| Calgary Aquabelle synchro swimmers shine at 2011 Canadian Open Championships |
|
Ottawa, April 28, 2011 – Claudia Holzner and Gabrielle Brisson of the Calgary Aquabelles took first spot in the junior duet preliminaries and were also 1-2 respectively in junior figures on Thursday at the 2011 Canadian Open Championships in synchronized swimming. In junior figures, Holzner posted the best score followed by Brisson and Jacqueline Simoneau of Montreal Synchro. The top-25 junior eligible athletes in the figures advanced to phase 2 for selection to Synchro Canada’s 2011 National Junior Team (athlete list below). ‘’I felt calm and in control,’’ said Holzner. ‘’To place first is really exciting. Figures are an area that Gabrielle and I have worked really hard on for this competition.’’ In the duet prelims, Holzner and Brisson competed to the soundtrack of Sherlock Holmes and tabulated 84.150 points. Laura Dee and Camille Rémillard of Montreal Synchro are second at 81.050 and Katherine MacLeod and Haley Ricci of Dollard Synchro in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., are third at 78.267. ‘’It was our best performance of the year,’’ said Holzner, 17, who has partnered in duet with Brisson for eight years. ‘’We were definitely ready and confident. We just had to make sure we kept the energy level high throughout.’’ Brisson said competing at home is helping the pair. ‘’There’s definitely a level of comfort being in our home pool,’’ said Brisson. ‘’We are also getting great support from the crowd. It was fantastic.’’ In the 16-18 age group team preliminaries, Olympium Synchro from Etobicoke, Ont., leads at 74.900, Dollard Synchro from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., is second at 73.700 and the London Synchro Club third at 69.750. Olympium Synchro performed to the soundtrack of Wanted interpreting a story about espionage. ‘’We really pulled together as a team,’’ said 17-year-old Tess Kruspe of Olympium Synchro. ‘’Everybody was feeling great and we were confident. This is the second year we are doing this routine but we have some new girls and we’ve made changes to make it even more difficult.’’ In the 16-18 age group solo prelims, Alexandra Labeaume of Saguenay Synchro is first at 68.567, Pascale Turpin of Synchro Les Dauphines in Vanier, Que., second at 68.500 and EugénieThibault, also from Synchro Les Dauphines third at 68.417. 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. List of 25 athletes who advance to phase 2 for selection to Synchro Canada’s 2011 National Junior Team: BAXTER, Vanessa (B.C. Aquasonics) BOISVERT, Gabrielle (Synchro Élite) BRISSON, Gabriella (Calgary Aquabelles) BRUNIN-BROUILLETTE, Sarah (Montréal Synchro) CHOLETTE, Carlie (Gloucester Synchro) DEE, Laura (Montréal Synchro) FIELD, Jordan (Olympium Synchro) FROST, Zoe (London Synchro) GRENIER, Annabel (Synchro Élite) HÉBERT, Marie-Claude (Synchro Élite) HOLZNER, Claudia (Calgary Aquabelles) JESSOP, Carlin (Granite Synchro) KRUSPE, Tess (Olympium Synchro) MACLEOD, Katherine (Dollard Synchro) MCKENZIE, Jordan (Calgary Aquabelles) MINTZ, Natalie (Olympium Synchro) MORNEAU-CARRIER, Roxanne (Synchro Élite) NEALON, Samantha (Granite Synchro) RÉMILLARD, Camille (Montréal Synchro) RICCI, Haley (Dollard Synchro) RYSSINA, Alina (Granite Synchro) SANDERS, Lisa (Granite Synchro) SAVARD, Elizabeth (Dollard Synchro) SCHEIL, Kaylene (Calgary Aquabelles) ZAWADIUK, Olivia (B.C. Aquasonics) 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 initiative For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
- 30 -
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 |
