Last week, three women from the Sudbury Rowing Club competed in a unique 150 kilometre tour on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa with rowers from around the world.
A total of 75 rowers from 15 countries will launch a rowing tour that is the first of its kind in Canada. The downtown launch in Canada?s capital city marks the first leg of a six-day, 150-km trek to Kingston.
Donna Speigel, Sonya Kahkonen and Valene Reid have joined rowers from Denmark, Germany, Australia, Portugal and Mexico, among others, for the international tour.
This is the opportunity of a lifetime, said Speigel.
?I had heard about the rowing tours that took place in Europe and when I learned that this year?s tour was going to be held in Canada, I jumped at the opportunity to participate,? she said. ?Having this as a goal undoubtedly also helped me overcome some of the physical challenges that I faces this summer.?
Kahkonen is also excited.
?To row with world rowers in a week of co-operation, non-competitive rowing tour is a unique opportunity and to strive to excel in an international event hosted for the first time in Canada is an honour,? she said.
Four-person crews will row about 37 kilometres each day. All sixteen boats will make their way through rivers, lakes and locks that make up the Rideau Canal system.
