BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND – The next generation of Olympic hopefuls showed their potential on the international stage over the weekend at the Olympic Hopes regatta in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The sprint CanoeKayak regatta provides U15, U16 and U17 athletes high quality international race experience. A total of 24 countries competed and Canada finished fifth overall. Olympic Hopes has been identified as a key competition along the podium pathway for CanoeKayak Canada’s junior athletes.
In Women’s Canoe, Anne Sophie Lavoie-Parent of the Trois-Rivières Canoe Club wrapped up the weekend with a total of four medals. She won two gold medals in the U17 Women’s C1 for the 200 and 500 metre distances. She also picked up a silver in the U17 C1 1000m and paired with club mate Béatrice Giguère to win the U17 Women’s C2 500m. Giguère had a double-medal weekend with a bronze in the U17 Women’s C1 1000m.
Lucas Turnbull of Balmy Beach finished the weekend with three medals. He finished second in the U16 Men’s C1 1000m to capture the silver medal. He also paired with Isaac Finkelstein of the Rideau Canoe Club to win the gold medal in the U16 Men’s C2 500m, after pulling away from the Polish crew in the final hundred metres of the race. They also won a bronze in the U16 Men’s C2 1000m.
The U17 Men’s C4 crew of Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe), James MacPhee (Sackawa), Daniel MacDonald (Mic Mac), and Foster Salpeter (Pointe-Claire) won two medals with a silver in the 1000m distance and a bronze in the 200m distance.
Canada had several other impressive performances amid strong competition. A full compilation of results from the finals is shown below.
Summary of Results (Finals)
| Athlete (Club) | Event | Result |
| Isaac Finkelstein (Rideau), Lucas Turnbull (Balmy Beach) |
U16 Men’s C2 500m | 1st Gold medal |
| Anne Sophie Lavoie-Parent (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C1 200m | 1st Gold medal |
| Anne Sophie Lavoie-Parent (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C1 500m | 1st Gold medal |
| Anne Sophie Lavoie-Parent (Trois-Rivières), Béatrice Giguère (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C2 500m | 1st Gold medal |
| Anne Sophie Lavoie-Parent (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C1 1000m | 2nd
Silver medal |
| Lucas Turnbull (Balmy Beach) | U16 Men’s C1 1000m | 2nd Silver medal |
| Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe), James MacPhee (Sackawa), Daniel MacDonald (Mic Mac), |
U17 Men’s C4 1000m | 2nd
Silver medal |
| Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe), James MacPhee (Sackawa), Daniel MacDonald (Mic Mac), |
U17 Men’s C4 200m | 3rd
Bronze medal |
| Isaac Finkelstein (Rideau), Lucas Turnbull (Balmy Beach) |
U16 Men’s C2 1000m | 3rd
Bronze medal |
| Béatrice Giguère (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C1 1000m | 3rd
Bronze medal |
| Lucas Turnbull (Balmy Beach) | U16 Men’s C1 500m | 4th |
| Béatrice Giguère (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C1 500m | 4th |
| Anna Negulic (Maskwa), Jewelia Orlick (Cascades) |
U17 Women’s K2 200m | 4th |
| Béatrice Giguère (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Women’s C1 200 | 4th |
| Olivier Courchesne (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Men’s K1 200m | 4th |
| Aidan Messenger (Burloak), Scott Braddon (Rideau), Gabor Sarkozi (Pointe-Claire), Olivier Courchesne (Trois-Rivières) | U17 Men’s K4 200m | 4th |
| Anna Negulic (Maskwa) | U17 Women’s K1 200m | 5th |
| Anna Negulic (Maskwa) | U17 Women’s K1 500m | 5th |
| James MacPhee (Sackawa) | U17 Men’s C1 200 | 5th |
| Anna Negulic (Maskwa) | U17 Women’s K1 1000m | 5th |
| Ashley Card (Maskwa), Jane Girgulis (Calgary) |
U16 Women’s K2 200m | 6th |
| Grace Whebby (Mic Mac), Jewelia Orlick (Cascades), Ashley Card (Maskwa), Jane Girgulis (Calgary) | U17 Women’s K4 200m | 6th |
| Daniel MacDonald (Mic Mac), Foster Salpeter (Pointe-Claire) |
U17 Men’s C2 500m | 6th |
| Daniel MacDonald (Mic Mac), Foster Salpeter (Pointe-Claire) |
U17 Men’s C2 200m | 6th |
| Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe) | U17 Men’s C1 1000m | 6th |
| Isaac Finkelstein (Rideau) | U16 Men’s C1 1000m | 6th |
| Isaac Finkelstein (Rideau) | U16 Men’s C1 200m | 8th |
| Isaac Finkelstein (Rideau), Lucas Turnbull (Balmy Beach) |
U16 Men’s C2 200m | 8th |
| Grace Whebby (Mic Mac), Jane Girgulis (Calgary) |
U16 Women’s K2 1000m | 8th |
| Foster Salpeter (Pointe-Claire),
Daniel MacDonald (Mic Mac) |
U17 Men’s C2 1000m | 8th |
| Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe) | U17 Men’s C1 200m | 9th |
| Connor Fitzpatrick (Senobe), James MacPhee (Sackawa) |
U17 Men’s C2 500m | 9th |
Ranking by Country
- Hungary
- Germany
- Poland
- Czech Republic
- Canada
CanoeKayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. The organization’s vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions. From supporting clubs to developing a competitive National Team, CanoeKayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada’s heritage.
-30-
Media Contact:
Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca