Vancouver Island-flavoured Team Canada rowers win UK regatta

Racing in Shawnigan Lake School colours, Canadian senior national team members Shannon Kennedy, Grace Van denBroek, Marilou Duvernay-Tardif and Katie Clark made up the Women’s Quad that won Princess Grace Challenge Cup at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta July 2-7 in Henley-on-Thames.

The Women's Quad won in a time of 7.49, ahead of a boat from Lausanne-Sports Aviron, Switzerland/Shawnigan Lake School that featured another Canadian.

"Notably, the boat they beat included Carling Zeeman, a two-time Canadian Olympian," said a report from Rowing Canada. "It was a unique and exciting race, as some of the Canadian team members had recently competed alongside Zeeman at the final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta, adding an interesting dynamic to the competition."

It's tradition for the world-class rowers to compete not under their country's banner but for a school or club meaningful to them and Rowing Canada and Shawnigan Lake School have had a partnership for many years. Last year the Canadian lightweight duo of Jill Moffatt and Jenny Casson also wore Shawnigan Lake School colours for the race, unexpectedly outpacing the British double from Twickenham Rowing Club and Leander Club to take the woman’s double sculls event.

Also last year, the Canada’s Women’s Eight wore the colours of the Maple Bay Rowing Club as a tribute to Maple Bay rower Ric Tull who died earlier in the summer while rowing on Quamichan Lake.

The 2023 crew of Kirsten Edwards, Alexis Cronk, Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski, Morgan Rosts, Avalon Wasteneys of Campbell River, Jessica Sevick, Brentwood College School graduate Sydney Payne, Kristina Walker, and cox Kristen Kit went on to win the Remenham Challenge Cup, Canada’s first win in the Remenham since 2015.

The Women's Quad wasn't the only Canadian group of four to win. With a time of 7.53, the Canadian senior national team's Women's Four of Piper Battersby, Lea Till, Shaye dePavia, and Morgan Rosts won the 2024 Town Challenge Cup over the Leander Boat Club ‘A Boat’.

Overall Canada had seven boats competing at the regatta under Canadian club colours, while Canadians competing for other countries also found success.

"Crews were tested against strong competition, challenging conditions, and the pressure of racing with close spectators and cameras broadcasting all over the world," said Dane Lawson, a coach at National Training Centre. "The crews did a great job sticking to their racing process and this should be a really positive experience and a stepping stone towards future international performances."

Dubbed "the best 2,112 metres of rowing in the world" the Henley is a bucket-list race for some but an annual challenge for others.