Rowers win national title
Kyle Berketo
Issue date: 11/16/04 Section: Sports
In what has become the theme for this year's university rowing season, the weather at the Olympic Rowing Basin in Montréal turned wild when racing began. The windy conditions caused multiple collisions and near collisions, resulting in damage to some of Brock's equipment.
Going into the time trials at the start of the Canadian University Rowing Championships' (CURC) regatta, Brock was two points behind the University of British Columbia (UBC). Through hard work and determination, Brock pushed past UBC to claim the men's title, winning by three points.
"I was confident we'd do well, but I didn't expect to dominate the regatta," said head coach Peter Somerwil.
A first place men's ranking consisting of three gold, one silver and one bronze medal - quite well by any standards.
The first gold medal for Brock went to Jeff McGuffin and Ryan Schmidt, who were initially ranked third in the men's heavy pair. The pair teamed to edge out UBC, who had national team members in their boat. Gold medals also went out to Colm Gribbon in the men's single, as well as Scott Taylor, Drew Scobie, Jon Loek, Derek Gosling and coxy Stephanie Holland in the lightweight men's four.
A silver medal went to the lightweight men's double, themselves being edged out by winners of the Under 23 World Championships held this summer in Poland.
"The fact that we don't have any national team athletes in our boats right now demonstrates the future we have ahead of ourselves," said Somerwil.
Somerwil was clearly pleased with his team's successes this fall, joking that he's set the bar too high for himself for next year.
The women's team also did extremely well this year, finishing fifth at the CURCs, their best finish in over five years. Somerwil attributes this to his mantra of including everyone.
"We can't forget the women this year. They did extremely well and I am proud of them for the time and effort they put in," Somerwil said. "It shows in the standings."
Going into the time trials at the start of the Canadian University Rowing Championships' (CURC) regatta, Brock was two points behind the University of British Columbia (UBC). Through hard work and determination, Brock pushed past UBC to claim the men's title, winning by three points.
"I was confident we'd do well, but I didn't expect to dominate the regatta," said head coach Peter Somerwil.
A first place men's ranking consisting of three gold, one silver and one bronze medal - quite well by any standards.
The first gold medal for Brock went to Jeff McGuffin and Ryan Schmidt, who were initially ranked third in the men's heavy pair. The pair teamed to edge out UBC, who had national team members in their boat. Gold medals also went out to Colm Gribbon in the men's single, as well as Scott Taylor, Drew Scobie, Jon Loek, Derek Gosling and coxy Stephanie Holland in the lightweight men's four.
A silver medal went to the lightweight men's double, themselves being edged out by winners of the Under 23 World Championships held this summer in Poland.
"The fact that we don't have any national team athletes in our boats right now demonstrates the future we have ahead of ourselves," said Somerwil.
Somerwil was clearly pleased with his team's successes this fall, joking that he's set the bar too high for himself for next year.
The women's team also did extremely well this year, finishing fifth at the CURCs, their best finish in over five years. Somerwil attributes this to his mantra of including everyone.
"We can't forget the women this year. They did extremely well and I am proud of them for the time and effort they put in," Somerwil said. "It shows in the standings."
