High School Rowers Climb to Semi-Finals and Finals in Philadelphia

 Robbie Puddy and Terry Lovegrove of the SCS Sabres and Hannah Anderson and Samy Fairley of the Port Dover Lakers climbed to the finals against some of the best US high school rowers at the 81^st Annual Stotesbury Regatta held last Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia. Two other local high school crews advanced as far as the semi-finals.

 America’s largest high school regatta, “Stotesbury” attracts high school rowers from across the United States. “We send our best to this regatta” said Coach Susan Fairley of the Silver Lake Rowing Club. “All who went time trialed to earn the right to participate. Time standards were set with the goal that performance would be high enough calibre to reach the semi-finals. We exceeded our goal with two crews going on to the finals.” Puddy and Lovegrove competed in the Senior Men’s Double event while Anderson and Fairley were entered in the Junior Girls Double event. Ardiel and Wilson of SCS competed in the Men’s Lightweight Double and Ian Edwards of Holy Trinity was entered in the Senior Men’s Single event.

 At “Stotesbury”, the top twelve crews in each of the events advance to the semi-finals based on a row off. Puddy and Lovegrove posted the fourth fastest time out of twenty crews in the row off to advance to the semi-finals and placed third in the semi-finals amongst six crews to advance to the finals where they placed fourth overall. Anderson and Fairley posted the sixth fastest time out of seventeen crews in the row off to advance to the semis, placed third in the semis out of six to advance to the finals where they placed sixth overall. Ardiel and Wilson placed seventh out of fifteen crews to advance to the semis where they placed fourth and did not advance. Ian Edwards placed twelfth out of twenty five entries to advance to the semis where he placed sixth and did not advance.

 According to Susan Fairley, “This is a regatta where U.S. high schools send their best. It’s stiff competition. But our high school rowers realize they are contenders at a North American level. Most are back next year and are looking forward to a return visit.”

 Pictured from left to right with the Philadelphia sky line in the background: Hannah Anderson, Samy Fairley, Tyler Wilson, Liam Ardiel, Ian Edwards, JJ Ferrier, Robbie Puddy and Terry Lovegrove.

 The Silver Lake Rowing Club was established in 1999 to promote the sport of rowing across Norfolk and Haldimand. Simcoe CS/Port Dover CS Coach Susan Fairley (519-583-0461) can be contacted regarding more information related to high school crews. 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.