The Leading Edge Mar 2011
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BRITISH COLUMBIA SPEED SKATING ASSOCIATION!MARCH 2011 The Leading Edge The Spence family made a big impression this year in speed skating. Tori and Josie rocked the Canada Winter Games while their younger siblings Eric and Sara set National Records. Table of Contents Notes from the Editor Winter Games................2 It’s quite a thing to have an open forum where I can jot down CWG results..................3 thoughts and you are my captive audience...hehehe. A dream come Icebreakers.....................4 true. All kidding aside though, the photo above gives me reason to River City Racers..........5 pause and remember the contributions of Owen Spence. He was Richmond Rockets.......6 one of a kind and his selfless dedication to his family and to speed Long Track.....................7 skating should never be forgotten. He would have been very proud of the family he has carrying on in his name. Burnaby Haida..............8 WSBCST Results..........9 Next Issue: June 2011 Ridge Meadows.............11 Sylvia Lindgren History of CWG...........12 [email protected] 1 BRITISH COLUMBIA SPEED SKATING ASSOCIATION!MARCH 2011 BC SPEED SKATERS ROCK THE WINTER GAMES BC’s speed skaters enjoyed a tremendous lead and wanted the win but were just a experience at the 2011 Canada Winter Games little slower than Quebec. February 11- 17. TEAM BC skaters achieved 8) An opening ceremony that athletes their best-ever finish for speed skating with a total universally loved even though it had one of 8 medals including 3 golds, 1 silver and 4 manager plugging his ears trying to limit bronze. hearing loss. Team members were: ST – Courtney Shmyr, Michelle MacKay, Jesse Keca, Jamie Macdonald, Robyn Kempers, Tim Hempsall, Mitch Kupchanko, Thomas McLennan, William McLennan and Jordan Rosborough. LT – Tori Spence, Sarah Pousette, Josie Spence, Alison Banwell, Jamie Inglis, Aedan Giffin, Braden Clouthier and Phillip Shrimpton Coaches- Nancy Goplen, Debby Fisher Managers – Jacques Thibault, Keith Gordon Apprentice Coach – Chris Acton 9) BC’s delegation being led by a speed skater as flag bearer– Tori Spence. The games experience included lots of highlights – 10) BC’s short track girls all being, in all in no particular order: events, top 15 of 49 participants! 1) Universal appreciation for BC’s stylish 11) Super 1500’s finals having 2 BC girls in skin-suits – kudo’s to the creators. the A and 2 in the B finals. 2) Travel that went on schedule !!! (survivors 12) Super 1500’s finals having 2 BC guys in the of Whitehorse will be impressed). B finals. 3) Luxurious accommodation in a fancy hotel! 13) The Spence sisters being interviewed live – does anyone remember the mud at Corner on TSN by anchor Catriona LeMay-Doan Brook and the wash trailers? 14) Wonderful support for BC speed skaters 4) Fantastic LT ice with a refrigerated track from the attentive mission staff – Michelle that was always in great shape and within Collens (a super fan herself who was in walking distance of the Athlete’s village – charge of BC’s opening ceremonies line up no venue buses for LT’ers and the pep rally) and Dave Newson. 5) Television coverage of the 500 m short track, the super 1500’s and relay finals After the cheers died down the reflections started. 6) The thrill of gold medals by Tori Spence in What caused our team to win twice as many the 3000 m LT, Courtney Shmyr in the 500 medals as we won in 1995? ST and the ladies Team Pursuit. 7) BC girls being full value for a silver medal Obviously the answer is that the top athletes that in the ST relay – they challenged for the BC sent were stronger. They were stronger for several reasons including that their home clubs are 2 BRITISH COLUMBIA SPEED SKATING ASSOCIATION!MARCH 2011 being more effective in mental I can’t help looking ahead to and physical preparation. Other Prince George and wondering factors would be that the about all our 10 to 14 year old coaching for Team BC has been skaters (some of whom recently in place for an extended time – did very well in Winnipeg) and several years running camps what they might be doing in open to CWG age skaters. 