ISLANDERS SHINE IN NATIONAL ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Jackie Skender

Rowers were greeted with good conditions this morning on Fanshawe Lake and action wrapped up at the 2009 National Rowing Championships before a wet snow fell over the course.

National rowing titles were awarded today – as well as $20,000 in prize money – in several small boat events.

Highlights:

Malcolm Howard of Victoria dominated the men’s single race in 7:22.34 – followed by Fraser Berkhout of St. Catharines in 7:30.77 and Michael Braithwaite of Duncan – an Under-23 category World bronze medalist – in 7:32.80 for another bronze.

Howard was a member of the 2008 gold-medal Beijing men’s eight, but now has his sights set on the singles event at the World and Olympic level.

“The preparation for this regatta and the result sets me up well for next year. (Men’s coach) Mike Spracklen (who has just won a national coaching award — see earlier story above) is supportive of my goals in the single and I’m looking forward to using the next 12 months to work on my sculling,” said Howard.

“Mike has been part of a great history of single sculling in Canada – including coaching Silken Laumann – so I hope to learn a great deal from him.”

The women’s single winner was Isolda Penney of Kingston in 8:16.57. Peggy DeVos of Kamloops was second in 8:23.59, followed closely by Romina Stefancic of Victoria in 8:24.43.

In the men’s pair event, it was the young pair of Anthony Jacob of Vancouver and Conlin McCabe of Brockville, Ont. who rowed to first in 7:05.55, beating former World Champions (2008, in the coxed pair) James Dunaway of Duncan and Gabe Bergen of 100 Mile House, B.C, who were second in 7:08.18. Third was 2008 Olympic gold medalist Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, rowing with Hamilton’s Doug Csima, in 7:09.29.

The lightweight women’s single event saw Lindsay Jennerich of Victoria cross the 2000m line in 8:31.30, Sheryl Preston of North Delta in 8:33.52 and Lindsay Forget of Aurora, Ont. was third in 8:39.72.

“I felt like it went well for 1000 metres, and then Sheryl did a good job of methodically closing the gap in the third 500, keeping me aware of where she was,” said Jennerich, who rowed with Preston at World Cups and the World Championships in the lightweight women’s double this past summer.

“Overall I felt I was very well prepared for the race and I’m pleased with the result, of course.”

In the men’s lightweight single, Morgan Jarvis of Kingston took first in 7:24.21, followed by National Team veteran Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que. in 7:30.56, and his typical doubles partner and former University of Western Ontario rower Cam Sylvester in third in 7:34.08.

The women’s pair of Ashley Brozozowicz of Toronto and Sarah Bonikowsky of

Orangeville, Ont. won in 7:48.97; followed by Krista Guloien of Port Moody and Sandra Kisil of Hamilton in 7:51.42 – and then returning Olympians Darcy Marquardt of Richmond and Andreanne Morin of Montreal had a respectable third-place finish in 7:53.98

The lightweight men’s pair Terry McKall of Edmonton and Simon Gowdy of Montreal won in 7:00.55, followed by Ontario lightweights Ryan Meyers and Rob Ballard in 7:01.25 and the pair of 2008 Olympians John Sasi of North Delta and Mike Lewis of Victoria in 7:08.67.

“I’m disappointed, but not deterred by the result,” said 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Mike Lewis. “I still have my sights set on the 2012 Games.”

Although dampened by wind and rain yesterday, today’s races went off with only a few minor delays.  The day began with a Time Trial in the adaptive four, and went on with small-boat events completed around midday.

“It’s always a challenge to push events into the late fall in Canada, but it was pulled off with some good racing today,” said Peter Cookson, High Performance Director for Rowing Canada Aviron.

“I’m excited to see how these athletes develop leading up to the World Championships in New Zealand next year and beyond to the ultimate goal of Olympic success.”