Evening Times-Globe, August 6, 1981

Henley Regatta

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Kennebecasis Rowing Club of Renforth advanced to the final in the women's four competition here Wednesday at the 99th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

The Kennebecasis crew of Carolin Demers, Denise Pelletier, Kathy Webb, Maureen Flood and coxswain Kathy Wallace on its 1,000-metre elimination heat in three minutes 59.22 seconds.

Heather Hattin made the most of an unexpected opportunity to highlight opening day action by winning her qualifying singles race.

"I was supposed to be scratched from this race," said Hattin, representing Dons Rowing Club of Mississauga, Ont. "I asked my club to scratch my name because I raced in Montreal during the weekend and I didn't think I would be here in time.

"Besides, I'm concentrating on the junior double. That's the one I want to win."

Hattin, 20, won the lightweight singles title at the Canadian Rowing championships in Montreal last weekend, but had to decide to skip the singles here in order to devote her full attention to winning two doubles event with clubmate Daniele Laumann.

"When I got to the club house and saw they hadn't crossed my name off the entry list, I rode it anyway," she said.

Hattin overpowered six other scullers to win the 1,000-metre heat in four minutes and three seconds -the second fastest time of the six heats.

Shelley Donald of the Ridley Grad Boat Club of St. Catharines had the fastest qualifying time (4:01.30).

Also making it to the final today were Francine Champoux (4:03.870), Marie-Claude Gaudet of Bouchierville, Que. (4:05.57), Marie-France Bernard, also of Bouchierville (4:14.62).