Weekend Wrap: Oldham and Pidgen Place 4th in Beach Sprints

A pair of Ontario rowers just missed the podium over the weekend at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals as Aubrey Oldham (Leander Boat Club) and Sarah Pidgen (Don Rowing Club) came in fourth place in the mixed doubles category.

The Beach Sprints took place in Wales’ Pembrokeshire National Park at the Saundersfoot beach and harbour from Oct. 14-16. Oldham and Pidgen, who were competing in their third consecutive World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, earned their spot in the semifinals by winning their quarterfinal race against Italy. They lost their semi-final race to Great Britain to wind up competing for the bronze medal against France, where they fell just short of a medal by six seconds to place fourth. Pidgen also placed fourth in the women’s solo after the finals were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. Results from the second round of competition were used to determine the medalist. Oldham bowed out of the men’s solo in the quarterfinals after being defeated by the eventual bronze medalist from Finland.

Six other boats were action at the event as Elena Sati (Cambridge Rowing Club / Don Rowing Club) and Alex Duggan (Kingston Rowing Club) teamed together in the U19 women’s double, Dennis Ovidyenko (Don Rowing Club) competed in the U19 men’s solo. Sati and Ovidyenko competed in the U19 mixed double, Duggan raced in the women’s solo and Beckett Della Siega and Alexander Joiner, both from Victoria City Rowing Club, raced in the U19 men’s double. The U19 men’s and women’s double both qualified for the quarterfinals but were unable to advance to the semifinals.

Meanwhile in St. Catharines, the university rowing season continued with the Brock Invite which was held on the Henley Course on Saturday. Unfortunately, the weather wreaked havoc on the Henley Course which led to cancellations throughout the day after the regatta began in the morning. The university rowing programs will now regroup over the next two weeks and prepare for the OUA Rowing Championships, which will take place from the same venue on Saturday, Oct. 29.

For full results from the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, visit World Rowing.
For more information on the Brock Invite visit RegattaCentral.

For the full regatta schedule in Ontario, visit the Row Ontario website.

Picture is property for Rowing Canada Aviron