Four gold medals for local rowers after weekend competition

The Olympic Basin in Montreal hosted the Eastern Rowing Association Championship, where Kingston rowers continued their strong season bringing home four gold medals.

Despite the hot and humid weather, eight local rowers who train at the Kingston Rowing Club competed in various events on July 15 and 16, 2023.

According to a release from the Kingston Rowing Club (KRC), on Saturday, Josie Steele led start to finish to dominate the U15 Women’s Single over 500 meters in a time of 1:56.0. Later that day she hopped in a double with Lena Kreho to win the U17 Women’s Double in similar fashion, with a time of 4:13.0 over 1,000 meters.

Local duo Oeifa Cowan and Kaie Bain finished second in the U17 Women’s Double, with a time of 4:19.0. Earlier in the day, Cowan placed second in the U17 Women’s Single followed by Farah Zaza in third.

Bed Dewal placed fifth in the men’s U17 single in a time of 4:07.5 over 1,000 meters.

Also on Saturday, Alex Duggan and Bryn Bain (U19 Single) and Duggan and Bain (U19 Double) competed in time trials to qualify for Sunday finals. According to KRC, the time trial format involves all U19 and older singles and doubles completing a timed 1,900 meter course to determine the order of racing in six boat finals — i.e. top six times to A final; next six times to B final etc. with medals awarded to the fastest crew in each of the U19, U23 and open divisions.

On Sunday, over 2,000 meters, Duggan won gold with the fastest U19 Single time of 8:24.6 and later teamed with Bain to win gold in the U19 Double at a time of 7:57.0.

KRC noted that crews from as far away as Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and New Hampshire competed over the two days.