ETOBICOKE, Ont. – Toronto’s Granite Synchro won its first national championship gold medal on Saturday placing first in the 13-15 team event at the 2012 Canadian Espoir Championships synchronized swimming competition.

Granite Synchro totalled 71.819 points with the Calgary Aquabelles second at 71.137 and Montreal Synchro third at 69.921.

‘’It was very rewarding to get the victory after working so hard,’’ said 15-year-old Dylan Harding, Granite Synchro’s team captain.  ‘’We showed a lot a passion, there was a lot of energy and the team was united.  We really connected tonight.’’

Earlier in the 13-15 duet preliminaries, Harding and her partner Brianna Wodehouse took the lead at 71.465.  Jasmine Baillargeon and Laurence Boutin of Montreal Synchro are second at 70.299 and Ioana Gheta and Maria Gheta, also of Montreal Synchro, are third at 70.225.

‘’It was a great swim,’’ said Wodehouse.  ‘’There are a couple of elements we hope to improve in the final but nothing major.’’

In the 12 and under team final, Variety Village Synchro Club in Toronto was the winner scoring 62.646, Calgary Elite Synchro was second at 60.241 and Killarney Synchro third at 59.330.

In the 12 and under duet final, Marie-Pier Bégin-Durand and Audrey Vallières of Synchro-Élite in Quebec City took the gold at 65.917, Nora Mossman and Hannah Van Driel of Olympium Synchro in Etobicoke followed at 62.853 and Laura Bellantone and Maura McLean of Variety Village Synchro Club were third at 62.306.

Here are Saturday’s winners in the competition for athletes with a disability

Solo - Physical disabilities
Gold – level 3 : Hristina Belevski (Variety Village Synchro Club, Toronto) – 51.875
Gold – level 2 : Jeanine Enns (Olympium Synchro, Etobicoke) – 52.942

Solo – Cognitive disabilities
Gold – level 3 : Nicole Flynn (Variety Village Synchro Club) – 55.541
Silver – level 3 : Ruby Stevens (Variety Village Synchro Club) – 50.508
Gold – level 2 : Grace Lowe (Variety Village Synchro Club) – 44.334
Silver – level 2 : Katy Orpin (Variety Village Synchro Club) – 43.441
Bronze – level 2 : Ambika Dave (Variety Village Synchro Club) – 43.326

Best overall artistic performance MAKE UP FOR EVER Awards
Best overall artistic performance MAKE UP FOR EVER Award were given to the top 12 & under and 13-15 teams based only on the artistic marks during the final. All winning athletes and coaches also received products from MAKE UP FOR EVER. The winners were:

12 & under Team: Variety Village Synchro Club
13-15 Team: Granite Synchro

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