McGill crew strikes gold in Rideau river regatta

By Earl Zukerman

OTTAWA – Four McGill boats came away with top-notch performances at the head of the Rideau rowing regatta on Saturday.

Kirk Vilks, a political science sophomore from Pinawa, Man., captured the men’s lightweight single in 22 minutes, 49 seconds and McGill won the men’s heavyweight eight open category, finishing first in 18:08.

The lightweight women’s eight placed second in their event, finishing in 20:19.

Not to be outdone by the more experienced crews, the novice women’s eight won their race in 24:08

The men’s heavy eight was composed of Montrealer Christian Dabrowski in the stroke seat, followed by Jonathan Menivier of Laval, Que., Adam Hart of Montreal, Jordan Howard of Smiths Falls, Ont., Evan de Jonghe of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Travis O'Farrell of Unionville, Ont., Michael Ross of Scarborough, Ont., and Montreal native Brent Hopkins in the bow seat. The coxswain was Anthony Genna of Oakham, Mass.

The lightweight women’s crew included Emma Sheehan of St. Catharines, Ont., Jennifer Allan of Montreal, Jackie Labine of Toronto, Mary McDonough of Rochester, N.Y., Marie-Christine Razaire of Montclair, Vt., Vanessa Harman of Ottawa, Livia Collistro of Victoria, B.C., and Jen Leavitt of Toronto. The coxie was Emily Kinsler of Concord, N.H.

McGill is scheduled to be at the Head of the Trent regatta in Peterborough, Ont. next weekend.