Guelph RC Head Coach’s Report

12^th August, 2009

With the 127^th Royal Canadian Henley coming to a close this past Sunday, the official Summer Competitive Season for most of our rowers has concluded.  Some of our masters will be heading down to the US Masters Championships and a handful of our top Seniors and Juniors continue to train hard towards a new RowOntario Nomination Time Trial on 23^rd August to secure a birth at the National Rowing Championships this November in London.  And through it all, the Recreational and Novice rowers have continued to practice and some are preparing now to compete this weekend at the Tops and Bottoms Regatta at the Don Rowing Club in Mississauga.  Katrina has been working diligently to ensure that they get the right amount of coaching and are ready to row well!

Having been in Guelph for two months now, I am pleased with how much has been accomplished with so little change in anything but attitude.  This is the one area where I believe that I have had a significant impact.  The impression I had on arrival of an open and welcoming community has been all that I had anticipated and I have found the members of Guelph’s Rowing Community engaging and eager to learn and grow as rowers and contributors within the Club.  I have also developed as a coach since my arrival, finding new ways to approach new and familiar situations.  The success of our rowers this summer is encouraging within the long term plan for the GRC.  Yet, I cannot take the credit for much of it since races are won and lost in the winter through commitment to a good training plan and pushing through the daily grind of erging, lifting weights, and cross training.  Those who follow a training plan have more potential for speed.  Meeting that potential is what the summer is all about.  This summer, our rowers strove to meet their potential and the results speak for themselves—an auspicious sign of Guelph’s ascendance!

Guelph rowers won medals at every single regatta we attended, from our own CORA in June right through to the Ontario Masters and Open Championships and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta this past week.  Highlights include the perennially successful Masters C Women’s Double of Tanya Lonsdale and Fiona McCrea winning Henley Gold and James White’s second place Henley finish in the Masters H-I Single.  The Younger rowers also rose to the challenge and accumulated three Ontario Medals, two of which Gold for Jakub Kwiesincki in the Under23 Lightweight Men’s Single and Sean Peterson in the Junior Women’s Single.  Sean Went on to place fourth at Henley in that same event, joining Liam, who raced to a fifth place in the Men’s Single Dash, as the only Guelph Henley finalists!  Although only these two raced through to the finals, many advanced into the Semi-finals and raced well, representing Guelph with great distinction.  The overall impression of our Club within the greater rowing community in Ontario and Canada was significantly enhanced by our strong performance at both championship regattas.  One more Guelph appearance at Henley also reflects favourably upon our Club as a supporter and promoter of Elite level rowing.

I have had the pleasure of working with some of the developing and future National Team women over the past few years and last year put together a composite crew that raced as Leander to win the Championship Women’s Eights.  This year with many new rowers involved they raced as Guelph and repeated the win, claiming victory in the Premier Women’s event at the Royal Canadian Henley, beating out top crews from across Canada and the United States.  With the exception of one UofG graduate, these rowers have never lived in Guelph, but each of them proudly donned a “G” adorned jersey to represent our club and set a standard of what can be achieved by our own rowers in the coming years.  The message they sent out with this win is that Guelph is ready and determined to win Henley Gold.  The plaque that will hang on our boat house wall will inspire our own oarsmen and -women to match that accomplishment and achieve something truly special—a Championship win for a completely Guelph crew!  The bar is set and our own must purposefully prepare to meet this challenge.

 

Results for the Henley and the Ontarios follow below:

Respectfully Submitted,

Alan Oldham

Head Coach, Guelph RC

Royal Canadian Henley Regatta 2009

Henley Island, St. Catharines, Ont.

FINALISTS:

HENLEY GOLD: Championships Women's Eights with Coxswain: Lindsay Sferrazza (bow--St. Catharines RC), Emily Beers (2--Westen-Midlesex RC), Stephanie Bochenek (3--Leander BC), Cristy Nurse (4--Ottawa RC), Nora Griffiths (5--Ottawa RC), Liz Demers (6--Ridley Grad BC), Jody Schuurman (7--Western-Midlesex RC), Allison Doodeman (stroke--St. Catharines RC).

