Local High School Rowers Medal in London

Ben Auld and Eryk Taylor of Simcoe Composite won silver in the Senior Men’s Open Double event at the Western Ontario Secondary School Association Regatta held in London on Saturday. Zac Azzopardi of Holy Trinity captured bronze in the Senior Men’s Single event. Both crews had advanced to their finals by winning their heats.

A significantly reduced local high school rowing contingent has been training on Oakland Pond in Brant County under the coaching of Sue Fairley of the Silver Lake Rowing Club. “We felt that we owed it to Zac, Eryk and Ben to help keep them rowing given all the training they’ve done over the past several years” explained Fairley. “Although we’re not getting the amount of “on water” training in Oakland that we’re used to getting on Silver Lake, their on land training over the winter months is paying off.”

Auld and Azzopardi had also competed in Welland at the South Niagara High School Invitational Regatta two weeks ago in the Senior Men’s 72kg single event. Rowing under poor conditions, Azzopardi won silver. Auld placed second in his heat but did not compete in the final due to bad weather. All three, together with Frankie Millson-Dodds and Robyn Millson from Holy Trinity who are rowing out of the Tillsonburg Rowing Club, will be competing at the Canadian Secondary School Regatta Association Championships being held in St. Catharines this coming weekend.

Pictured from left to right: Eryk Taylor, Zac Azzopardi and Ben Auld

The Silver Lake Rowing Club was established in 1999 to promote the sport of rowing in Norfolk County and surrounding communities. For information regarding high school rowing contact Susan Fairley Head Coach (519-583-0461). To find out more about the Silver Lake Rowing Club, call Jim Dover President, Silver Lake Rowing Club (905-318-5932 ext. 224 / 519-426-5677) or visit our web site at:www.silverlakerowingclub.com.