Calgary's Halle Pratt tops 13-15 figures at Synchro Canada's 2014 Canadian Qualifier Championships

Montreal, March 12, 2014 – Halle Pratt of the Calgary Aquabelles ranked first in figures in the 13-15 age group on Wednesday to open the 2014 Canadian Qualifier Championships in synchronized swimming.

Pratt, last year’s Canadian Open champion, earned 71.8520 points with Emily Armstrong of the Variety Village Synchro Club in Toronto second at 70.0670 and Teghyn Gurney of Variety Village third at 69.7410.

“I am pleased to repeat what I did at the Canadian Open Championships last year”, said Pratt. “This win shows I’m on the right track to reach my objective to qualify again this year for Synchro Canada’s 13-15 national team.”

In 2013, Pratt won silver medals in figures, solo and team as a member of the national 13-15 team at the UANA Pan American Championships.

In the combo open final, the Calgary Aquabelles won the gold medal interpreting its Divas routine for 79.3333 points. Montreal Synchro was second at 77.8333 and Granite Synchro of Toronto third at 76.8667.

“We worked very hard to win that gold medal”, said Calgary Aquabelles team member Maxime MacLean. “We were very calm and each one of us knew our role so we weren’t stressed. For the Canadian Open Championships, we certainly want to keep our title while improving our routine.”

B.C. Aquasonics was first (64.9667 points) in the 13-15 combo and Synchro-Elite first in the senior team technical (67.69 points).

Competition continues through to Saturday at the Claude Robillard Centre.

The Canadian Qualifier Championships are the opportunity for athletes of the junior and senior age group to earn a ticket to the Canadian Open Championships, which will be held April 30-May 4 in Saskatoon, SK. For the athletes of the 13-15 age group, they will look to qualify through the Canadian Espoir Championships, held June 4-8 in Kamloops, B.C.

The competition has attracted a Synchro Canada record 504 athletes.

Schedule and results for the 2014 Canadian Qualifier Championships are available on-line 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:

Patrick Godbout

Synchro Canada

Communications Manager