Facing their last chance to qualify for the final in a repechage race in Linz, Austria yesterday, the Canadian crew overtook the Australian boat in the final 500 metres of their 2000-metre race to finish second to the other qualifying team from Poland.
Poland won the race in 5 minutes, 53.94 seconds, followed by Canada in a time of 5:55.32, with Australia placing third in 5:57.37.
“Poland and Australia seemed really focused on getting out fast and responding to what we had planned and did a solid job,” said crew member Paul Amesbury of Ottawa, who is looking forward to a fast final this Sunday. “Australia, however, did not have the sprint that we had going into the last part of the race to hold onto their slight lead, which was fortunate for us.”
Other members of the lightweight eight crew, include Brandon and Kurtis Boyd of Brockville, Guthrie Hurd and Tim Myers of Vancouver, Terry McKall of Edmonton, Nicholas Pratt and Rares Crisan of Kingston and Laidlaw, who is the crew’s coxswain.
This regatta showcases events that are not in the Olympics, as well as Junior boat-classes.
dwiner@mississauga.net
