BURNABY, B.C. - The University of Victoria Vikes men and women rose to the occasion at Western Canadian University Rowing Championships in a situation that could have been dominated by the three storm fronts that came through over the weekend, with the men's team picking up the WCURC banner.

FULL RESULTS // TEAM STANDINGS

The men took home the banner, finishing one point above UBC in a thrilling race to the finish while the women's team finished second behind UBC, racing to gold in lightweight double sculls and silver in the lightweight coxed four, single sculls, lightweight single sculls and varsity eight. 

Jessica Bateman and Sarah Craven rowed the light double sculls boat to victory for the Vikes, the only varsity gold medal of the event. It was a strong performance for the boat on a day that saw the weather play a large factor. 

Strong showing from Vikes #WROW at WCURCs this weekend, excited to get back to work for the Canadian University Rowing Championships in November. govikesgo vikesnation

A photo posted by UVic Vikes (@uvicvikes) on Oct 17, 2016 at 3:07pm PDT

For the men, the event helped set expectations for the events to come.

"The races at Western CURC's  this weekend have provided the coaches and crews with good feedback on how the program is moving," said head coach Aalbert Van Schothorst. "Varsity athletes delivered key performances on demand and reserve athletes filled the gaps when injuries prevented a couple of the CURC's guys from racing.

"Reserves and Norsemen and Novices now move towards an exciting Vikes Fall Classics headrace weekend with Head and Tail of the Gorge Regattas. Varsity will get a day off to take care of some academics and on Tuesday the crew will start the last push to nationals in Welland, Ontario."
 

Big win for Vikes #MROW at WCRCs on Sunday, edging UBC for the title govikesgo vikesnation

A photo posted by UVic Vikes (@uvicvikes) on Oct 17, 2016 at 10:09am PDT

The heavy men's program came out of the gates with a first and second place in the men's single sculls with Taylor Perry taking the win and Lucien Brodeur following in second place. 

Then the men's heavy weight coxed four with Adam Donaldson, Mark Davies, Mathew Szymanowski and Larson came down the course with a commanding lead over their UBC rivals to take first place. 

In the men's pair Donaldson and Davies won the time trial followed by Szymanowski and Larson. Davies withdrew from the final due to medical concerns and was replaced by Brodeur. 

"We raced well today and displayed the depth in our program by making podiums in first and second places in several events," said Larson. "After some key guys went down with injury, we also had athletes like Isaac Donaldson fill seats and help the team come away with the overall win."

Despite the switch late in the game, the men's pair still went first and second with Szymanowski and Larson going 1st and the A Donaldson and Brodeur combination coming in second. 

On the lightweight men's side the Vikes got to test a combination of young dynamic group of athletes that are rising to the occasion. 

"The lightweights had solid results this weekend demonstrating both top end speed and program depth," said lightweight coach Scott Swinkels.

"It is impressive to see what this very young crew has achieved over the fall and we look forward to finding more speed as we build towards University Championships."

Patrick Keane raced the lightweight single sculls, placing second to arch rival and close friend Aaron Lattimer of UBC. 

The lightweight  four has three new faces including freshman Idjen Cabral, sophomores Amir Harding and Christopher Clarke. The crew raced into a second place with more speed to be found between now and CURC's in Welland, Ontario. 

Keane and Cabral then combined in the lightweight double sculls against Max and Aaron Lattimer to come in second place overall.