The Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) NextGen National Team Selection Camp kicks off today following the 2019 Speed Orders (National Team Trials) hosted by Victoria City Rowing Club (VCRC) from June 14-16.

The open trials event helped determine the rowers invited to the selection camp, which will decide the athletes competing at the 2019 Pan American Games, World Rowing U23 Championships, and U21 Trans-Tasman Regatta crews.

The top three rowers from each A final received a limited-edition RCA pin, presented to them by RCA National Team alumni. Finals began on Sunday morning with Dan de Groot winning the Men’s Single event, followed by Louise Munro winning the Women’s Single event.

In the Pair events, Brett Vilk and Nicholas Tavares claimed first place in the Men’s A final, with Isabel Ruby-Hill and Ivy Elling Quaintance winning the Women’s A final.

The weekend saw a number of tight races, such as the Women’s Lightweight Single A final, which was ultimately won by Jaclyn Stelmaszyk. Joshua King won the Men’s Lightweight Single final.

Four Para rowers also competed at Elk Lake, with Jessye Brockway winning the Women’s PR2 final and Loren Pearson racing as the sole Men’s PR1 rower.

RCA would like to thank VCRC and the local organizing committee and their volunteers for hosting the 2019 Speed Orders, as well as the RCA alumni who attended the weekend’s events.

Full results from the 2019 Speed Orders can be found on RegattaCentral.

The list of athletes invited to this week’s selection camp can be found here.

Those selected to represent Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games, World Rowing U23 Championships, and U21 Trans-Tasman Regatta will be announced following the selection camp next week.

Photo credit: Tom Hawker