Lloydminster rower Shelby Lane, front, teamed up with Megan Kish from the Saskatoon Rowing Club to win gold in the women’s doubles A-Final at the Western Canada Sprints Regatta in Regina this past weekend. Supplied Photo
The Lloydminster Rowing Club created a wake at the Western Canada Sprints Regatta in Regina on the road to the Canada Summer Games.
Games qualifiers, Elijah Lopez and his brother Jonah along with Liam Gilby and Shelby Lane medaled at Wascana Lake on Saturday while newcomer, Billie Long rowed three times to personal bests.
“Everyone showed very well in this event. We had excellent conditions. It was a clear day with very little wind so great water conditions,” said club president, Michelle Lopez.
Her oldest son, Elijah, teamed up with Connor Dodds from the Regina Rowing Club to win gold in the men’s double-A Final.
Elijah also finished third in the B Final in men’s singles.
A gold medal also went to Shelby Lane who paired with Megan Kish from the Saskatoon Rowing Club in the A Final women’s doubles. A Lane member crew boat also placed third in the A-Final.
A composite crew of Elijah, Jonah, Liam Gilby and Dodds finished second in A Final of the men’s quad.
Gilby and Jonah placed second in the B Final in men’s doubles.
“Billie Long had a great weekend of racing,” said Lopez.
She had a PB in her the single, double and quad competitions
There were four teams from Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon and Lloydminster competing in 1,000m races.
Lopez said the strong showing of Lloydminster rowers will set them up for 2,000m races at the Alberta Open in Calgary July 2-3.
“A lot of it is gaining racing experience and having the opportunity to race after two years of not racing,” she said.
The team is building momentum for the Games in Niagara ON Aug 6-21 with the rowing venue in St. Catherines.
The club trains at Killarney Lake where windy conditions can give local rowers a competitive edge on choppy waters.
“Whenever we go to events we, have that experience of being in rough water,” said Lopez although it was calm in Regina.
“There are some clubs that row on rivers; they never have the water conditions that we have here. Definitely, experience in rough water can be an asset on race day.”
