The 132nd Royal Canadian Henley Regatta Thursday when it was recognized by the Niagara Sport Commission as the event of year for 2014.
The rowing championships, which last summer attracted upwards of 4, 500 athletes from throughout the world to Martindale Pond in St. Catharines, had an economic impact of $15 million and drew the second-most spectators in the event’s history, Rod Mawhood, master of ceremonies at an awards breakfast Thursday at the Americana Resort in Niagara Falls, said.
Last year’s Henley was live streamed for the first time ever, bringing even more attention to the region.
The regatta was one of two competitions nominated for event of the year honours. Also up for the award was the fifth annual Brock Niagara Wheelchair Basketball Tournament that was hosted by the Brock Niagara Penguins and involved 45 players ranging in age from 12 to 48 playing games at Brock University’s Walker Complex.
University wrestler Nick Rowe, the winner of two gold medals at the national championships, is the region’s top male athlete for the past year. The 22-year-old physical education major from Barrie won gold in the 65-kilogram class at both the national and provincial university championships and was a first-time all-star at both events.
Nine-year-old Nathaniel McAlpine, a Grade 3 student at Notre Dame-de-la-Juenesse in Niagara Falls and the winner of two gold medals at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation Pan Am Championship, and Matt Vinc, a professional lacrosse player from St. Catharines who last year was the National Lacrosse League’s top goaltender, also were in the running for the award.
Niagara College golfer Lorelle Weaver is 2014’s top female athlete after topping the leader board at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships. The golf management student from Barrie topped a ballot that included Welland native Bridget Atkinson, CIS rookie of the year in women’s basketball; Lindsay Sferrazza, the winner of Henley gold in women’s lightweight sinlges and doubles for the St. Catharines Rowing Club; and Brock wrestler Carlene Sluberski, Canadian...