Calgary's Halle Pratt takes solo title at 2014 Canadian Espoir Championships

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Halle Pratt of the Calgary Aquabelles earned the gold medal in the 13-15 age group solo event on Friday at the 2014 Canadian Espoir Championships in synchronized swimming.

Pratt, competing for the last time at the Espoir Nationals, totalled a season-best 75.4125 points. Emily Armstrong of Variety Village Synchro in Toronto followed at 73.3890 and Paige Hopper of the Aquabelles was third at 71.9451.

“I was pretty nervous going into the event but overall it was exciting”, said Pratt. “I knew I was well prepared and I’m proud to put up such a good score and represent my club so well. I’m very motivated about my progress in solo this year and I want to keep it going in the future.”

In the 12 and under duet final, 11-year-olds Emma Spott and Delaney Davis of Kitchener-Waterloo Synchro won the gold medal with 64.5919 points performing their routine to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. Scarlett Finn and MacKenzie Mauran of Granite Synchro in Toronto took the silver with 64.2866 and Sarah-Maude Pelletier and Kiara Quieti of Montreal Synchro the bronze at 63.2201.

“This was our first nationals and we couldn’t be happier”, said Spott, who has competed with her partner for four years. “The highlight for me was when we were underwater and we sent each other a little smile because we knew it was going so well.”

In the 13-15 combo event, the B.C. Aquasonics took the gold with a score a 66.3333.

Late Thursday in the 13-15 team event, Variety Village Synchro stands first after the preliminaries with 72.0691 points, the Calgary Aquabelles are second at 71.2199 and Granite Synchro is third at 70.2094. The final is on Saturday.

The competition is hosted by the Kamloops Sunrays and Synchro B.C. under the leadership of Synchro Canada. A total of 273 athletes from 23 clubs across Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan) are competing.

Competition ends Saturday at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.

Schedule and results for the 2014 Canadian Espoir Championships are available online at www.synchro.ca

About Synchro Canada

Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level.

Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, the Institut national du sport du Québec

Official Aquatic Supplier: Speedo Canada

Official make up: MAKE UP FOR EVER

Official suppliers: Knox Gelatine, AdUp, National Car Rental

Official hotel: Hilton Hotels Canada

For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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For information:

Stéphane Côté

Synchro Canada

Communications Coordinator