Kingston rowers bring home multiple medals from national rowing championships

Over the weekend, high school rowers from Kingston participated in the Canadian Secondary Schools Championships in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. Regiopolis Notre Dame Catholic High School (Regi) rowers Alex Duggan and Cole Carter took home gold, silver, and bronze, while Ollie Brennan of Kingston Secondary School (KSS) brought home a bronze medal, as well.

Due to high winds, not all races were completed as scheduled over the weekend, and medals were awarded based on times from the semi-final time trials. According to a release from the Kingston Rowing Club (KRC), this was Regi’s best performance at Nationals since joining rowing in 1980.

Duggan “struck gold” in the Sr. Lightweight 63 kg Women’s Single by winning her semi-final in a time of 11:00.160 over a wind-swept 2,000 meter course on Saturday, according to the release. The six-boat final on Sunday was cancelled due to the winds, resulting in medals being awarded based on times from Saturday’s semi-finals. Duggan finished ahead of St. Michaels Catholic School of Victoria (11:21.180), and bronze medallist Claremont Sports Institute of Victoria (11:31.630).

“Racing at the World Coastal Championships in Wales last fall prepared me for the craziness of today,” Duggan said after winning her gold medal. Duggan completed with Team Canada at the World Beach Sprint Finals in Saundersfoot Wales last October.

Also on Saturday, Duggan and Cole Carter won silver in the Mixed Double with a time of 8:55.440, behind St. Peters High School of Peterborough which finished five seconds ahead of the local duo. Once again, medals were awarded based on semi-final times due to the final being cancelled on Sunday.

On Friday’s 1,500 meter time trial, in a field of 30 boats in the Men’s Senior Single, Carter placed third in a time of 5:38.160 behind E.L.Crossley Secondary School of Welland (5:22.616) and De La Salle of Toronto (5:33.899). Medals were again awarded based on the time trial results since Saturday’s semi-finals and Sunday’s finals were cancelled due to high winds.

On Sunday, in the Men’s Junior Single, Ollie Brennan of KSS won bronze in a time of 9:10.130, behind St. George’s School of Vancouver (9:05.470), and Shawnigan Lake School (8:48.340). Medals were awarded based on semi-final times due to high winds.

Each of the medallists was coached by Brad Brennan who teaches at KSS. “It was rewarding to see two school boards and four schools travel together, cheer each other on, support each other to reach their max potential. John (Armitage, Head Coach at KRC) and I are so impressed with everyone’s dedication over the last six months and the hard work of work of our assistant coaches Sean Whitehall, Walter Saccon and Ian Arthur,” Brennan expressed.