Weekend Wrap: Early Bird First Regatta of 2022 in Ontario

The Early Bird Regatta lived up to its name over the weekend and became the first outdoor regatta of 2022 to be hosted in Ontario.

The event was hosted on Sunday from its usual home on Henley Island after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The regatta featured high school rowing teams from St. Catharines as well as Niagara region communities such as Beamsville, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Grimsby competing in sprint distance races. A total of 13 high school rowing teams competed in the event which was organized by the St. Catharines Rowing Club.

Eight of the 13 schools competing earned first place finishes in one of the 19 race divisions, led by Ridley College which picked up eight victories. Sir Winston Churchill was next with four first place finishes, followed by Saint Francis High School with two. The event was the first time in two years high school rowers have been able to participate in an organized outdoor regatta, and the rowers lucked out with mostly sunny skies covering the course and a high of 18 degrees.

Women’s Winners:
Senior Women’s 63kg Single 1X: Ridley, 8:15.14
Junior Women’s 2X: Saint Paul, 8:49.92
Senior Women’s 63-kilogram 2X: Saint Michael, 8:16.96
Senior Women’s 2X: Greater Fort Erie, 8:37
Novice Women’s 4X+: Sir Winston Churchill, 8:25.54
Junior Women’s 4X+: Ridley, 8:22.29
Senior Women’s 4X: Ridley, 7:32.42
Senior Women’s 4+: Saint Francis, 8:56.56
Novice Women’s 8+: Sir Winston Churchill, 7:59.77
Senior Women’s 8+: Ridley, 8:45.65

Men’s Winners:
Senior Men’s 1X: Eden, 7:35.74
Junior Men’s 2X: Grimsby, 8:23.36
Senior Men’s 2X: Sir Winston Churchill, 7:56.51
Senior Men’s 72kg 2X: Saint Francis, 7:12.17
Senior Men’s 4X: Ridley, 6:40.83
Senior Men’s 4+: Ridley, 7:47.63
Novice Men’s 4X+: Ridley, 7:56.31
Novice Men’s 72kg 4X+: Ridley, 7:41.32
Novice Men’s 8+: Sir Winston Churchill, 7:19.56

For full results of the Early Bird Regatta please visit Regatta Central.

Photo is property of the St. Catharines Standard.