University of Toronto Varsity Blues rower Michael Braithwaite was named the oarsman of the year at the Canadian University Rowing Association championships (CURC) this weekend (Oct. 31 – Nov. 1) at the Olympic rowing basin at Ile Notre-Dame in Montreal, Que.

Braithwaite (Duncan, B.C.) claimed the gold medal in the men’s open single with a time of 7:38.8, a full 14 seconds (five boat lengths) ahead of the second-place boat from Trent. He was unanimously voted the oarsman of the year by all head coaches of all univerities competing at the CURC.

Other notable performances include Alanna Komisar’s (Calgary, Alta.) sixth-place finish in the lightweight women’s single, as well as the Blues lightweight four of Lauren Brown (Toronto), Christina Malinas (Toronto), Jenn and Kate Sauks (Owen Sound, Ont.) and coxswain Alison Zimmerman (Toronto), who also placed sixth in a very close final.

Overall the Blues took 11 women rowers and coxswain Alison Zimmerman as well as three male rowers. Each of the U of T women’s crew had half of its members with only one year of experience or less, however, Toronto managed to qualify for three finals and had all crews finish in the top nine crews.

Up next for the Blues is a trip to the national rowing championships, November 3-4, in London, Ont.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.