Best Medal Haul Yet at Ontario Rowing Championships for Silver Lake Crews

Crews from the Silver Lake Rowing Club advanced to the finals in twelve out of sixteen events at the Ontario Rowing Championships last weekend winning one gold, three silver and one bronze medal.

Terry Lovegrove and Robbie Puddy won the club's first Ontario Rowing Championship gold medal in the Under 19 Men's Double event after placing second in their heat to advance to the final. "In the final, we decided to take the lead from the start even if it meant a longer sprint at the beginning" said Puddy. "We fought off challenges from St. Catharines and Ridley all the way down." Lovegrove and Puddy managed to hold on at the finish to win by a quarter of a boat length of closed water in an exciting three boat finish.

Also rowing an exciting race to medal in the final were Kelsea Parker, Chantelle LeMoine, Kristina Frazer and Chaundra Monorome who won silver in the Under 17 Women's Quad event. Earlier, Kelsea Parker had advanced to the finals in the Under 17 Women's Single event where she won bronze. Parker and LeMoine also advanced to the finals in the Under 17 Women's Double event.

Laura Fisher won silver in the Under 23 Women's Single event as did Robbie Puddy in the Under 19 Men's Single event. Ian Edwards also advanced to the final in the Under 19 Men's Single event where he placed sixth. All had to row heats and semi-finals in order to advance to the finals with all races held the same day. "In the heats for the Under 19 Men's Single event, Robbie Puddy and Terry Lovegrove placed first in theirs and Ian Edwards placed second in his to advance to the semi-finals" said coach Sue Fairley. "We nearly had three singles of the six possible in the final!"

Tyler Wilson, JJ Ferrier, Ian Edwards and Terry Lovegrove advanced to the final in the Under 19 Men's Quad event. Ferrier and Wilson had also combined in the Under 19 Men's Pair event to advance to the final. Liam Ardiel and Scott Fairley advanced to the final of the Under 17 Men's Double event while Ardiel also won his heat in the Under 17 Men's Single event to place fifth in the final. Hannah Anderson and Samy Fairley placed fourth in the Under 19 Women’s Pair event final. They also narrowly missed advancing to the finals in the Under 19 Women's Double event by placing fourth in their heat. Ross Fairley and Dave Weber did the same in the Under 23 Men's Double. Earlier, Fairley had advanced to the final in the Under 23 Men's Single event where he placed fifth.

"I overheard a coach from another club describing our club to his rowers as the little rowing club that's good" said Jim Dover Vice President, Rowing. "Our athletes certainly proved that assessment was correct this weekend!"

Silver Lake crews will be wrapping up the competitive season at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta - one of North America's largest regattas - held in St. Catharines from August 7th to 12th.

Photo of Under 17 Women’s Quad Silver Medalists left to right: Kelsea Parker, Chantelle LeMoine, Kristina Frazer and Chaundra Monorome.

The Silver Lake Rowing Club was established in 1999 to promote the sport of rowing across Norfolk and Haldimand. Coach Susan Fairley (519-583-0461) can be contacted regarding the Club Rowing Program. To find out more about the Silver Lake Rowing Club, please call Jim Dover at 519-426-5677 (Vice President - Rowing) or visit our web site at: www.silverlakerowingclub.com

Photo of Under 17 Women’s Quad Silver Medalists left to right: Kelsea Parker, Chantelle LeMoine, Kristina Frazer and Chaundra Monorome.