Canada Cleans Up at Duisburg

The Canadian men’s eight wins by open water
© FISA

Canada opened their international season at the Wedau Regatta in Duisburg, Germany with an unquestionable show of intent for this season. Although having just stepped off the plane earlier this week the Canadians handled the cross-wind conditions well and came out of their winter training season with wins in the men’s eight, four and pair as well as the women’s pair and double.

The women’s pair of Darcy Marquardt and Buffy Williams set the ball rolling by winning the women’s pair and were followed later on the first day of racing by Canada’s lightweight double of Mara Jones and Fiona Milne winning the open double ahead of Ukraine and Germany.

But the biggest shock came when the World Champion Canadian men’s eight won convincingly over Germany’s national crew. By 750-metres Canada had a boat length lead over Germany and although new stroke for the Germans, Klaus Rogge tried to catch them, the Canadians continued to increase their lead finishing a clear six seconds ahead of Germany.

Germany were dealt a further blow when their men’s four was soundly beaten by Canada with the blow resounding deeper as Canadian coach Mike Spracklen completed the hat trick with his final crew of Kyle Hamilton and Dave Calder ? both members of last year’s men’s eight ? finishing first in the men’s pair.

Keenly observing from the sidelines, head coach for Great Britain, Juergen Grobler, must have been wondering if Spracklen was on track to outdo his Sydney Olympics double win of the men’s eight and four.

The shining light for Germany finally came when their women’s eight recorded a strong win over Canada’s eight in the two-boat race.

Duisburg’s finish line
© FISA

Ireland’s lightweight double Olympic hopefuls Sam Lynch and Geariod Towey held off Belarus to win the open double while countryman, Sean Casey finished first in an unimpressive men’s single field.

Olympic Champion, Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus had no competition in the single when she opened her racing season with an easy win over Poland’s lightweight champion, Julia Michalska.

The national teams will now continue onto Munich, Germany where they will race in the second 2004 BearingPoint World Cup.

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