Inspirational Alumni

For Quinten, this was the realization of a dream long held. “I remember thinking about the Boat Race during high school and then that was further solidified through my time at Brown,” he shares, explaining that the idea was first planted during a presentation from a visiting Shawnigan alumnus who had competed in the event.

Following his years at Shawnigan (where he was named Captain of Men’s Rowing in his Grade 12 year), Quinten’s journey to the Boat Race continued at the junior world championships. He went on to study and row at Brown University, and in the ensuing years as he began to focus on his career, rowing remained a part of Quinten’s life through alumni races with Brown. When he came to Cambridge, where he is currently studying for a Master’s (MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration), he decided to give competitive rowing another shot, realizing this was his chance to fulfill his dream.  

“The truth is, when you take up any sport, but in my experience, particularly rowing, it consumes so much of your time and your energy,” he shares. “And I’m passionate about my academic work. But looking back, rowing has really transformed my year in lockdown and I couldn’t be more thankful that I stuck with it.”

Cambridge surprised the favourites Oxford with an explosive start, held their nerve and won by just under a length in the thrilling race on April 4.

“I was proud to represent Shawnigan on the water, especially with a Brentwood alumnus and a Saint George’s alumnus in the Oxford boat!” said Quinten after the race. “It has been wonderful to receive so much support from the SLS community.”

For Delaney, participation in the Emirates Invitational 7s Tournament in Dubai last weekend marked the end of a different kind of journey. She and her teammates had been sidelined for over a year after the COVID-19 pandemic ground their season to a halt last spring, and this tournament marked their much-anticipated return to competition.

Delaney and her Canadian teammates had a nearly flawless tournament. Team Canada won five of their six games over the course of the two-day tournament, including a 31-14 win over the USA in the final. All teams had a few days to regroup after this initial taste of tournament play and then they are back at it this coming weekend for a second tournament in Dubai.

After over a year without competition, these tournaments are a welcome opportunity for players to get competitive playing time in after months of training at home (Langford, BC) under strict COVID-19 protocols.

This tournament is also an important preparation event in advance of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Tokyo Games will mark the second time that Rugby Sevens has been included in the Games and Delaney and her teammates are looking forward to building off the Canadian Women's team’s impressive bronze medal finish in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

After leaving Shawnigan, Delaney represented Canada at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018 and was a gold medalist with Canada at the Pan American Games in 2019. She is currently studying at the University of British Columbia where she also plays for the UBC Thunderbirds women’s rugby program.