Medalists Share in $20,000 at National Rowing Championships’ First Day of Finals


Winners of the senior events shared in a $20,000 purse today at the National Rowing Championships (NRC) on Fanshawe Lake in London, Ontario.

In the senior women’s pair, 2008 Olympians Sarah Bonikowsky (UVic) of Orangeville, Ont. and Ashley Brozozowicz (Western Rowing Club) of Toronto, Ont. decisively won their race in 7:24.15 (2000m), each picking up $1,100.

"There was some high-quality racing at this regatta," said Bonikowsky, who was in the 2008 women's eight that finished fourth at the Games in Beijing. "I didn't have to race at the Nationals, but my goal is to race internationally in the pair event and I'm based here in London, so it was great to get right back into a boat after the Olympics.” Most of Canada’s Olympic rowers decided to take a post-Games break from competition.

Elizabeth “Buzzy” McCord (SCRC) of Toronto and Stephanie Morrison (Nelson RC) of Nelson, B.C. took silver in 7:35.07 and $600 each; and Sarah Waterfield (SCRC) of Kingston, Ont. and Sandra Kisil (SCRC) of Hamilton, Ont. were bronze medalists in 7:36.08.

Isolda Penney (Kingston RC) of Kingston, Ont. won the women's single in 7:43.18. She was followed by the University of British Columbia's Audra Vair of Ottawa, Ont. in 7:47.65 and Alison Madlung (Calgary RC) in 7:54.36

2008 World Cup gold medalist Lindsay Jennerich (UVic) of Victoria, won a battle to the line in 7:48.02 with Lindsay Forget (Western RC) of Aurora, Ont. who finished second in 7:48.45. Katya Herman (Kingston RC) of Sudbury, Ont. was third in 7:53.31 in this lightweight women’s single race.

In the men's single, Fraser Berkhout of St. Catharines, Ont. (7:00.80) won over 2004 Olympian Chris Jarvis (7:04.58) and fellow St. Catharines rower James Dietz (7:06.50).

In the lightweight men's category, Jake Breuer (Western RC) of London, Ont., beat Nick Pratt (Kingston RC) of Kingston, Ont., and Tim Colson (Western RC) of London, Ont. in the single. The winning time was 7:13.30.

The lightweight men's pair went to Kingston's Rares Crisan (Kingston RC) and Morgan Jarvis (Kingston RC) in 06:54.80.   In the battle for second and third in this event, Quebec's Renaud Garon-Gendron and Vincent Cote took silver in 06:56.82 while Terry McKall (Edmonton RC) of Edmonton, Alta. and Tim Myers (UVic) of Penticton, BC, just missed out, finishing in 6:56.92 and taking bronze.

Chris Aylard (Victoria City RC) of Victoria, B.C. and Doug Csima (Leander Boat Club) of Oakville, Ont. took the men's pair title in 06:50.44.  Aylard was a member of the Canadian Under 23 men's eight that picked up a silver at the 2008 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Germany.  (Results including Under-23 and Junior (Finals) in pdf to download.) 

Canada Games’ crews and some larger boats will race tomorrow morning on Lake Fanshawe.

Full results here .
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Jackie Skender - Rowing Canada Aviron
519.200.1835 (mobile)