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 New Indoor Rowing/Paddling Tank at Trent Named in Honour of Coach Carol LoveFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Long-time coach and Olympian recognized for contributions and commitment to rowing at the University and in the Friday, October 1, 2010, Peterborough In recognition of Carol Love’s outstanding contribution, passion and commitment to rowing at Trent University and within the Peterborough community, the state-of-the-art indoor rowing/paddling tank at the new Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre (TCSRC) has been named the Carol Love Rowing/Paddling Tank in her honour. Ms. Love was surprised with the announcement during a special rowing reception held in her honour at the TCSRC this evening. The event also celebrated the official opening of the innovative new tank, the only one of its kind in the province. To mark the occasion, Ms. Love called the first official row with a team of alumni rowers and donors who made the naming possible. During the reception, she was also welcomed as an honorary member of the Trent University Alumni Association. “Athletics was a vital and rich part of my wonderful experience at Trent, especially as a varsity rower. As an undergraduate I was lucky enough to have Carol Love as my coach in 1985. As a coach, mentor and role model for excellence Carol was unsurpassed,” said Dr. Thomas Miller, member of the Trent University Alumni Council who initiated the idea to name the tank in Ms. Love’s honour and led the fundraising drive to raise $250,000 for the naming. “The idea to have the tank named after Carol seemed obvious and natural to me. No other possibility contended. Carol has contributed to the development and success of rowers at Trent and in Peterborough for over three decades. She did this with a commitment, passion and excellence that deserves this kind of recognition from Trent, Peterborough and the community of athletes who can look to Carol for those ideal qualities in any coach. Also, she acted as one of the main sculptors of a rowing culture at Trent that will now enjoy even greater success and legacy with the opening of this wonderful facility.” “It is most fitting to name the indoor rowing and paddling tank after Carol to recognize the life long service and dedication she has given to the Trent and Peterborough Rowing Clubs,” added Dan Coholan, Trent alumnus and co-chair of the dedicated volunteer fundraising committee of Trent rowing alumni who worked together for ten months to raise funds for the naming. “The indoor rowing and paddling facilities are the most important development in years for these clubs and what better way to mark this most significant milestone by honouring Trent's most dedicated and successful coach.” Coach Love was a member of the Canadian women's eight in the first appearance of women's rowing in the Olympics in Montreal in 1976 and in the World Championships in 1977. As Canada’s most heralded female coach, she has spent over 30 years coaching with Trent’s rowing program and the Peterborough Rowing Club and was named as head coach for Ontario’s team at the 2005 Canada Summer Games. She was awarded the 25 Year Service Pin by Rowing Canada and won the Ontario University Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2006 for men's and women's crews. At the 2010 Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) Coaches Conference in London, Ontario, she was honoured with the RCA Coaches Recognition Award. Most recently, Coach Love was named head coach of the new regional Talent Development Centre at Trent, as part of the Podium Project. As the Centre’s coach, she will work with top rowing athletes who have been identified and invited into the Centre. The Carol Love Rowing/Paddling Tank is the most advanced facility of its kind in North America. The combination tank has the capacity to transform seamlessly from rowing to paddling. For rowing, the tank enables eight rowers to either sweep row (one large oar) or scull (two small oars). From a competitive rowing perspective, the tank is invaluable, allowing athletes to row at “race rate,” another unique feature of this indoor facility. For paddling, the tank has the capacity to equip up to 32 dragon boat paddlers. This groundbreaking facility enables teams to remain together, training, socializing, staying fit and having fun year-round. “This is very exciting for rowing in Peterborough,” Coach Love said previously about the tank. “It is validation for the success of the Trent and community rowing programs. Our rowing teams are competitive at the national level and this tank will provide an invaluable opportunity to train year round.” The Carol Love Rowing/Paddling Tank is one of many unique and innovative features of the new Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre, which offers the community a full-spectrum of indoor and outdoor athletics and recreation experiences unparalleled anywhere in the region. Other features of the Centre, which celebrates its official opening on October 2 at 12:30 p.m., include: indoor climbing wall, 12,000 sq. ft. cardio loft and weight room, warm hydrotherapy pool (the only one of its kind in the region), expanded therapy clinic for Trent Health in Motion, and a complete makeover of the pool. -30- For more information, please contact: |
