UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Sunday, September 28, 2008

UOIT Wins Bronze at the Head of the Welland Regatta

Welland, Ont. – The UOIT Ridgebacks Women’s Novice 8 team finished in third place in the finals at the Head of the Welland Five Bridge Classic Regatta to win the university’s first medal of 2008.

The boat consisting of Melissa MacDonald, Gillian Beckett, Allison Jukic, Renei Taylor, Tiffany Hau, Melissa Sobotka, Lauren Dares, Allison Cushing and Valerie Naylor (Coxswain) finished with a time of 22:40.73, just three seconds behind the crew from the South Niagara Rowing Club that finished second.

The Head of the Welland Regatta featured some of the top crews from across North America. Crews from Clemson University, the Detroit Boat Club, State University New York (SUNY) and the Argonaut Rowing Club traveled to Welland to take part in the annual event.

UOIT crews were hampered all day by the lack of experience from their coxswain’s. Due to a late change in the scheduled date, two of the Ridgebacks regular coxswains were unable to attend the regatta, forcing head coach Rob Millikin to put in substitutions. In total, eleven UOIT boats raced on the day, with the best results coming in the Women’s Novice 8 race, a UOIT crew which featured their regular coxswain.

The Ridgebacks will now make a short trip to Peterborough to take part in the Head of the Trent on Saturday, October 4. Fans are encouraged to travel to Peterborough as the site is one the best places to watch the race itself, at the Peterborough Rowing Club. The "Point" and both shores curve around and underneath the bridge at the Trent Library, just before the finish line leaving fans a picturesque view to watch the races.

The regatta boasts over 50 universities and clubs competing with an estimated 1,200 athletes participating over the course of the day, making Head of the Trent the largest single day regatta in North America.

For more information on the regatta including a complete schedule, please visit www.headofthetrent.ca.

- 30 -

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)