VICTORIA – Gabriella Brisson and Claudia Holzner of the Calgary Aquabelles are in first place after preliminaries in the junior duet competition at the 2012 Canadian Open Championships in synchronized swimming.

Brisson and Holzner have tabulated 80.755 points (championships score) with Anne-Marie Chouinard and Jacqueline Simoneau of Montreal Synchro second at 79.739 and Carlie Cholette and Camille Rémillard, also of Montreal Synchro, third at 75.572.

‘’We are very excited with the result but we know there is room for improvement in the final,’’ said Brisson.  ‘’We are looking for a best ever performance.’’

Simoneau, in her first season at the junior level, had initially ranked first in figures with 78.565 points followed by Brisson at 78.217 and Holzner at 77.406.

For the juniors, berths are up for grabs for Synchro Canada’s 2012 Junior National Team scheduled to compete at the 2012 FINA World Junior Championships set for September 12-16 in Volos, Greece.

The top-25 in the junior figures event advance to Phase 2, a second figures event scheduled for Saturday May 5.  The top 16 from Phase 2 will advance to a world junior team selection camp in June held at the Centre of Excellence in Montreal.

In the senior technical duet, Kelly Hersh and Haley Ricci of Dollard Synchro in Montreal were first earning 75.333 points.  Meaghan Hipkin and Samara Hipkin of Aurora Synchro were second at 74.000 and Krystina Leclerc and Eugénie Thibault of Synchro Les Dauphines in Quebec City third at 65.333.

"We are very pleased with our performance,’’ said Ricci. ‘’Our duet had great speed and synchronization, and we're happy to have captured our audience and judges attention. "

In the 16-18 age group prelims, Claire Leblanc and Emma New of Regina Synchro lead with 69.083 points, Olivia Amaral and Emily Quinn of the London Synchro Club are second at 68.750 and MacKenzie Higgins and Amy Whitton of B.C. Aquasonics are third at 68.367.

The competition has attracted 268 athletes from 30 clubs across Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan) as well as 36 officials.

Competition continues Friday.

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:

Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, B2ten, the Centre national multisport-Montréal
Official suppliers: Speedo, Knox Gelatine, AdUp, MKI Travel, National Car Rental
Official make up: MAKE UP FOR EVER
Official hotel: Hilton Hotels Canada
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.

For 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