Peter Walsh

Sports Week

Ed Winchester is a member of the lightweight eights crew.

Ed Winchester of the Kennebecasis Rowing and Canoe Club was a member of the national men's lightweight eights that won a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in Chambry, France over the weekend.

It was the same result the team accomplished at last year's worlds, leaving the Canadians a little disappointed. "We had a good race but many of us are disappointed," said Whitehorse native, and squad newcomer Ben Storey. "We really wanted to win."

"Seven of us in the crew got bronze last year in Scotland," said cox Chris Taylor, from St. Catharines, Ont. "We're really disappointed, not with the race but the result."

Canada had taken an early lead only to have an Australian crew produce a storming second 500.

The result was a blanket finish between Canada, Australia and Britain.

Australia held out to win in five minutes 40 seconds with Britain second in 5:40.03 while Canada finished third in 5:40.91.

Meanwhile, Canada's Emma Robinson and Alison Korn ran away with the coxless pairs title on Saturday.

Following a semi-final scare, the crew didn't just win, they annihilated the Romanian opposition by over six seconds to win gold. Meanwhile, Canada won two silver medals on the last day of competition yesterday, finishing second in the eights and lightweight quadruple sculls.

Korn, Robinson, Buffy Alexander of Toronto, Jessica Gonin of Vancouver, Kristen Wall of Victoria, Dorota Urbaniak of Toronto, Kubet Weston of Tillsonburg, Ont., Laryssa Biesenthal of Walkerton, Ont., and coxswain Lesley Thompson of London, Ont., timed six minutes 7.18 seconds in the eights final, more than four seconds behind the Romanians.

In the lightweight quadruple sculls, Samara Walbohm of Duncan, B.C., Brie Ellard of Regina, Natalie Benzing of Toronto and Renata Troc of London were second in 6:37.16, only .53 of a second behind the winning German crew.

Canada finished fourth in the lightweight double sculls and last in the quadruple sculls.