Canadian Crews Rise to the Challenge of the Reps at Worlds

Today was the first day of repechage races at the World Rowing Championships in Munich, where rowers get another chance to make the semis and finals. Canada's men's pair and coxed pair; men's and women's lightweight singles and the adaptive mixed double rose to the occasion and qualified for the next rounds of racing.

The men's pair of Chris Jarvis of St. Catharines, Ont. and Dan Casaca of Toronto, Ont. is also a step closer to qualifying this boat for the Olympic Games next summer. They finished a close second in today's rep in 7:01.96, just behind Serbia's Goran Jagar and Nikola Stojic, who had a time of 7:00.94 - the top two boats qualified for the semis. Eleven of the 12 boats in the semi-finals of the men's pair will earn an Olympic berth. Another 12 boats have already been eliminated from this event.

"We knew this was an important race for us, and for the team," said Chris Jarvis, who has rowed in the pair with Dave Calder in 2004 and with Malcolm Howard in 2005. "Dan and I are very different, so we find ways to channel those differences into ways to make us go faster. We've also had good training sessions with the coxed pair, so we're used to the challenge of racing."

Kip McDaniel of Cobble Hill, B.C., Derek O'Farrell of Montreal, Que., and coxswain Brian Price of Belleville, Ont., who make up the coxed pair, also move forward at this regatta after finishing first in today's rep in 7:26.34. The coxed pair, however, is not an Olympic event. The next race for this crew will be for World Championship medals on Saturday.

Melanie Kok of St. Catharines, Ont. dominated her rep this morning to move to the semi-finals.

"I expected the competition to be stiff today, and with only two going through (to the semi), nobody wants to go to the C final (for places 13 to 18)," said Kok, who is in the lightweight women's single, another non-Olympic event. "I thought it was going to be a dog fight, but it wasn't. I established a lead and held it - I'm glad I had this extra race (the rep) and I'm looking forward to the semi." Canada’s time was 8:18.31, with the next closest, Germany, coming in at 8:27.33.

Tim Colson of London, Ont. also had a strong performance, in the lightweight men's single, finishing second to Slovenia's Bine Pislar. Colson crossed the line in 7:44.52, just two seconds off the rep-winning time.

Canada's men's four missed out on qualifying for the next round of racing, finishing third in a race that saw the top two – Slovenia and Italy - qualify for he semi-finals.

It was a disappointment for the crew and one of its member, Barney Williams, who won a silver medal in this Olympic-class event in Athens.

"We had a game plan and we stuck to it," said Williams. "We expected to be able to row through them, but we were not able to do that. The reality is that the standard is increasing every year. I feel bad for the younger guys in the crew because I've been there before, but now we have to rally around the men's eight and pair and the other crews, in their bid to qualify for the Olympics." Williams' wife, Buffy, is in the women's eight event at this Worlds.

The men’s four is Williams of Salt Spring Island, BC, Rob Gibson of Kingston, Ont., Peter Dembicki of West Vancouver, B.C., and Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. Canada's time was 6:29.29.

There is one more chance to qualify boats for the Olympics next summer, but the goal is to lock up as many spots as possible at these Championships.

Reps were also held for the adaptive racers today, with Wilfredo Moré Wilson of Toronto, Ont. and Caitlin Renneson of Ottawa, Ont. advancing in the mixed double sculls event. Great Britain was first in 4:42.15, with Canada (4:54.37) edging out Israel (4:54.68) in the last metres of the race to finish second (top three move to the semis). Adaptive races are 1000 metres compared with 2000 metres for the other athletes at the Worlds.

Joan Reid of Ottawa, Ont. did not qualify for the A final after she finished third in her rep. In a close for race for the second qualifying spot, Reid's time was 7:11.08 compared with the U.S. sculler in 7:10.34 - the Ukraine was first in 6:59.29.

“We’re pleased with the increased level of competition and athleticism in the adaptive events,” said Adaptive Team coordinator Allison Sheard. “All of our crews are positioned well for training for the Paralympic Games and we’re looking forward to some exciting finals races.”

Canadian Results - Reps
August 28, 2007

Men's coxed pair (M2+)
1 CAN 7:26.34
2 GER 7:27.43
3 USA 7:34.50
4 UKR 7:47.15

Lightweight women's single (LW1x)
1 CAN 8:18.31
2 GER 8:27.33
3 IRL 8:28.67
4 COL 8:47.28

Lightweight men's single (LM1x)
1 SLO 7:42.23
2 CAN 7:44.62
3 ESP 7:49.21
4 UZB 7:51.75
5 ARM 8:34.76

Men's pair (M2-)
1 SRB 7:00.94
2 CAN 7:01.96
3 NED 7:07.08
4 BLR 7:21.97
5 EGY 7:34.02

Men's four (M4-)
1 SLO 6:20.44
2 ITA 6:23.41
3 CAN 6:29.29
4 SRB 6:37.41
5 CHN 6:50.92

Adaptive women's single AW1x
(top two to final)
1 UKR 6:59.29
2 USA 7:10.34
3 CAN 7:11.08
4 CHN 7:22.65
5 FRA 7:49.84

Adaptive mixed double TA2x
(top three to semis)
1 GBR 4:42.15
2 CAN 4:54.37
3 ISR 4:54.68
4 JPN 5:54.31
5 RUS 6:17.10

Full results at www.worldrowing.com

Photos: top, by Zoe Hoskins, above courtesy of Hudson Boatworks