Weekend Wrap: Pidgen Places 10th at World Rowing Coastal Championships
As many Canadians were visiting with their families during Thanksgiving weekend, the Don Rowing Club’s Sarah Pidgen was busy placing in the top-10 in the world at the 2023 World Rowing Coastal Championships.
Competing for the second weekend in a row in Barletta Italy, Pidgen placed fifth in the second heat of the women’s solo event on Friday in a time of 23:59.97 to qualify for the A Final. After a day off from solo competition on Saturday, she returned on Sunday and placed a solid tenth out of 18 competitors in a time of 34:38.05. Monika Dukarska of Ireland won the gold medal in a time of 32:09.17, followed by Diana Dmychenko (Azerbaijan) in second and Jessica Berra (France) in the bronze medal position.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for Pidgen, who was fresh off competing in the World Rowing Beach Sprint Championships from Sept. 28 – Oct. 1. She competed in the women’s solo and mixed double at that event, which also took place in Barletta. While the Beach Sprint Championships are more about speed over a short distance, the Coastal Championships are a test of a rower’s endurance as the athletes compete over rough waters in a gruelling 4000m course.
In addition to competing in the solo at the World Rowing Coastal Championships, she also teamed with Aubrey Oldham (Don Rowing Club/Leander Boat Club) in the mixed double. The duo qualified for the B Final in that event with an eighth-place finish in their heat but did not start the final. Also competing for Canada was Quebec’s Charles Hauss, who placed 14th in his heat in the men’s solo.
For full results from the World Rowing Coastal Championships, visit World Rowing
For the full regatta schedule in Ontario, visit the Row Ontario website.
Photo is property of World Rowing.
