2019 World Rowing Championships

Canada wrapped up the World Rowing Championships today with a big boat qualified for Tokyo 2020 and top 6 in three Olympic events.

The women’s eight secured a berth for Tokyo 2020 with a 4th place finish (6:03.04) in the hotly contested battle against New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Top five boats secured their spot for Tokyo with Great Britain earning the fifth spot.

The Canadian women’s eight crew includes Lisa Roman (Langley, BC), Nicole Hare (Calgary, AB), Christine Roper (Ottawa, ON), Susanne Grainger (London, ON), Hillary Janssens (Cloverdale, BC) and Caileigh Filmer (Victoria, BC), Avalon Wasteneys (Campbell River, BC), Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski (Calgary, AB), and coxswain Kristen Kit (St. Catharines, ON).

The women’s double A Final featured Canada’s Andrea Proske (Langley, BC) and Gabrielle Smith (Unionville, ON) finishing 0.63 seconds behind the Netherlands in 4th place. New Zealand and Romania finished 1st and 2nd respectively, with all crews previously qualifying their boats for Tokyo.

“The result was really tight. We executed our plan well so you can’t be disappointed in that,” said Smith. It is obviously frustrating to be that close but Olympic qualification was definitely a highlight this week. It’s going to fuel a pretty good winter of training.”

Rio Olympian Carling Zeeman (Cambridge, ON) raced against the world’s top, finishing 6th place (7:29.70), and proudly securing a berth for Canada in the A/B semi-finals in the women’s single.

“It’s a stepping stone,” explains Zeeman. “The Olympics are obviously the goal. I’m sixth in the world – not exactly where I want to be, but it gets me to the next step. I feel pride in that accomplishment.”

The men’s eight raced their B Final this morning, crossing the line in 2nd (5:42.09) ahead of Italy and Russia. The crew of Will Crothers (Kingston, ON), Mackenzie Copp (London, ON), Taylor Perry (Ancaster, ON), Gavin Stone (Brampton, ON), Benjamin De Wit (Port Alice, BC), Martin Barakso (Nanaimo, BC), Cody Bailey (St. Mary’s, ON) Jakub Buczek (Burnaby, BC) and coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie (London, ON) finished 8th overall at this event.

Matt Buie (Duntroon, ON) and Trevor Jones (Lakefield, ON) contested the C Final in the Men’s Double finishing 2nd (6:23.64) in the C Final and 14th overall.

Loren Pearson (Kamloops, BC) finished 6th in the PR1 Men’s Single finishing 18th overall in his first international regatta.

Canada takes home a total of three 2019 World Rowing Championship medals and six boats confirmed for Tokyo 2020. Subject to 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Selection Camp invitations, Canada may consider seeking additional qualification spots, in May 2020, during the final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland and the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Gavirate, Italy.

Canadian Crews – World Rowing Championships

PR2 Men’s Single
Jeremy HallEdmonton Rowing Club
PR2 Mixed Double
Jeremy HallEdmonton Rowing Club
Jessye BrockwayGorge Rowing Club
PR3 Men’s Pair
Andrew ToddNorth Star Rowing Club
Kyle FredricksonUniversity of Victoria Rowing Club
PR1 Men’s Single
Loren PearsonVictoria City Rowing Club
Women’s Eight
Lisa RomanMiddlesex-Western Rowing Club
Susanne GraingerLondon Rowing Club
Nicole HareCalgary Rowing Club
Avalon WasteneysUniversity of Victoria Rowing Club
Kasia Gruchalla-WesierskiCalgary Rowing Club
Hillary JanssensUniversity of British Columbia Rowing Club
Christine RoperOttawa Rowing Club
Caileigh FilmerUniversity of Victoria Rowing Club
Kristen Kit (coxswain)University of British Columbia Rowing Club/St. Catharines Rowing Club
Women’s Pair
Hillary JanssensUniversity of British Columbia Rowing Club
Caileigh FilmerUniversity of Victoria Rowing Club
Women’s Four
Madison MaileyBurnaby Lake Rowing Club
Jennifer MartinsWestern University Rowing Club
Stephanie GrauerBurnaby Lake Rowing Club
Sydney PayneBrentwood College Rowing Club
Women’s Double
Andrea ProskeVictoria City Rowing Club
Gabrielle SmithKnowlton Rowing Club
Lightweight Women’s Double
Jill MoffattWestern University Rowing Club
Jennifer CassonKingston Rowing Club
Lightweight Women’s Single
Ellen GleadowBurnaby Lake Rowing Club
Women’s Single
Carling ZeemanSudbury Rowing Club
Spares
Kristin BauderMiddlesex-Western Rowing Club
Morgan RostsRidley Graduate Boat Club
Rebecca ZimmermanUniversity of Victoria Rowing Club
Laura CourtSt. Catharines Rowing Club
Men’s Pair
Conlin McCabeBrockville Rowing Club
Kai LangerfeldUniversity of Victoria Rowing Club
Men’s Eight
Benjamin de WitUniversity of British Columbia Rowing Club
Cody BaileyMicMac Aquatic Center
Gavin StoneQueen’s University Rowing Club
Jakub BuczekBurnaby Lake Rowing Club
Mackenzie CoppWestern University Rowing Club
Martin BaraksoBrentwood College Rowing Club
Taylor PerryLeander Boat Club
Will CrothersKingston Rowing Club
Lesley Thompson-Willie (coxswain)London Rowing Club
Men’s Double
Matthew BuieSt. Catharines Rowing Club
Trevor JonesPeterborough Rowing Club
Lightweight Men’s Double
Maxwell LattimerUniversity of British Columbia Rowing Club
Patrick KeaneVictoria City Rowing Club
Lightweight Men’s Single
Aaron LattimerUniversity of British Columbia Rowing Club
Spares
David De GrootBrock University Rowing Club
Tim SchrijverBrock University Rowing Club