KINGSTON, Ont., (May 1, 2011) – Queen's rowing claimed their ninth Lorne Gales Challenge Cup during the 15th annual Queen's-McGill Boat Challenge held Sunday morning on the Cataraqui River in Kingston, Ont.
The win improves Queen's all-time series record to 9-6 between the long-time foes since the head-to-head competition was first introduced in 1997. It also defends last year's overall title won in Montreal.
The Gaels captured six of the eight events including all four varsity races on the men's and women's side. Queen's also captured both novice women's events surrendering only the men's novice events to McGill.
In the varsity men's six kilometre race, Queen's rowed to a time of 17 minutes and eight seconds a full 47 seconds ahead of McGill. They were six seconds ahead in the 500 metre dash.
On the varsity women's side, Queen's finished 19:51 while McGill crossed the line at 21:10. Queen's was also ahead 10 seconds in the 500 metre dash.
The novice races were split with Queen's women's crew taking both the head and dash events. Queen's won the six-kilometre head race by two minutes and 11 seconds. The collected the dash event by just 11 seconds.
McGill secured its only wins taking both the men's head and dash events by slim margins. The McGill novice team won the head race by just 19 seconds and the dash by a narrow three seconds pulling ahead in the last 30 strokes of the race.
The Gaels improve their Men's Challenge Blade record to 8-7 and hold a 9-4 advantage in the Women's Challenge Trophy.
This was Queen's first sweep of the event since 2007, when the Gaels took all three events.
The weather was near perfect for racing, with low winds and mild temperatures.
This unique regatta is the Canadian equivalent of England's annual Oxford-Cambridge and the annual Harvard-Yale race in the United States.
Lorne Gales Challenge Cup Winners
2011 - Queen's
2010 - Queen's
2009 - McGill
2008 - Queen's
2007 - Queen's
2006 - Queen's
2005 - Queen's
2004 - Queen's
2003 - McGill
2002 - McGill
2001 - Queen's
2000 - Queen's
1999 - McGill
1998 - McGill
1997 - McGill
Men's Challenge Blade Winners
2011 – Queen's
2010 - McGill
2009 - Queen's
2008 - Queen's
2007 - Queen's
2006 - Queen's
2005 - Queen's
2004 - Queen's
2003 - McGill
2002 - McGill
2001 - Queen's
2000 - McGill
1999 - McGill
1998 - McGill
1997 - McGill
Women's Challenge Trophy Winners
2011 – Queen's
2010 - Queen's
2009 - McGill
2008 - McGill
2007 - Queen's
2006 - McGill
2005 - Queen's
2004 - Queen's
2003 - Queen's
2002 - Queen's
2001 - Queen's
2000 - Queen's
1999 - McGill
