The host Brentwood College School made history at the 53rd annual Brentwood International Regatta this past weekend in Mill Bay, with a record-setting performance.
The event was especially notable for the Brentwood women's program, which is close to celebrating its 50th anniversary. For the first time in that history, the U15 girls won gold in the 4x+ event. The crew was made up of Isla Powell, Kayla Kazoleas, Phoebe Smith, Zoe Hilyard, and Leiah Lee.
After a 23-year drought, the U17 girls 8+ also won gold. The U17 JV girls took silver in their 8+ race, while the U17 girls 4+ were also second in theirs. In fact, all 21 girls in the U17 program won medals, a testament to the strength and depth of the Brentwood women's program.
It was a big weekend for Brentwood, who also added new boats to their program.
"Thank you to the Henniger family for being here this weekend to christen the Jim Henniger and then present the girls their gold medals after winning their eight race in the newly christened shell," said Brentwood Rowing's Brian Carr.
The regatta also saw the christening of several new shells, including:
• The ACC Carr VIII, in honour of legendary Brentwood coach Tony Carr
• The Mary Jane Crooks
• The Flying Charlie, in memory of the 2016 Brentwood grad
• The Claire Crooks, in memory of Claire, who graduated from Brentwood in 1991
• The Samara Walbolm, in honour of the 1989 Brentwood grad and currently on the board of governors
• The Blair Horn (‘79), former Chair of the Brentwood board and Brentwood’s first Olympic gold medallist (Canada’s Men’s 8+, 1984)
A total of 23 clubs, including 17 from Washington State and Oregon, seven from Vancouver Island, one from Salt Spring, and the remainder from the Lower Mainland, competed in close to 140 total races.
Just one point behind regatta winners Oregon Unlimited, Brentwood placed second overall in team points, with seven golds, six silvers, and three bronze for a total of 16 medals.
The hosts won gold in several events, including the U17 men's 2x, U19 men's 2-, U19 men's 8+, U17 men's 8+, the U17 women's 9+, the U15 women's 4x-, and the U19 women's 63kg 4+. They also picked up silver medals in the novice men's 4x-, novice men's 8+, U19 women's 2-, U19 women's 8+, U17 women's 4+, and U17 women's JV 8+. Bronze medals were won in the U19 women's 2-, U19 men's 4+, and U19 women's 4+.
Other competitors from the Cowichan Valley also had a strong showing. Shawnigan Lake School was 12th overall with four medals, including first in the U19 women's 63kg 2x, second in the U15 men's 4x+ and U19 men's 2x, and third in the U15 women's 4x+. Maple Bay Rowing Club's Hunter Nickerson picked up a silver in the U17 men's 1x.
The next big regatta on the schedule is the 63rd annual Shawnigan Regatta, which will take place at West Shawnigan Lake Park from May 9-11.
