MONTREAL - For the first time since 2001, the UVic Vikes men's rowing team is Canadian University Champions.

The Vikes won the Canadian University Rowing Association championships for the fifth time in school history after a successful performance at Montreal's Olympic Basin on Sunday.

The Vikes won the eight, edging out the UBC Thunderbirds with a time of 6:03.8, and picked up valuable points in the team standings. Members of the winning eight were: #Mike Mason#, #Josh Morris#, #Mark Vodden#, #Erik Johnson#, #Richard Herlinveaux#, #Eric Bevan#, #Peter Brooks#, #Brent Dallimore# and cox #Jane Gumley#.

"It was a real team effort and I'm really proud of what the whole team accomplished this weekend," said head coach #Howard Campbell#. "The guys put the nail in the coffin with the win in the eight, overcoming all the obstacles the weekend threw at them. We have a young group of guys, with some real veteran leaders, who got the job done."

Morris and Mason also helped the Vikes to a silver in the pair, crossing the line with a time of 7:23.4. The Vikes also won bronze medals in the four, lightweight double and lightweight four.

#Howie Campbell# was named Coach of the Year.

The Vikes previous titles came in 1997, '98, '00 and '01. The championship represents the 65th overall Canadian University Championship for the UVic athletic program.

The UVic rowing program is arguably the most accomplished in Canada. The men's and women's teams have won a combined 13 national titles and have sent 94 athletes, coaches and alumni to the Olympic Games. Most recently, two Vikes alumni - Adam Kreek and Kevin Light - were members of Canada's gold medal winning eight at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The Vikes will host the 2010 Canadian University Championships at Elk Lake.



2009 CURA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:
GOLD: Men's 8+, cox Jane Gumley, stroke: Mike Mason, seven: Josh Morris, six: Mark Vodden, five: Erik Johnson, four: Richard Herlinveaux, three: Eric Bevan, two: Pete Brookes, bow: Brent Dallimore, captain.
SILVER: Men's 2-, stroke: Mike Mason, bow: Josh Morris.
BRONZE: Men's LM2x, stroke: Tom Watson, bow: Geoff McGregor.
BRONZE: Men's LM4+, cox Jane Gumley, stroke: Tom Watson, three: Liam Fisher, two: Kevin Mitchell, bow: Geoff McGregor.
Fourth: Men's LM1x, Kevin Mitchell.
Fourth: Men's 1x, Brent Dallimore.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Victoria, 95 points
2. UBC, 89
3. Brock, 70
4. Trent, 67
5. Western, 66
6. Queen's, 63
7. McGill, 55
8. Carleton, 29
9. Toronto, 20
10. Alberta, 19
11. Ottawa, 19
12. Guelph, 18
13. McMaster, 15
14. Ryerson, 12
15. Montreal, 9
16. Fraser Valley, 4
17. Concordia, 2