The grandstand at the 2010 World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand was full and loud today as finals continued.
Canada had boats in three races today - one in an A final and two in C finals.
Andreanne Morin (Montreal, QC) and Krista Guloien (Port Moody, BC) finished fifth overall in the women's pair event.
The crowd roared as New Zealand's pair (Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown) won gold, in 7:17.12, followed by Great Britain in 7:20.24, and the U.S. with a strong final push to finish in bronze-position in 7:22.46. They were closely followed by Australia in 7:22.58, Canada in 7:22.97, and Germany in 7:28.69.
New Zealand - also gold medalists in the men's pair event today - and Great Britain kept solid positions throughout the women's pair final, and the Canadians maintained the third-place spot until the last strokes of the 2000-metre race, when the US and Australia pushed ahead.
"It was a good performance for most of the race, but we walked away empty-handed," said two-time Olympian and National Team veteran Morin. "I am disappointed, we wanted it so badly."
Tomorrow, both Morin and Guloien race in an A final as part of the women's eight - Canada's final chance at another medal at this regatta.
"The other women (from the eight) were in the boat with us today," said Guloien, who rowed at the Olympics in the women's quad in 2008. "We are going to recover well tonight and be ready for that eights final. We are not going to let anything get away from us in that race."
Lining up tomorrow will be China, Great Britain, Canada, United States, Romania, and the Netherlands. The U.S. are the reigning World and Olympic Champions in this event.
Also tomorrow, the Canadian men's eight and lightweight women's single race in B finals for places seven to 12.
Earlier today, the Canadian lightweight men's four ended up third in its C final to receive an overall 15th-place ranking. This crew's time today was 6:17.53.
The lightweight four is Olympic bronze medalist Mike Lewis (Victoria, BC), with Terry McKall (Edmonton, AB), Morgan Jarvis (Winnipeg, MB) and Tim Myers (Penticton, BC).
Single sculler Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C., was fifth in his C final, to end up 17th overall.
Canada has three medals so far here in New Zealand - the lightweight women's double (gold), adaptive coxed four (gold) and lightweight men's pair (bronze).
-View the races on www.cbcsports.ca
-Full results at www.worldrowing.com