2015. It seems like we need to Coaches have built a relationship continue on with better physical with the athletes and with one preparation, high levels of another with a team approach to competition, testing, attending athlete development. A team camps and building Four excited Team BC members head to Halifax (Robyn Kempers, Sardis; relationship built throughout the enthusiasm. All coaches need to Miche"e MacKay, Thomas McLennan, years leading up to the Games look beyond the borders of their and Wi"iam McLennan, Ridge Meadows). allowed the coaches to know the club, continually raise the bar Calgary based athletes much and be innovative with training. better. Training camps with an In addition, the bridge between emphasis on technique, pursuit Calgary based athletes and CWG training and team building helped coaching staff is very important foster a strong contingent. There for CWG results. And, if club- was an attitude. The team went based coaching can be working there to race, not simply to be a with the CWG coaching staff on “tourist” athlete. Jacques shared goals it will be even Thibault was very positive and stronger. insisted that the team was going to be good and made outrageous Congratulations to all the athletes predictions of medal totals that that represented BC so well. Tori Spence carried the flag for the BC proved well founded. Positive Keith Gordon team at the Canada Winter Games vibes and expectations lead to held in Halifax. positive results! Canada Winter Games Results LT: Tori Spence: Gold in the 3,000m, Bronze in the 1000m and 1500m LT: Josie Spence: Bronze in the 3,000m LT: Ladies Team Pursuit: Gold ST: Courtney Shmyr: Gold in the 500m and Bronze in the 1,500m ST: Ladies Relay Team: Silver In addition our skaters earned over 30 top 10 finishes making these the BEST ever results for BC speed skaters at any CWG! Congratulations to our Athletes and Coaches. 3 BRITISH COLUMBIA SPEED SKATING ASSOCIATION!MARCH 2011 Salmon Arm Ice Breakers The Salmon Arm Icebreakers are enjoying a fun, exciting season. The club participated in meets in Kamloops and Kelowna in 2010 with some great times posted . Alyssa Skaalid skated in Calgary and earned an invitation to the Canada Winter Games qualifier in Kelowna . This January a large group of skaters from the Icebreakers skated at the 5th Annual Long Track Speed Skating Event in Logan Lake on Owen‘s Oval. The club skaters took home many medals and the club won back the cup. Alex Seal also competed in and won the Logan Lake Polarthon skate-run-ski event the same day. The Icebreakers recently competed in Vernon’s Interclub competition bringing home many medals , personal bests and racing firsts. The Masters Relay Coaches Joanne Keigan and Mike Ha" $om the Salmon Arm Icebreakers hold the Logan Challenge Cup race was won by the Salmon Arm team Lake Owen’s Oval Cup. of Cherlyn Drew, Alex Seal , Glen Waneck, and Rick Hofmann . Winning the race locks up the win of the World Masters meet and sure to skate cup for Salmon Arm this year. well. Alyssa Skaalid posted some great times and placed All season long the club has enjoyed well in Mackenzie’s Need For Speed Race on Feb skating in Mini-Meets in Vernon and 19th . Rick Hofmann is currently in Calgary at the many club skaters participate in a competitive practice session with Vernon. Many thanks to Pete Kapak. The Salmon Arm Ice breakers are now looking forward to the Handicap 500 Challenge to be skated over two dates along with Vernon and both Clubs from Kamloops . It looks to be a lot of fun . Cheers Darlene Ogilvie For more photos of the Logan Lake Meet see www.sandesphotos.smugmug.com Thanks to Sandra deVries . 4 BRITISH COLUMBIA SPEED SKATING ASSOCIATION!MARCH 2011 River City Racers Setting National Records The Kamloops River City Racers have had great season so far. Our skaters have attended many interclubs which have produced better interested in participating just ask one of times for every skaters. We have had our club members for more information a good turn out in our fall learn-to- for check out our website. skate and an even greater turn out in the Winter session. 2011 National Longtrack Champions: Highlights so far have been: Sara and Eric Spence travelled to Winnipeg where they each skated to win The Logan Lake LOop (which our the overall all-round National Champion southern longtrack interclub meet) has title. Sara skated to four first place a ritual of the Points Cup We had a finishes (all new Canadian Records) and great turnout of competitors and this a second place finish. Eric skated to years winners of the Points Cup were three first place finishes (all new the Salmon Arm Blades. Canadian Records). We are very proud Congratulations! All of our skaters of these two young skaters and their came away with some type of award accomplishments. and there were a lot of smiles on faces. This competition offers great learning exposure to longtrack or even to their first competition. The Polarthon saw its largest registration of competitors ever. The Polarthon consists of running, cross- country skiiing, skate events. We had teams of 2-4 or individuals who complete the entire circuit. Many prizes were handed out at the end of the competition which were donated from local business around the community of Kamloops.