More than 250 rowers took to the waters of Quamichan Lake last weekend for Rowing CanadaB次元官网网址檚 2022 National Championships co-hosted by Rowing Canada and the Maple Bay Rowing Club.

It was the first time the central North Cowichan lake B次元官网网址� the future training centre of the Canadian national rowing team B次元官网网址� was used for such an event.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of the biggest regattas thatB次元官网网址檚 hosted in the country,B次元官网网址� MBRC president Susan McDonald said, adding that the event was bigger than MBRCB次元官网网址檚 annual spring regatta.

Nevertheless, McDonald said the regatta ran B次元官网网址渟eamlesslyB次元官网网址� thanks to an amazing group of volunteers.

B次元官网网址淲e were so pleased,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think we had about 90 volunteers: people from our club, parents of the juniors, community members, all kinds of amazing people came to help.B次元官网网址�

Volunteers from as far away as the Lower Mainland and even folks from other rowing clubs on the island pitched in as well.

B次元官网网址淚t was terrific,B次元官网网址� McDonald said.

Rowers from 45 clubs across the nation raced in various singles and pairs events, and two new trophies named after RCA alumni were awarded for the first time to the national champions in the lightweight events.

Both Shawnigan Lake and Brentwood College schools as well as the MBRC all had rowers entered in the event.

MBRCB次元官网网址檚 Brigid Kennedy, 23, earned silver in the lightweight womenB次元官网网址檚 singles race, coming in just behind OntarioB次元官网网址檚 Jill Moffatt for the Wendy Wiebe Trophy.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a new member to us and has been at university and has done a lot of her training away at university,B次元官网网址� McDonald said.

Also competing for MBRC were eight junior members, all either U19 or U17.

B次元官网网址淎 couple of them have only been rowing just over a year but they had to qualify to get in,B次元官网网址� McDonald said. B次元官网网址淎lthough they didnB次元官网网址檛 medal, it was just so fantastic to see them in the fray. They held their own. It was an incredibly competitive regatta. WeB次元官网网址檙e very proud to see them in there.B次元官网网址�

Based on the event the future is bright for rowing in Cowichan now that Rowing Canada is around.

B次元官网网址淲e feel really positive about the presence of rowing Canada here,B次元官网网址� McDonald noted. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been the only club in the area and we have been a small club but now we are definitely growing.B次元官网网址�

McDonald explained that Rowing Canada has brought extra attention to the sport and to the fact that a solid venue exists here.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 attracting coaches, itB次元官网网址檚 attracting athletes, and people are being drawn to it knowing that this is going to be a key location for the national training program,B次元官网网址� she said.

For complete national championship results visit