Two KRC members reach medal podium at Henley

Sports Week

ST. CATHARINE'S, Ont. - Katie Reyenolds and Stacey Norwood both reached the podium to lead the Kennebecasis Rowing Club at the Royal Canadian Henley.

Reynolds finished second in the junior women's singles final on Saturday after winning her semi-final race on Friday. Norwood was third in the women's singles 500-metre dash after finishing second in her qualifying heat.

"Certainly my goal coming into the meet was achieved," said Norwood, who reached the podium for the first time in three Henley appearances.

The Henley is one of the largest rowing events in the world with almost 4,000 rowers from across North America and Europe competing.

"This regatta has given me a lot of confidence heading into this weekend," Norwood said.

Members of the Kennebecasis Rowing Club are training in Montreal this week in preparation for the Canada Cup on Saturday and Sunday.

It's a competition Reynolds, for one, is looking forward to after what she considers a disappointing result in St. Catharines. "I really wasn't pleased with how I finished," said the silver medallist. "It was not a good race for me."

Meanwhile, KRC member Mike Owens was part of two fourth-places finishes at the Henley.

Owens won his junior men's singles semi-final before settling just out of the medals in Saturday's final while he and crewmates Ian Edwards, Tristan Camus and Duncan Beattie were fourth in yesterday's junior men's quad after winning their qualifying heat on Friday.

"I'm really pleased with the results," said Owens. "I didn't expect to come so high [and] I feel very confident going into this weekend."

Andrew Munro and Drew Simson also reached a final at the Henley, finishing sixth in Saturday's senior B men's pair event.

In other action, Olympics-bound rowers Chris Davidson, Gavin Hassett, Jonathan Beare and Iain Brambell couldn't resist the chance to get into one last race before flying to Australia.

It certainly helped Rothesay's Ed Winchester, an alternate for the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

The four lightweights, who depart tomorrow from Toronto, slid into an eight, at the Royal Canadian Henley: Regatta yes- afternoon, and their wealth of experience- helped a hastily assembled crew win the featured race for the Craig Swayze Memorial Trophy that closed the five-day regatta on Martindale Pond.

They joined Winchester, Anthony Shearing, Mike Simonson, Ben Storey and coxswain Kim Calder to share in the victory.

"We were going to take the day off but we enjoy the atmosphere in St. Catharines," said Brambell. "It's unbelievable to give something back to the community and our sponsor."

The entry was labeled eNorthern.com, which is an E-mail designation used by one of the sponsors of the Olympic four.

The St. Catharines Rowing Club led all clubs with 12 gold medals during the regatta.

Katherine Haimes and Carrie Stasiak of the host club, and Crystal Culp and Carolyn McMillan of the South Niagara R.C. of Welland each won three gold medals.

Liliana Cazac and Angela Cazac of the Ridley Grads Boat Club of St. Catharines won their senior double sculls final, while Americans Dan Beery and Matt Prechtal won the men's final.

In senior lightweight pairs, Kirk Henderson and Darcy Usborne of the Brock University R.C. captured the men's championship.