Today, royalty graced the regatta with a visit from Anne, Princess Royal, the Queen's daughter. Princess Anne, who last visited the regatta in 1999, spoke with several top competitors, including the Canadian men's team and their coach Mike Spracklen, who is originally from nearby Marlow. (Photos available on request).

Racing continues through to Sunday, July 04.

See http://www.hrr.co.uk/ for full results.

 

Rowers Representing Canada Well at British Henley

National Team rowers celebrated Canada Day with a couple of easily won races at the Henley Royal Regatta on the Thames River in England (June 30 to July 04, 2010).

Malcolm Howard, in the men's single, and a men's pair of Matt Jensen and Rares Crisan easily won their races at this regatta, which is also one of the highlights of the local social calendar.

Howard - a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the men's eight - took command of his Diamond Challenge Cup race against the University of Hertfordshire's Dave Bell, winning in a time of eight minutes and 42 seconds to advance.

"It felt good to get that first race wrapped up nicely," said Howard of Victoria, B.C. who is rowing for Brentwood College at this regatta. "The atmosphere is great here and I'm looking forward facing the next challenger."

Howard's next race is tomorrow against Ian Lawson of Eton, England.

Lightweight rowers Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. and Rares Crisan of Mississauga Ont. also "easily" beat a pair representing the Deeside Scullers today in 8.08.

"We did have a slow start, but inched away throughout what was a long race for us in the headwind," said Jensen, a veteran of international rowing. "It's good to have that first race under your belt, but we are expecting stiffer competition in the next round."

The men's pair event is the Silver Goblets and Nickalls' Challenge Cup, and Jensen and Crisan are representing Victoria City & Shawnigan Lake rowing clubs at Henley.

Unlike Olympic-style rowing, Henley does not distinguish between light and heavyweight rowers. The Canadian double of Doug Vandor and Cam Sylvester - one of the top lightweight doubles in the world - today faced a top heavyweight crew from New Zealand in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup. The Kiwis knocked the Canadians out of Henley, finishing today's round of racing in 7.36.

Both Brock University of St. Catharines, Ont. (over Grand Valley State University) and the University of Victoria (beating Eton College) won races today and continue their Henley campaigns in the Temple Challenge Cup student event.

This year 505 crews, including 116 from overseas, are entered in the Regatta - a tally up from 468 in 2009. Races are head-to-head knock out competitions, raced over a course of 1 mile, 550 yards (2,112 m).

Tomorrow the Canadian women make their first appearance at the Henley Royal.

A full list of the Canadian crews (with National Team athletes) is here:
http://www.rowingcanada.org/newsandresults/hrr_2010/

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