NRC 2016
With the Rio Olympics now a distant memory, the focus turns to Tokyo and the next crop of young athletes who are determined to represent their country at the 2020 Olympic Games. Here in Canada, the 2016 National Rowing Championships served as an opportunity for aspiring young athletes to show Rowing Canada’s brass that they have the ability to contest for a seat at the Olympics in four years time. In Burnaby, British-Columbia, Alberta athletes did just that and coaches from across the country took notice.
In the Women’s pair event, 6 Alberta athletes comprising 50% of the field competed in the “A” final looking to be crowned “National Champion”. Olympian Nicole Hare of Calgary, Alberta and her partner Hillary Jansens from British-Columbia led from start to finish to take home gold and in the process Nicole became the first Alberta athlete to take home a senior championship gold medal at this event. Jessie Loutit and her partner Amelie Schumacher of Calgary, Alberta were 0.3 seconds off of Olympian Lisa Roman and her partner from Ontario to take home the Bronze medal becoming the first all Alberta crew in the history of the National Rowing Championships to take home a senior championship medal. Kasia Gruchella-Wesierski and Colleen Nesbitt from Calgary, Alberta narrowly missed out on a medal finishing in fourth place overall, while Karen Lefsrud of Calgary, Alberta and her partner Sarah Black from Ontario finished in 6th place. Olivia McMurray and Jessica Sevick racing in their first regatta together finished in 5th place in the “B” Final.
Elana Taub from Calgary, Alberta saved her best race of the regatta for the “B” final to finish in 8th place overall in the lightweight women’s single. Jasmine Chase, also from Calgary was just off the pace to finish in 12th place overall. Meanwhile, Gregor and James Allan of Edmonton, Alberta finished in 12th place overall in the Men’s Pair event.
Let the results show that Alberta’s 2016 NRC Team was our most successful to date with a record 13 Alberta athletes racing in an “A” or “B” Final. When asked to comment about the results from this year’s NRC event, Alberta co-coach Tim Fleming was speechless when he stated “ “. Needless to say an incredible performance by Alberta athletes.
CANADA SUMMMER GAMES AND WINTER CAMP
The ARA is beginning to believe that the erg standards necessary to garner an invite to the 2017 Winter Camp and later Selection Camp might have been too lenient. Consider that another three Alberta athletes hit the requisite erg standard in the month of September giving them an automatic invite to the ARA’s winter camp in February 2017. To date the ARA knows of 9 men and 9 women who have now hit the standard and are aware of several others who are nearing in on the mark.
As a reminder, athletes who wish to garner an invite to the ARA’s winter camp and later the 2017 selection camp must hit the following erg standards.
Heavyweight Men 6:30
Lightweight Men 6:50
Heavyweight Women 7:30
Lightweight Women 7:50
Athletes wishing to attend the 2017 Winter Camp will have until January 31, 2017 to achieve the requisite standard to be deemed eligible. The ARA will have further details surrounding the 2017 Winter Camp in 3-4 weeks time. (Note: Attendance at the winter camp should not be construed as representing Team Alberta at the 2017 CSG. The 2017 CSG selection camp will be utilized to determine selections to the 2017 CSG Team).
WELCOME
The ARA congratulates Amanda Cinnamon on being selected as the new ERC / UART Head Coach. Amanda has been a long time athlete within Edmonton having competed for the ERC at the numerous regattas’ around the country. In the new role Amanda will be swapping a shell for a dory and a stroke coach for a megaphone and we at the ARA are pleased to witness the transition. Congratulations Amanda.
UNIVERSITY SEASON
The 2016 Canadian University Rowing Season is now in full swing and Alberta schools are busy preparing for the heart of their regatta schedule in the weeks ahead. Next week Lakeland College and the Universities of Alberta and Calgary will pack their boats and head to Burnaby Lake for the 2016 Western Canada University Rowing Championships. The Western Canada University Rowing Championships (WCURC) features athletes enrolled in post secondary institutions across the four western provinces.
Following WCURC’s athletes will return home for a two-week breather before heading to Welland Ontario for the Canada University Rowing Championships (CURC). The CURC event features the best university rowers from across the country vying for the title of national champion in 6 separate events for men and women (Open 1x, Lightweight 1x, Lightweight 2x, Lightweight 4+, Open Pair, Open Eight).
Best of luck to those competing in these events!
Rowing Tidbits
- RADAR Reminder. A reminder to all ARA athletes that RADAR submissions are due November 20th. The ARA encourages all athletes to complete the battery of tests that are required as part of RADAR and post their scores on the on-line database.
- Congratulations to the Calgary Rowing Club on their 50th anniversary celebrations, which took place on September 17th in Calgary, Alberta.
- The 2016 Alberta Rowing Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being held on Saturday (November 19h) in Red Deer, Alberta. This represents your opportunity to have a say in provincial matters.
Upcoming Events
- ARA AGM November 19th– Red Deer Alberta
- RADAR Submissions Due November 20th