Six Local High School Crews Medal and Final in London

Three local high school crews came home with silver or bronze medals and three others reached the finals at the Doug and Sam Wells Western Ontario Secondary School Rowing Championships held in London on Saturday. 

“As a club, we were particularly pleased with our showing in the Men’s Single event” said Jim Dover Vice President Rowing. Robbie Puddy of the SCS Sabres captured silver and Ian Edwards of the Holy Trinity Titans captured bronze in a very tight race that could also have seen Terry Lovegrove from SCS in the six boat final. Lovegrove drew the fastest heat of the day and narrowly missed advancing even though his heat was thirty seconds faster than one of the other heats. Lovegrove, Puddy and Edwards have been participating in the Junior National Team preparation program and will be trying out for the national team immediately following the Canadian high school championships next weekend.

Competing in the Senior Women’s pair event against heavyweights, the lightweight crew of Hannah Anderson and Samy Fairley from Port Dover CS also advanced to the final where they placed third. Anderson and Fairley will be competing next week at the Canadian Championships for the first time in their lightweight category. According to Coach Sue Fairley, “Racing up in the heavyweight category has toughened them up. I think they believe in themselves now and are ready for the Canadian championships.”

 Also advancing to the finals were Kayla Horvat of the Holy Trinity Titans in the Senior Women’s Single event, Mike Veltri and Tim Haviland in the Senior Men’s Double event as well as Tyler Wilson and JJ Ferrier in the Senior Men’s Pair event.

 Crews from Holy Trinity, Valley Heights, Simcoe and Port Dover will be wrapping up the high school rowing season at the Canadian Secondary School Association regatta being held in St. Catharines next weekend.

Pictured from left to right: Finalists Tyler Wilson, Samy Fairley, Hannah Anderson, JJ Ferrier, Robbie Puddy, Mike Veltri, Tim Haviland and Ian Edwards  (absent from photo Kayla Horvat)

 The Silver Lake Rowing Club was established in 1999 to promote the sport of rowing across Norfolk and Haldimand. Valley Heights Coach Larry Wiebe (519-586-7307), Holy Trinity Coach Sonja Bedic (519-42428-2018) and 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.