VICTORIA—A young British Columbia rowing athlete who has family ties to Manitoulin Island and is a regular summer visitor has qualified for the British Columbia Summer Games.
Fifteen-year-old Sally Jones told the Recorder this past Sunday that, “I recently found out I had qualified for the Summer Games and will be representing Vancouver Island at the games.”
“All three of our coaches told us we have to go to the B.C. Summer Games and that we should go to the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta to be held this summer as well,” said Ms. Jones.
Ms. Jones is the granddaughter of Bill and Diane Baker of Gordon/Barrie Island and the daughter of Sarah and Carl Jones. “I live and row in Victoria, B.C. and am a member of the Victoria City Rowing Club.”
“I started rowing last year when I was in Grade 9,” said Ms. Jones. She pointed out the B.C. Summer Games are taking place in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island July 19-22. “I’ll be in the singles rowing division at the B.C. Summer Games in the under-16 division category.”
Ms. Jones said that she and a teammate finished “first in the Bardwood International regatta and finished first at the Shawinigan Lake Regatta where we finished 10 seconds ahead of our nearest competitor and had the fastest time of seven minutes 44 seconds, over two kilometers, which is the same distance we will race at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Then we placed first at the Delta Deas race.”
“Later in August my doubles partner and I have been invited to take part in the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta race being held in St. Catharines in the under-17 womens’ doubles team event,” continued Ms. Jones.
“Yes, we often visit Manitoulin in the summer,” Ms. Jones said. “My family will be visiting Manitoulin Island after the Henley Regatta and we usually stay two weeks.”
