Looking Ahead to Exciting Finals of the National Rowing Championships

Today the semi-finals of the National Rowing Championships showcased Canada's top rowers in perfect fall rowing conditions in Welland, Ont.

In the men's pair - an event that has many World medalists competing against each other - Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C. and Jake Wetzel of Saskatoon, Sask. took their semi in 6:50.74. Returning National Team athletes Andrew Hoskins of Edmonton, Alta. and Dave Calder of Victoria, B.C. were second in this semi followed by Derek O'Farrell of Unionville, Ont. and Max Lang of Lumby, B.C. The top three pairs move to tomorrow's final.

“It’s always interesting in the small boats where you are racing your teammates,” said Kyle Hamilton, who won gold as part of the men’s eight at the 2007 World Rowing Championships. “It’s a different dynamic. Jake and I have been training together a lot – you want to be rowing with the best possible partner. I’m looking forward to the final and going head-to-head with the other top pairs.”

In the other semi, Kip McDaniel of Cobble Hill, B.C. and Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. won in 7:03.00; followed by Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, Ont. and Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C. and then Jan Tize of Vancouver, B.C. and Dan Casaca of Toronto, Ont.

The women's pair final was determined after races on Thursday and Friday, and will include such top rowers as Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C. and Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B., as well as two-time Olympian Buffy Williams of St. Catharines rowing with Sarah Bonikowsky of Orangeville, Ont., among others.

In the women's single, Isolda Penney of Kingston, Ont., a newcomer to the London Training Centre, won her semi in 8:07.35. Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, Man. followed in this race that saw the top two boats qualify for the final. Krista Guloien of Port Moody, B.C. won her semi in 8:01.00 followed by Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont. to advance. In another semi, Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria (8:08.90) and Peggy Hyslop of Kamloops, B.C. moved ahead.

The lightweight men's pair event saw Iain Brambell of Victoria and Jon Beare of Toronto, both two-time Olympians, win their semi handily in 7:01.88. Also qualifying were the Boyd brothers (Kurtis and Brandon) of Elizabethtown, Ont.; and Simon Gowdy of Westmount, Que. and Trevor Young of Toronto, Ontario.

Tomorrow, these lightweight pairs will face the top three finishers in the other semi - Liam Parsons of Thunder Bay, Ont. and Mike Lewis of Victoria; Nicholas Pratt of Kingston, Ont. and Josh Metcalfe of Walkerton, Ont.; and Terry McKall Edmonton, Alta. and John Haver of Saskatoon, Sask.

The lightweight women's single final will include Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S., who won her semi today in 8:04.47, Lindsay Jennerich of Victoria, Sheryl Preston of North Delta, B.C., Melanie Kok of St. Catharines, Ont., Lindsay Forget of Aurora, Ont. and Camille Brillon of Edson, Alta.

"It's been great to be back in Ontario and racing," said Kok, who picked up a bronze medal at the World Championships in the lightweight single this year and won her semi today in 8:12.11. "The Worlds really helped with my confidence, and there is a great group of lightweight women to train with right now and we keep pushing each other every day."

The men's single final will include Rob Weitemeyer of Coquitlam, B.C. (a semi-final winner), Ryan Slate of Kingston, Ont., Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C., Malcolm Howard of Victoria (semi winner), Brent Holmes of Peterborough, Ont. and up and comer Fraser Berkhout of St. Catharines, Ont.

The lightweight men's single also promises an exciting final with Cam Sylvester of Caledon, Ont, winning one semi in 7:30.59; and Tim Colson of London, Ont. winning the other in 7:33.22. They will be joined by Andrew Borden of Toronto, Ont., Tim Myers of Penticton, B.C., Paul Amesbury of Ottawa, Ont. and Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. in the final on Sunday morning.

Events for Canada's top junior rowers (in singles and pairs) are also held at this regatta on the South Niagara Rowing Club course in Welland. The Canadian University Rowing Championships finished yesterday. Full results and a schedule of Sunday’s races can be found at:

http://www.rowingcanada.org/competition/nrc/