Thursday, October 28, 1999

Times Globe staff

With just four weeks until the Canadian Olympic team trials, Rothesay rower Ed Winchester is in top form.

Winchester was part of the light- weight men's eight crew that finished second at the Head of the Charles, one of a series of Head Races held in Boston. The 4,8-kilometre event saw the Canadian boat cross the line seven seconds behind the U.S. national team, which won the World Championships in St. Catharines, Ont., in August.

"We had a really good race and things are feeling really good," said Winchester, who has returned to Victoria, B.C., to continue training.

At the end of next month, Winchester and rowing partner Ben Storey of the Yukon will attempt to earn an invitation to the winter training camp for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Between 12 and 14 rowers will be vying for six to eight spots from which the lightweight men's, four crew will be selected in the spring to go to Sydney, Australia.

"Ben and I have been the fastest pair right now," he said. "And while it doesn't count for a lot, it shows we’re moving the boat well and rowing better than we ever have. Now it's just down to dotting the 'I's and crossing the 'T's. Winchester, who underwent surgery to remove a herniated disc from his back a year ago last Friday, said his back is around 90 to 100 per cent of what it was before the injury.