Canadian Para rowing crews headed to finals at world championships

PLOVDID, Bulgaria – Canada’s Para rowing PR3 mixed coxed four team grabbed the last spot for Saturday’s final with a second-place finish in their repechage heat on Thursday at the world rowing championships.

Victoria Nolan of Toronto, Bayleigh Hooper of Peterborough, Ont., Andrew Todd of Ottawa, Kyle Fredrickson of Victoria and coxswain Laura Court of St. Catharines, Ont., clocked seven minutes and 25.550 seconds, more than 20 seconds ahead of their closest pursuers. Australia won the heat in 7:20.720.

On Wednesday, Todd of Ottawa and Fredrickson also won the opening heat in the PR3 men’s pair to secure the best lane for the final on Friday. 

They earned two gold medals at the 2018 Para Rowing International Regatta in Gavirate, Italy this spring and Todd was part of the fours team that took bronze at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

“We were looking forward to put the last few months of training together to the test and see where we have improved since racing in Gavirate,” said Todd. 

“We’ve spent more time together in the boat and have made some adjustments to our stroke to allow us to really dial in on the feel of the boat when we race.”  

Jeremy Hall of Edmonton dominated his repechage in the PR2 men’s single sculls placing first to secure his spot in the A-Final on Friday. 

Tracy Van Asseldonk of Delta, B.C., made her world championship debut placing third in her PR1 women’s single heat to advance to the repechage on Friday. 

For more information and streaming:  www.worldrowing.com.