Vikes rowers shine at Royal Canadian Henley Regatta

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The University of Victoria Vikes had a strong showing at the 141st Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, held Aug. 3–10 in St. Catharines, Ont., earning multiple podium finishes against some of the top amateur crews in North America.

The Henley Regatta is one of the continent's most prestigious summer rowing events, drawing elite club and university athletes preparing for the upcoming fall racing season. For many Canadian rowers, winning a Henley medal is considered a rite of passage.

On the men's side, Vikes captain Giancarlo DiPompeo added another Henley gold to his trophy case in the U23 men's single, taking home the W.G. Bill Crawford Memorial Trophy. Quinn McCoy and Simon Whittiker also struck gold in the U23 men's pair, then joined forces with Gabe Dyer and Conor Dillon to win silver in the U23 men's four. The U23 four also added a bronze in the 500m dash.

DiPompeo, Kai Bartel, and Sacha Jansen-Ruden earned silver in the men's eight while racing for their home club, St. Catharines Rowing Club.

The Vikes' women's lightweight crews also delivered standout performances. In the U23 lightweight double, Kate Watson and CURC Female Athlete of the Year Sai Sai Faubert earned silver. The U23 four of Sophia Regrosa, Watson, Elena Masyte, and Zoe Scogna finished second, while Regrosa and Masyte teamed up for silver in the U23 lightweight pair. Scogna and Elizabeth Shortell rounded out the results with a bronze in the same event.

With just three months until the Canadian University Rowing Championship in Montreal, the Henley results provided a valuable benchmark for the Vikes as they head into the fall championship season.
 
RESULTS

Mens U23 Single 
1. Giancarlo DiPompeo 

Men's U23 Pair
1. Quinn McCoy, Simon Whittaker

Men's U23 Four
2. Quinn McCoy, Simon Whittaker, Gabe Dyer, Conor Dillon

Men's eight 500-metre dash
3. Mia Bergen, Eli Baughen, Andrew De Yonge, Marko Pavlovic, Andew Timlin, Nathan Keogh, Henry Purdon, Gabriel Cinq-Mars, Kiefer Wensauer

Womens Under 23 Lightweight Double
2. Kate Watson, Sai Sai Faubert 

Women's U23 Four
2. Sophia Regrosa, Kate Watson, Elena Masyte, Zoe Scogna

Womens U23 Lightweight Pair
2. Sophia Regrosa, Elena Masyte
3. Zoe Scogna, Elizabeth Shortell