St. George’s School in Vancouver was the site of the Western Canada Indoor Rowing Championships on Feb. 5, and four members of the South Cariboo Rowing Club were there to compete.
All participants completed a timed 2,000-metre distance on a stationary rowing machine.
Jon Sortome took a silver medal in the 55-60 age class with a time of 6:59, and Jack Jenkins won silver in the 60-65 age class with a time of 7:17.
Lauren Sortome placed fourth in U19 competition with 8:01, and Jill Matlock competed in the U17 division, clocking 8:23 for fifth.
Ryan Takagi, a former club member, originally from Canim Lake, also competed at the championships and took a bronze medal in U23 competition.
He currently rows for the University of British Columbia (UBC), and according to Jenkins, is expected to make the UBC varsity squad this year.
All except Jenkins posted personal bests at the competition, and he says they have been training since November for the event.
“We use indoor rowing machines like the kind you see in fitness centres. We set up a training program for everyone and had various tests during our 16 weeks of preparation.
“Everyone had improved over time and had personal bests for their own race.”
There were about 120 participants at the competition.
Club members will continue to train during the remaining winter months and anticipate travelling to the Lower Mainland in March for a couple of races on the water.
