GOLDEN SCULLERS AT SCS AND HOLY TRINITY

Left to Right: Laura Fisher, Anna Ardiel

Anna Ardiel of SCS and Laura Fisher of Holy Trinity continued their winning ways in the Senior Women's Single events by capturing gold in the Senior Women's 63 kg Single and Senior Womens Single events at the 27th Annual South Niagara Rowing Club High School Invitational in Welland on the weekend.

Ardiel of Normandale started things off on Saturday by posting the fastest time in the Senior Women's 63 kg Single heats to advance to the finals. In the final, Ardiel finished first 6.5 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. On Sunday, both Fisher and Ardiel rowing up in the heavyweight category for more racing experience - won their heats to advance to the finals. In the final, Fisher captured gold and Ardiel silver.

According to coach Susan Fairley, Laura had a commanding lead nearly 4 boat lengths of open water. The real race was for second and it was exciting to watch Anna fight for it! After the race, Ardiel commented, At the first 500 meters I found myself fifth and I just decided to pick off a boat at a time over the next 1500 meters. I had nothing left at the end. It felt good!

Rowing against high school crews drawn from across Ontario, New York and Ohio, Valley Heights, Port Dover, SCS and Holy Trinity had a total of 16 entries and advanced to the semi finals in two events and finals in 7 events. Ross Fairley of Port Dover CS and Nick Ryerse of SCS placed fourth and sixth respectively in the Senior Men�s 72kg Single finals after having advanced through heats. Nick Ryerse also combined with Robbie Puddy in the Senior Men's Double to advance to the finals where they placed sixth.

Kayla Horvath of Holy Trinity advanced to the finals in the Junior Women's Single event where she placed fourth. Horvath then combined with Laura Fisher to race in the Senior Women's Double event where they advanced to the finals and placed fourth overall. Krista Csoff, Amy Barnim, Kristina Atchison, Emily Main and Danielle Archer rowed in the Senior Women's Cox Four event and advanced to the semi-finals where they placed sixth.

Local crews are off to London next weekend to compete at the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association Regatta while Laura Fisher and Ross Fairley will be competing in Princeton New Jersey at the American high school rowing championships.