Saint John Times Globe - Tuesday, October 21, 1997

By DAVE MacLEAN

Telegraph Journal staff writer

Ed Winchester, shown in front in this file photo, of East Riverside helped the Canadian men’s eights row to a record-setting performance at regatta in Boston over the weekend.

The Canadian men's lightweight eights rowing team redeemed itself after a disappointing effort at the world championships earlier this year by turning in a record-setting performance on the weekend.

The national squad, which includes East Riverside rower Ed Winchester, captured top honours in the Mouth of the Charles Regatta in Boston by shaving 11 seconds off the previous course record. The Canadians posted a time of 14 minutes, 21 seconds to defeat the other 32 crews in the competition.

"Our biggest competition was the American national team and they finished second, six seconds behind us," Winchester said in a telephone interview yesterday from Toronto, where he is enrolled in the journalism program at Ryerson University.

"I don't think we've ever been more 'on' as a crew. It's very exhilarating to be part of an effort like that."

The victory at the prestigious Boston event helped ease the disappointment the Canadians felt after having to settle for a bronze at the worlds in August.

It was the second straight third-place finish in a world championship for the Canadians, who had hoped to improve on their result from a year earlier.

"We were disappointed with our result in France. We went in with high expectations, but on that day we weren't the fastest crew in the world.

"[The weekend triumph] was a good confidence builder for us," the 26-year-old Winchester added. "We went faster than any lightweight had ever gone over that course."

It was also a good way to complete the competitive racing season for the Canadians, who will spend the winter months training toward next season.

Winchester has made no secret of the fact his ultimate goal is to be a member of the Canadian fours crew at the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia.

"It's most likely that the four guys chosen for the Olympic crew will come from our eights crew. That's my goal but the year leading up to it [in this case 1999] is most important in terms of choosing the team.

"Until then, we're just going to try to race as much as we can. There's no reason why we can't keep improving."