HENLEY GOLD: Masters C Women’s Double Sculls: Fiona McCrae (bow), Tanya Lonsdale (Stroke)

SECOND: Masters H-I Men’s Single Sculls: James White

FOURTH: Junior (Under 19) Women's Single Sculls: Sean Peterson (Guelph CVI)

FIFTH: Senior Men’s Single Sculls Dash: Liam Brennan (UofG Alumnus)

SEMI-FINALISTS:

FOURTH: Junior Women’s Double Sculls: Sean Peterson (bow—Guelph CVI), Danielle Naylor (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

FOURTH: Under 17 Men’s Single Sculls: Kellen Brenchley (Centennial CVI)

FOURTH: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls: Jakub Kwiecinski (bow—UofG), Mark Henry (Stroke—UofG)

FOURTH: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls: Jakub Kwiecinski (UofG)

SIXTH: Senior Women’s Double Sculls: Julia Bruzzese (bow—UofG), Danielle Naylor (Stroke—Centenial CVI)

SEVENTH: Junior Men’s Doubble Sculls: Justin Michael (bow—Centennial CVI), Fraser Banks (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

HEATS:

THIRD: Masters D Men’s Single Sculls: Jim Tardiff

FOURTH: Junior Men’s Quadruple Sculls: Even Cranstone (bow—Centennial CVI), Kellen Brenchley (2—Centennial CVI), Justin Michael (3—Centennial CVI), Fraser Banks (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

FOURTH: Senior Men’s Double Sculls: Liam Brennan (bow—UofG Alumnus), Anti Wesley-James (Stroke—Guelph CVI)

FOURTH: Senior Men’s Single Sculls: Liam Brennan (UofG Alumnus)

FOURTH: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls: Mark Henry (UofG)

SEVENTH: Senior Women’s Pairs: Keren Griffioen (bow—Laurentian U Alumna), Catherine Barrington (UofG Alumna)

 

ROWONTARIO CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA:

Welland, Ontario

FINALISTS:

GOLD: Junior (Under19) Women’s Single Sculls: Sean Peterson (Guelph CVI)

GOLD: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls: Jakub Kwiecinski (UofG)

BRONZE: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Fours without Coxswain: Jakub Kwiecinski (bow—UofG), Justin Michael (2—Centennial CVI), Mark Henry (3—UofG), Fraser Banks (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

FIFTH: Junior Men’s Quadruple Sculls: Even Cranstone (bow—Centennial CVI), Kellen Brenchley (2—Centennial CVI), Justin Michael (3—Centennial CVI), Fraser Banks (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

SCRATCH: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls: Jakub Kwiecinski (bow—UofG), Mark Henry (Stroke—UofG)

SCRATCH: Senior Men’s Double Sculls: Liam Brennan (bow—UofG Alumnus), Anti Wesley-James (Stroke—Guelph CVI)

HEATS:

THIRD: Under23 Women’s Double Sculls: Jessica Williams (bow—Trent U), Hannah Lewis (Stroke—Trent U)

THIRD: Junior (Under19) Men’s Double Sculls: Justin Michael (bow—Centennial CVI), Fraser Banks (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

THIRD: Junior (Under19) Men’s Double Sculls: Even Cranstone (bow—Centennial CVI), Kellen Brenchley (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

THIRD: Under23 Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls: Mark Henry (UofG)

THIRD: Junior (Under19) Men’s Single Sculls: Even Cranstone (Centennial CVI)

THIRD: Junior (Under19) Women’s Double Sculls: Jess Wilson (bow—St. John’s Kilmarnock), Xenia Reinfels (Stroke—Centennial CVI)

FOURTH: Junior (Under19) Men’s Single Sculls: Anti Wesley-James (Guelph CVI)

FOURTH: Junior (Under19) Men’s Pairs without Coxswain: Cody Jackson (bow—Centennial CVI), Wesley MacDougall (Stroke—Centennial)

FOURTH: Under17 Men’s Single Sculls: Kellen Brenchley (Centennial CVI)

FOURTH: Senior Women’s Pairs without Coxswain: Karen Griffioen (bow—Laurentian Alumna), Catherine Barrington (Stroke—UofG Alumna)

FIFTH: Under23 Women’s Single Sculls: Julia Bruzzese (UofG)

SIXTH: Senior Men’s Single Sculls: Ian Turner (UofG)

DNF: Senior Men’s Single Sculls: Liam Brennan (UofG Alumnus)

RowOntario Provincial Championship Regatta 2009--Welland, Ont.
DAY 2



The Guelph Rowing Club won a second gold medal to concluded the second and final day of racing at the 2009 RowOntario Provincial Championships in Welland, Ontario on Sunday.  Jakub Kwiecinski (UofG) stroked a powerful race in the Under23 Lightweight Men's Singles event, leading the entire way, handilly winning both his heat and final.  This was Jakub's first Provincial Gold medal--the first gold for any male rower at the Guelph Rowing Club--which he can add to his bronze from the day before.




