Thunderbirds sweep the Vikes at Head of the Gorge

Saturday October 28, 2006

As last year’s winners, the UBC varsity men held poll position for this year’s 5km long Head of the Gorge. Last year’s crew was expected to win with a roster that included Olympians Ben Rutledge, Kyle Hamilton and Rob Weitemeyer. This year the T-Bird lineup was totally new, save for veteran Ben Dove as seven athletes and their coxswain were lost to graduation.

"I know that many thought we would be 'rebuilding' this year with such a large turn over, but this group has been quick to gel and they love to race; anything can happen with these guys," says men's coach Mike Pearce.

Happened it did.

The Thunderbirds held off the attack from the Vikes national-team-laden crew in the first half, then pulled away slightly in the second half to win by 6 seconds. The race was a great confidence builder heading into the Canadian University Rowing Championships being held this weekend in St. Catharines Ontario , where the T-Birds will be looking to defend their National title won last year.

The UBC men's eight was coxswain Adrian Lietch, stroke Brandon Campbell, Tim Love, Ben Dove, Adam Cragg, Graham Harris, Kevin Devlin, Daniel Gaisford, bow Chris Zanieski.

Final times 1 UBC 13:11.02, 2 UVic 13:17.77, 3 UVic JV 14:03.79

The varsity women, emboldened with a one, two finish at the Head of the Fraser Fours two weeks ago, were eager to take on the Vikes in the eight.

The Viking women have not lost the Head of the Gorge in at least the last 15 years -perhaps longer. A determined T-Bird crew started to reel in the Vikes early, closing the starting gap of 20 seconds to less than 10 seconds by the Gorge Narrows . Once the crews were through the Tillicum Narrows the Birds knew they had the race on their hands, but the race now was for the finish line. In the final 500m UBC rowed down the Vikes, passing them and opening up a length before crossing the line first and winning by 26 seconds.

As with the men, the race was a great boost going into the National Championships were UBC will look to unseat the Vikes who won the National Championships last year, reclaiming the title won by UBC in 2004.

UBC women's eight was coxswain Melina Iddon, stroke Nathalie Maurer, Melissa Cory, Ava Storey, Jacqueline Thygeson, Tayna Lahdenranta, Aiden Sisler, Paige Jackson, bow Martha Pierce.

Final times: 1 UBC 15:21.67, 2 UVic 15:47.68, 3> Gorge RC 16:14.71

Walshman Note: As far as I know this is both the only time U.B.C. has won back-to-back at the Gorge in the men's event and the first time the women have ever won! What an enormous achievement and I am sure a sign of great things to come from the program that the Walshman calls home!