Sydenham_regatta_2007

Jeff Green | Aug 30, 2007

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Sydenham Lake Canoe Club Trillium Regatta

by Erik Miazga

On a day that started as overcast with clouds teasing the horizon over Sydenham Lake, the first annual Trillium Invitational Regatta made its debut. The Sydenham Lake Canoe Club hosted thirteen Ontario Canoe and Kayak Clubs in a day-long event at the Point. The championship event of the season for Bantam and Peewee level paddlers started off without a hitch. Teams from Toronto to Sudbury and Gananoque to North Bay competed for the newly cast Trillium medallions and a trip to the podium for gold, silver or bronze.

Highlights of the day featured the Bantam women’s C-4 crew of Robyn Miazga, Christina Grant, Erika Gibbons and Cia Myles-Gonzalez who took second place just behind a strong team from the Ottawa River club. The crew of three second-year and one first-year paddler showed just how much depth the Sydenham Club has in their young membership. Sydenham also took second place in their K-4 event, with paddlers Cia Myles-Gonzales, Christina Grant, Robyn Miazga and first year bantam Kristian Jones. C-1 paddler Christina Grant gave a gold medal performance in the two thousand meter event to round out the Sydenham Lake medal grab.

The Trillium regatta brought about fifteen hundred people to the Point; spectators, paddlers, boats and trailers filled the small park to capacity. The day started off with the traditional breakfast of Syd McMuffins and coffee, midday saw a BBQ, raffles and event t-shirt sales. Medal ceremonies took place at both lunchtime and after the evening’s races. The Trillium regatta was sponsored by local businesses, and in large part by the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation.

The final event of the season at Sydenham was a logistical challenge in which volunteers and family members took on unfamiliar roles and rose to the occasion with a great effort. Visiting clubs had nothing but positive comments re the event, the surroundings and Sydenham Lake in general. It is well known that Sydenham Lake boasts one of the best courses for competitive canoeing and kayaking in Canada.

Coaches and paddlers from the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club will be visiting local schools in the South Frontenac Township to give presentations on the club as well as the sport of Canoe/Kayak. Along with a Power Point presentation, the club will bring boats and equipment to the schools to introduce the sport to students. Sydenham Lake Canoe Club is looking to increase its membership in a big way next season and they invite all interested families with children seven years of age and older to become involved in this unique sport.

Even though the day started with a gloomy outlook, the weather broke and the sun shone for the rest of the day, proving once again, at least for the paddlers of the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club, that every cloud does have a "Silver" lining!

Photos by Palmer Productions.