Jakub's win brings the Guelph medal count to three at this year's Provincial Championships following Saturday's Gold medal performance from Sean Peterson (Guelph CVI) in the Under19 Women's Singles and a Bronze medal win for the Fraser Banks (Centenial CVI)-stroke seat, Mark Henry (UofG)-3 seat, Justin Michael (Centenial CVI)-2 seat, and Jakub Kwiecinski-bow seat.

The Under19 Men's Quads of Fraser Banks-stroke seat, Justin Michael-3-seat, Kellen Brenchley (Centenial CVI), and Even Cranstone (Centenial CVI)-bow seat placed a solid fifth in the final, racing longer and faster than in the heats where they placed third to advance.

Three medalist contending crews were forced scratches due to injury: Under23 Lightweight Men's Doubles of Mark Henry (UofG)-stroke seat and Jakub Kwiecinski-bow seat; Senior Men's Doubles of Anthony Wesley-James (Guelph CVI)-stroke seat and Liam Brennan (UofG alumnus)-bow seat; Under19 Women's Doubles of Xenia Reinfels (Centenial CVI)-stroke seat and Sean Peterson-bow seat.

Guelph crews that did not advance to the finals were the Under23 Lightweight Men's Singles of Mark Henry; Senior Men's Singles of Liam Brennan; Senior Men's Singles of Ian Turner (UofG); Under19 Women's Doubles of Xenia Reinfels-stroke seat and Jessica Wilson (St. John's-Kilmarnock School)-bow seat; Senior Women's Pairs of Catherine Barrington (UofG)-stroke seat and Karen Griffioen (Laurentian Univ. Alumna)-bow seat; Under17 Men's Singles of Kellan Brenchley; Under19 Men's Pairs of Wesley MacDougall (Centenial CVI)-stroke seat and Cody Jackson (Centenial CVI)-bow seat; Under19 Men's Singles of Even Cranstone (Centenial CVI); Under19 Men's Singles of Anthony Wesley-James; and Under23 Women's Singles of Julia Bruzzese (UofG).

The high level of performance of our Guelph oarsmen and -women at this competition demonstrates the dedication and commitment to rowing and racing well that is required to compete with the best in the province.  In a week the fastest Guelph rowers will be competitng at the 127th annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, which attracts top racers from accross Canada, the United States, Mexico, and South America, with several over-seas competitors attending from Europe, Africa, and even Austrailia.  The Canadian Henley is truely something special and getting the chance to race at that level and advance from through Heats, Semi-finals, and Finals towards one gold medal is the culmination of months and years of preperation on and off the water.

The training doesn't even stop after this, however, with only two weeks for some of Guelph's best preparing to race at the RowOntario Provincial Nomination Trials that will nominate competitors to race at Rowing Canada's National Championship Regatta taking place in London this coming November.  Even those who don't go to these trials will be training hard toward their University Pre-season Training Camps (UofG begins training on 29th August), and Fall Youth Rowing for our high school competitors.

RowOntario Provincial Championship Regatta 2009--Welland, Ont.
DAY ONE

Two crews representing the Guelph Rowing Club took home medals today after a long and wet day of racing at the RowOntario Provincial Championships in Welland, Ontario.  Sean Peterson (Guelph CVI), after a solid first place finish in her morning heat, advanced to the final of the Under19 Women's Single Sculls, winning gold with a personal best performance.

The Lightweight Under23 Men's Coxless Fours of Fraser Banks (Centenial CVI)-stroke seat, Mark Henry (UofG)-3 seat, Justin Michael (Centenial CVI)-2 seat, and Jakub Kwiecinski (UofG)-bow seat raced hard to a bronze medal in their afternoon final.  Both Sean and the Lightweight Men had to wait an additional hour and a half before racing during storm delays while the course was shut down due to thunder and lightening.  These are the first medals at the RowOntario Sr. Championships that Guelph rowers have won and is a sure sign of some good things to come in future seasons and even tomorrow on the second day of racing and next week at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ontario in the coming weeks.

Also racing today for Guelph Rowing Club were Hannah Lewis (Trent U)-stroke seat, and Jessica Willams (Trent U)-bow seat, who placed third in their heat in the Under 23 Women's Double Sculls.  Two crew, raced in the heats for the Under 19 Men's Double Sculls: Fraser Banks-stroke seat with Justin Michael-bow seat, and Even Cranstone (Centenial CVI)-stroke seat with Kellen Brenchley-stroke seat.  Both crews placed well in the heats.

Everyone who raced today is staying in Welland overnight to compete tomorrow on the second and final day of these Provincial Championships.  They will be joined by several other Competitors from the Guelph Rowing Club, all of whose races run tomorrow.


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