The Orillia Rowing Club (ORC) is transforming its competitive program with a team of three highly experienced coaches and the addition of a beach sprints program.
"We have doubled the number of competitive athletes from last year," said Anne Hodkin, the club's head coach.
"We are having a very successful year so far thanks to acquiring excellent local coaches who have a vast knowledge of rowing," she added.
Coaches Hodkin, Mike Smith and Scott Allen all have experience with the Argonaut Rowing Club of Toronto.
Hodkin won a Canadian championship with a women's crew and also developed a grassroots junior boys' program at the club.
Hodkin recently move to Orillia so that she is only minutes away from Tudhope Park where the club is based.
"I can go to work by boat," quipped Hodkin.
Smith is known locally for his years coaching with the Barrie Rowing Club, but now that he lives in Severn Township, he joined the Orillia club last year.
"He's fantastic with the kids," said Hodkin.
Allen is new to the Orillia club this year, but has worked with Hodkin in the past.
While the club offers both recreational and competitive programs, Hodkin is focusing on developing the junior competitive program and expanding into the new sport of beach sprints and it's already getting results.
For the first time, the club participated in the RowOn Beach Sprint Championships, held in Oshawa last month.
The Orillia crew swept the medals in the U19 mixed doubles category.
First place went to the team of Autumn Prior, 15, and Sam Pecorella. Second place went to Molly Hazel, 17, and Elia Fiddick and third place went to Maelle Bouchard and Matthew Pecorella.
The big winner of the day was Autumn Prior, 15, of Orillia. She won first in the U19 singles, first in the U19 mixed doubles, with partner Sam Pecorella, and first in the women's U19 double with partner Molly Hazel of Orillia.
“I started rowing last summer. I was a competitive gymnast before this and I play volleyball, too,” Prior said.
Due to their impressive showing at the sprints, Prior and Hazel are headed to Nova Scotia July 17 to 21 for the National Beach Sprint Selection Trials July 17 to 21.
"If we win, we get to go to Italy and race in the Worlds," said Hazel.
Beach sprints is a new and different style of rowing competition and it will be part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; Canada is developing a team, said Hodkin.
First of all, it uses coastal boats. They are wider and designed to better withstand wave action than traditional racing row boats.
"Beach sprints combines running and jumping into the boat. They do a slalom course and come back. Someone has to jump out of the boat and run up to touch the flag or buzzer. The first one to get there moves on. It's a lot of fun," said Hodkin.
The rowing sprint is only 250 metres and the team has to turn the boat around after the third buoy and race back to the beach. It's a head-to-head elimination game. Rowers are going backwards through the slalom sprint course.
"The athletes have a team to hold the boat, push the boat and the coach is calling out to go left or go right," Hodkin explained.
The entire junior squad will be taking part in the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta July 28 to Aug. 4 in St. Catharines.
For any youth interested in trying rowing, an Aug. 12 to 16 summer camp has openings for youth between the ages of 11 and 16. Register through Orillia's S.U.N. Registration program.
ORC also offers a winter training program at the Orillia Recreation Centre where they use the rowing machines and gym to build cardio and muscle strength.
For more information about the club and its programs, call Hodkin at 416-402-5979, the Orillia Rowing Club at 705-326-3519 or visit the website: orilliarowingclub.com
