A mixed junior rowing crew from Vernon secured a silver finish in the Delta Deas Scholastic Regatta over the May 27 weekend. Over three hundred boats competing on a 1000-metre course.
Comprised of young rowers from the Okanagan and Thompson regions, including three members from Vernon and one from Shuswap, the composite team competed in various boat classes at the Delta Scholastic Regatta for high school students.
Notable performances were witnessed in multiple categories, including the silver Junior Mixed Double race featuring Sierra Munroe as the stroke and Jonas Masys as the bow. They were competng with three hundred other boats on a 1,000 metre course.
The team demonstrated their versatility by participating in the U15 Men’s Singles, U17 Women’s Singles, U17 Women’s Doubles, U19 Mixed Coxed Quads, and U19 Men’s Singles races.
On Saturday, May 27, Peter Masys competing in the U15 Men’s Singles category. Although he achieved an impressive 11th place overall during the Heats, he narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final.
The Junior Mixed Coxed Quad race proved to be an extraordinary adventure in itself. The crew, Sierra Munroe (16), Peter Masys (14), Jonas Masys (17), and Heidi Miege (16), were competing in the oldest boat of the regatta, surpassing the average age of the crew by more than two times. To navigate the race, the team borrowed a coxswain from St. George’s School team. While the quintet (including the coxswain) in this heavy quad delivered a commendable performance, finishing second in their heat, it was not sufficient to advance to the final round.
In the U17 Women’s Singles race, Munroe reached the semifinal, falling short of a spot in the final by a mere three seconds. Munroe had to do what is called “hot-seating” in rowing: she jumped from a quad into a single right on the dock, without any rest after the previous race.
Saturday racing did not end there. Munroe and Masys showcased their skills and determination in the Junior Mixed Double Scull race, securing a confident silver finish.
The second day of the regatta saw Jonas Masys finishing in fourth place in the highly competitive Men’s Single Sculls Race, which included a total of 29 entries. Meanwhile, the composite U17 Women’s Double crew, consisting of Sierra Munroe (Vernon) and Heidi Miege (Shuswap), unfortunately did not progress into the final round.
Since 1997, Vernon Rowing and Dragon Boat Club is a hub for rowers and paddlers on Swan Lake. It consistently strives to provide affordable opportunities for local community to engage in physical activity and improve their physical and mental well being. For more information, visit vernonrowinganddragonboat.com.
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bowen.assman@vernonmorningstar.com
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