September 18, 2026

GRAVENHURST ROWER DIANE BARR RETURNS FROM WORLD MASTERS REGATTA WITH 5 GOLD MEDALS — AND GBRC MEMBERS STILL TRAINING ON GULL LAKE FOR MORE

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GRAVENHURST — Diane Barr is modest.

While her club was hosting their annual the rowing event at Gull Lake Rotary Park, she was in Bled, Slovenia, at the World Masters regatta where she won five gold medals in age 65-69 singles, doubles (twice), mixed quad and women’s eight — in seven races.

Each race a kilometre-long sprint to the finish on a gorgeous course.

But the 65-year-old “prefers to focus on our Georgian Bay Rowing Club, which hosts the Muskoka Fall Classic in Gravenhurst the first Saturday after Labour Day,” under the leadership of her sister Kathryn McGill, an injured and retired rower who organizes that event bringing 100s of competitors and supporters to town.

**Chris Huet and Diane Barr won gold at the recent World Rowing regatta in the pairs race, a 1km sprint to the finish. PHOTOS Diane Barr**

“Kathryn used to compete very successfully at the international level, but due to injury cannot row anymore. She gives back and stays involved in the sport as chair of the MFC.”

“I really just want exposure for what we all do here in Gravenhurst related to rowing and more.”

Barr was in Bled during the Muskoka Fall Classic so didn’t get to help organize or race. The first time she has not been here.

Meanwhile, McGill isn’t shy about boasting about her sister and the Georgian Bay Team.

The team had 20 rowers at the same Slovenia event, who she said also performed well.

Among 890 rowers the club placed seventh. There were also 89 Canadians rowers competing.

**How’s this for a rowing course? The view could certainly have distracted competitors Huet and Barr. But it didn’t.**

Barr, who still continues to train on chilly Gull Lake well into September, says she is getting ready for “a few 5km ‘Head’ races” next week and on the Trent River Oct 4.

She is joined by other local club rowers.

“Our group of local Gravenhurst residents is so active on Gull Lake – swimming, walking, cycling, running, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hosting the Muskoka Fall Classic.

“They would love to have a location/hub on Gull Lake for non-motorized outdoor activities.”

Barr calls that “really very important.”

**It’s was a team effort in the eights for Barr, third from the left and Huet beside her.**

Her off-season is consumed with dry-land and cross country skiing in winter.

She adds: “My priority races are the single and the doubles with rowing partner Chris Huet, of Victoria Harbour.

She also races in a four (sweep-rowing), quad (sculling) and eights depending on the regatta.

And she’s had another great year in regatta results from May to October that have included these Ontario based events: gold at the Central Ontario Rowing Championships, gold at Row Ontario Masters championships and the Masters Canadian Championships.

She said the Henley events were cancelled due to extreme weather this year. But in past events there she’s also won gold in 2023, 2024 and 2025 in recent years.

As well as in the U.S. gold in Rochester, Philadelphia and Michigan (US Masters Nationals).

So if you see Barr or any other club members quietly rowing morning or early evening on Gull Lake you’ll know why they’re doing it.

Fun? Yes. But also hard work that pays off.