VICTORIA – The Calgary Aquabelles hold a slim lead over Montreal Synchro after the preliminaries in the junior team event at the 2012 Canadian Open Championships synchronized swimming competition being held at Saanich Commonwealth Place.

The Aquabelles tabulated 78.775 points while Montreal Synchro follows at 78.653.  Synchro Elite in Quebec City is third at 75.433.

In the junior solo preliminaries, Jacqueline Simoneau of Montreal stands first after the preliminaries (which also includes Thursday’s figure score), at 82.633.  Gabriella Brisson of the Calgary Aquabelles is second at 81.892 and her club mate Claudia Holzner third at 81.462.

"I am really pleased with my performance,’’ said Simoneau. ‘’I did exactly what my coach said and it went well. I now know what it takes to give a stunning performance in final."

The Canadian open is a key event for the juniors with 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.

In the 16-18 age group figures, Zoe Frost of the London Synchro Club posted the top score at 71.048 with Merissa Redwood of Killarney Synchro in Calgary is second at 70.658 and Nicky Young of Granite Synchro in Toronto third at 68.481.

In the senior solo technical routines, Courtenay Grant of Vancouver Pacific wave won the gold medal at 81.500, Marie-Claude Hébert of Synchro Élite was second at 77.833 and Viviane Ladouceur of Montreal Synchro third at 75.000.

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 Saturday.

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