| Calgary Aquabelles win first gold at 2011 Canadian Open Championships |
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Ottawa, April 27, 2011 – The Calgary Aquabelles won the first gold at the 2011 Canadian Open Championships synchronized swimming competition on Wednesday placing first in the open team combination event. The Aquabelles interpreted a western-theme routine and tabulated 84.566 points for their first ever victory in the event at the Canadian Open. The winning team members were Madison Allen, Gabriella Brisson, Claudia Holzner, Leah Malcom, Jordan McKenzie, Savannah Sami-Bacon, Kaylene Scheil, Braley Traub and Katrina Waldhauser. ‘’It was really exciting to win at home,’’ said Holzner. ‘’We’ve been working really hard on this routine since September and we came out with a lot of energy.’’ ‘’Our goal was to win the gold,’’ added Brisson. ‘’We achieved that by keeping the energy level high. It feels great because this is what we’ve been working on all year.’’ ‘’It was very gratifying,’’ said Aquabelles coach Jenn Tregale. ‘’We worked very hard to get on the top of the podium. Being at home helped with the crowd support. The girls felt a lot of energy from the crowd. Our moves were fast, it was super artistic and technically strong.’’ Montreal Synchro was second at 79.900 and Dollard Synchro (Quebec) third at 78.483. In the junior solo preliminaries, Sarah Brunin-Brouillette of Montreal Synchro holds the lead at 42.084 points with Claudia Holzner of the Calgary Aquabelles second at 41.675 and Gabriella Brisson, also from the Aquabelles, third at 40.067. Brunin-Brouillette injured her hip in practice recently and didn’t train this week in the water. ‘’It was pretty stressful,’’ said Brunin-Brouillette. ‘’I was quite worried I wouldn’t be able to deliver the performance I wanted but I just kept focused on what I needed to do. The hip was pretty sore at the end of my routine so it’s going to be important to keep rested for my next event.’’ In the 16-18 age group figures, Jordan Field totalled the best score at 72.701, Tess Kruspe followed at 71.778 and Rachel Demers was third at 71.744. All three are from Olympium Synchro in Etobicoke, Ont. This week’s competition, which runs until Sunday at the Talisman Centre, has attracted 330 synchronized swimmers from all 41 synchronized swimming clubs in Canada. About Synchro Canada Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level. Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors: Official partner: Epiderma Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, B2ten, the Centre national multisport-Montréal Official suppliers: Speedo, AdUp, MKI Travel, National Car Rental Official Charity Partner: Plan Canada’s Because I am A Girl Program For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
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For more information: Patrick Godbout Synchro Canada Communications Manager Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Cell.: (514) 213-9897 Website : www.synchro.ca Facebook: Synchro Canada Twitter : www.twitter.com/synchrocanada |
