Canada competes in Commonwealth Rowing Beach Sprints

Four Canadian athletes are set to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprints Championships. The event will take place December 2-4 in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Representing Canada in the Women’s Solo will be Sarah Pidgen who recently finished fourth in the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Saundersfoot, Wales in the Women’s Solo and in the Mixed Double with crewmate Aubrey Oldham. Oldham also had a strong, top-8 finish in the Men’s Solo in Saundersfoot and will represent Canada in the Solo again in Namibia.

The Mixed Double crew will consist of Lorne Thomas, who competed in the 2019 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, and Sandra Farwell (nee Kisil). No stranger to international rowing, as a World Rowing and a Pan Am Games medalist, Farwell will be making her international debut in the discipline of Beach Sprints.

“This will be the second Commonwealth beach sprint event held, after the first was held in Great Britain in 2018,” said Peter Cookson, President of the Commonwealth Rowing Association.  “We are particularly proud to be able to hold this event in Namibia, the first of its’ kind in southern Africa.  We have been fortunate to work with great partners in the Namibian Canoe and Rowing Federation and the Namibian Olympic Committee.  This will leave a great legacy for Namibian rowing and undoubtedly will enrich the lives of all those who are involved in this competition.  We have had a great response from our Commonwealth rowing family for this event and I am truly looking forward to some fantastic performances from our Commonwealth athletes.”

In addition to the event, the Canadian team will be helping local youth try out coastal rowing. The boats for the regatta have been provided to the Namibia Canoe and Rowing Federation, thanks to the support of the Olympic Solidarity Fund and World Rowing, with the goal of creating a coastal rowing legacy for the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund area. The Canadians are excited to be able to support the local community in this way.  

More information is located on https://commonwealthrowing.org/

Canada’s Commonwealth Rowing Beach Sprints Team:

Women’s Solo (CW1x) Sarah Pidgen – Don Rowing Club

Men’s Solo (CM1x) Aubrey Oldham – Leander Boat Club

Mixed Double (CMix2x) Sandra Farwell – Don Rowing Club; Lorne Thomas – Don Rowing Club

Team Manager – Michelle Boss