Competitive Programs

High School Programs

There was only one high school affiliated with the DRC in 2007. The Uxbridge Secondary School, in Uxbridge, recruited and trained a woman’s cox four and quad for competition in the high school events.  The crews started training in early April at the DRC site on Lake Scugog at Port Perry.  Most areas of the province have very active high school rowing programs including the Toronto, Hamilton. and St Catherine’s/Niagara regions. Each year the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Championship Regatta is held on the Henley race course in St Catherines.

The Durham Rowing Club together with the support of local high schools is looking to increased participation from Durham high schools in this very high profile regatta in 2008. The Club is now actively encouraging participation by area high schools in competitive rowing.  Any High School in the Durham Region, who wishes to provide rowing as a school sport for their students are encouraged to contact the Durham Rowing Club for information.

Summer Competitive Rowing

Training for this program commences at the end of the High School Season, last week of May 0530-0730 each week day morning and continued to mid August. Although there were only six taking part in this program, they trained extensively in the doubles and singles.  Four of the six went to the Ontario Rowing Championships, and although finishing out of the medals they all gained experience and had an enjoyable experience.  All are members of the Durham Rowing club and in season row for their respective universities, Ottawa, Trent, Queens, UofT and UOIT.  The open competitor category is open to anyone who wishes to train, to row and compete in open events.

We hope to expand the open competitor part of our program if there is sufficient interest from local competitors and university students who are in the area for the summer months.

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Competitive University Rowing Program

The 2008 season will be the third at the Durham Rowing Club for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) Varsity Ridgebacks Rowing Program. In the inaugural program, the “Varsity 2006” there was 25 Varsity Athletes.  In the “Varsity 2007” rowing season there were 34 rowers and 3 coxswains. Optional Dry land winter training was provided by Coach Thekan, in the UOIT facilities and at the boathouse as the season progressed.
 
During the first season, at the Novice level, the team won two gold medals, and during our second year  the crews won three golds, one silver and a bronze, all at the novice level.  The crews still have to win a varsity medal, but given the fact this has only been their second year of rowing, competing against established universities, they have done very well. University training on the water commenced at the end of August and was completed the first week of November. Any UOIT student who is interested in rowing for the university may contact the Head Coach at the Rowing Office on the second floor of the UOIT Athletic Complex.

Master’s Program

Although a limited Master’s Program was offered to the DRC membership in 2007.the club is looking to expand its Master’s competition program during the summer of 2008 under the guidance of Coach Brian Gardiner. There are many opportunities for Master’s rowers to compete in regattas throughout the summer and early fall.