Saint John Telegraph Journal - Thursday, June 19, 1996

By Grant Kerr

Telegraph Journal

Ed Winchester

SAINT JOHN - Although he admits he has "big shoes to fill,' East Riverside's Ed Winchester is more than willing to try them on for size.

Winchester Tuesday made the national men's lightweight fours rowing team after qualifying last week for the eights in London, Ont.

The 26-year-old, who is training out of London, finished first overall in fours and eights, having dominated in the "seat racing matrix", an even in which the top eight qualifiers row in pairs, trading off for a new partner in each of four races.

Two weeks ago there were 20 racers, 12 of whom were eliminated over the course of the qualifier.

Each racer's time is averaged out and Winchester finishing on top. The only Olympic silver medallist remaining from last year's Olympic four's team, Jeff Lay, didn't even finish in the top four.

Winchester had mixed feelings about beating the medallist.

"It was tempered with a bit of . . ." Winchester trailed off. "I felt a little bit sorry for Jeff."

"I knew I did well. I was confident. It didn't feel right beating him. It felt a little different, but you can't think that way in sports."

This weekend is the first big test when Winchester and crew take off to Tennessee for the U.S. elite nationals.

"There was quite a legacy left from the last tour. If we can come anywhere near what they did, it would be great."

Then after that it's a jump to Lucerne, Switzerland, July 7. Winchester is betting the eights will fare well, possibly even winning some gold over the course of the summer. In 1993 the eights squad won the gold at worlds, placing third last year. This year, the fours squad is more of a long shot, he said.

That being said, he praised the team overall. "It's such an excellent crew there is not much difference between the top four and bottom four."

Then, in September it's the world championships in France.

Winchester has now been rowing for a decade. In some ways, it seems like a long time. In other ways, he is feeling like he's just getting going, hitting his stride.

"The older you get, the stronger you get," Winchester said, who is a couple of years younger than Lay.

Lay has likely been suffering the come-down after the Olympics and he still earns huge respect from the likes of Winchester.

"Nobody thinks Jeff is a lesser athlete for not making the four," Winchester said. "He is committed to the eight and he's excellent."