U of T athletics has been home to the Varsity Blues’ rowing crew since 1897, making it the oldest rowing club in Canada. Some of Canada’s most successful athletes can trace their roots back to Blues rowing. Today, the rowing season is underway, and the men’s and women’s rowing teams are set to maintain the Varsity Blues’ legacy.
Nursing student Ryan Northway is optimistic about the men’s team’s progress this year. “I am looking forward to moving in small boats in the coming weeks, I feel as though we have some genuine potential. As it is my last year as a collegiate athlete, I’d be pretty happy to make it onto the podium with
U of T,” he said.
Starting his second season with the team, Northway has had several highlights during his time with the crew, including competing at the Canadian University Rowing Championships in British Columbia last year. “It’s a gorgeous place to row in Canada,” mused Northway, who placed sixth in the lightweight men’s double alongside Jonathon Santos last year.
That being said, rowing is a rigid sport that requires teamwork and discipline. A typical rowing practice will last between 60-90 minutes. The intention is to synchronize the crew, or, as Northway puts it, “crush the body.” The rowing crew begins their practices at 5:30 am at the Hanlan Boat Club, near Cherry Beach, stopping only for high winds, lightning, or zero-visibility fog.
The women’s team has enjoyed its own share of success, winning the silver medal in the lightweight coxed four, and gold in the lightweight women single at the Ontario University Athletics championships last October. The Blues also managed to secure first place at the 131st Royal Canadian Henley Regatta this past August in the women’s senior lightweight four. The Regatta, which is held annually, is one of the largest professional rowing tournaments in North America.
“We have lots of new athletes this year, which is so exciting for the team as we had several valuable crew members graduate last year,” explained Emily Donaldson, who is competing on the team for her second year. “I am confident that we can have some competitive crews this year, and we are experimenting with some slightly different technical approaches, so it will be interesting to see how that goes in competitions.”
Undeterred by the demanding nature of the sport, Donaldson is grateful for what rowing has given her. “The most rewarding part of being part of the varsity rowing program, and this is going to sound cliché, is that the people are truly great. The feeling of community you experience in rowing is really hard to find in any other sport or environment.”
On Saturday, both the men’s and women’s heavyweight varsity eights placed third at the Western Invitational with times of 11:30.6, and 13:24.1, respectively. Their next race will be the Head of the Welland on September 28.
