GNS Students’ Shine at Royal Canadian Henley Regatta

By Sarah Jones On August 3, Stella Fraser, Jack DesBrisay, Sally Jones and Ronen Somogyi headed off with almost 30 of their Victoria City Rowing Club teammates to the 137th annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ontario. Despite the heat and humidity – not to mention the electrical storm delays—these four GNS athletes excelled on the Martindale Pond 2km course, helping the Vic City Rowing Club place 5th in the Regatta’s efficiency standings. Stella Fraser raced in the Women’s Under-17 Double and came 4th in her heat. She also participated in the Women’s Under-17 Eight event, flying through the heats and the semi-final races. Stella’s U17 Eight won gold at this prestigious regatta, coming home with the Algoma Central Corporation Trophy! Jack DesBrisay rowed in the Men’s Under 19 Cox Four event and came 3rd in his heat. He also was in the Men’s Under-19 Eight event, making it through the heats and the semi-finals to place 6th in a hard-fought final. Sally Jones rowed in the Women’s Under-19 Double and placed third in the final after some intense competition in the heats and semi-finals. She also participated in the Women’s Under-19 Quad event where she and the other U19 Quad members brought home gold, winning the Thomas G. Gannon Memorial Trophy. Ronen Somogyi raced in the Men’s Under-19 Double and made it through the heats to place 5th in the semi-final. He also rowed in the Men’s Under-19 Quad where his boat came 3rd in the semi-final. With almost 2,800 athletes from not only across Canada and the United States, but also Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Great Britain, Mexico, and South Africa, the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta is one of the pre-eminent sporting events in Canada. The hard work and many long hours on Elk Lake in June and July by the GNS athletes—Stella, Jack, Sally and Ronen—made this one unforgettable summer.