This past week was a fantastic cap to the summer of rowing for Trevor Jones, a second year Trent student, as he added national champion to his list of accolades – gold in the single sculls at the Canadian National Rowing Championships held in Burnaby, BC. Earlier in the summer, Mr. Jones also represented Canada in the double sculls at the World Championships, as well as at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Championships.

“I was at the back of the pack by the end of the first 500m, which is where I expected and wanted to be. My plan was to walk back on the field throughout the race,” Mr. Jones said. “By the 1,500 I was in second place and I had gained back a considerable margin on the leader and I knew that if I sprinted the last 500 that there was a possibility that I could win.”

Mr. Jones just edged out his teammate Graham Peeters, to see the Excalibur teammates finish first and second in the race. Mr. Jones and Mr. Peeters were not the only Excalibur in competition. Alex Watson featured in the lightweight men’s single, winning the B final and finishing with a silver in the U-23, while Andrew Stewart-Jones came out with another gold racing in the men’s pair, adding to his World Championship silver medal in the same event earlier this summer in Holland. Dan Bullock also feature at the event, competing in his first NRC.

All of the athletes were back in Peterborough on Monday, and are excited to kick off their OUA season with their only chance to race in front of the home crowd at the Head of the Trent this Saturday.