Three separate meets kept the Glacier Bears swimmers busy this weekend, with competitions in Alaska, BC and Oregon.
Pool hotshot Alexandra Gabor competed as a member of the BC provincial team at the Pacific Coast All-Star Meet in Beaverton, Oregon. Teams from southern and central California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia were in attendance.
Gabor finished first in the 100 and 200 free and second in the 500 free. Her sixth-place finish in the 50-metre backstroke set a new club record.
She also anchored the BC girls’ 11-12 A relay team, which finished first in the 200 free, fourth in the 400 medley, fourth in the 200 medley, and second in the 400 free relays.
Gabor’s time in the 200 free is the fastest this season in the girls’ under-12 age group in the entire United States.
Meanwhile, nine bears’ swimmers went up against 260 others in the Lower Mainland Regional AA Championships in Chilliwack, BC.
They achieved 95 per cent personal best times and brought home 12 medals.
Kim Holmes swam a AAA time in winning the 200 breast in the girls’ 14 and over category, and nearly repeated that feat with a silver medal in the 100 breast. Holmes also claimed gold in the 200 IM.
Competing in a tough 13-year old category, Hailey Bielz won gold in the 800 free and silver in the 400 free.
In the same age group, Molly Purser sprinted to gold in the 50 free and won silver in the 100 and 200 free.
In the 11 and under category, Kirsten Berube was strong in the backstroke to finish third in the 100 back and fifth in the 200 back. In the same age group, Kate McArthur was also in the finals in most of her events, grabbing bronze in the 100 free.
On the boys’ side, Francis Aubin, competing in the 14 and older category, claimed silver in the 100 back and bronze in the 200 IM.
As well last weekend, a number of swimmers travelled to Haines, Alaska, for the Winter Games North swim meet, competing against teams from Haines, Juneau and Petersburg.
Craig Berube set new club records in the 100 back and 100 fly in the boys’ 10 and under age group, while Geoffrey Thompson’s times in the 200 fly and 400 IM were also club records in 15-17 age group.
This was the first meet outside Whitehorse for several swimmers, and they performed admirably.
Despite the new experience of salinated water, disqualifications, a bloody nose and unco-operative goggles, novices Taylor Campbell and Julia Fedoriak rose to the occasion, philosophically accepting it all as part of the experience.
The competition was stiff in many age groups, but Ashley Bray, Hannah Val, Bryce Harding, Josh Kelly and Spencer Sumanik all swam a number of personal best times.
The next competition for the Whitehorse Glacier Bears is the BC Provincial Swimming Championships in Surrey on February 2-5.
Skating
Ten Arctic Edge Skating Club members competed in the Coast Region and Pacific StarSkate Qualifying Championships in Chilliwack, BC, on the weekend.
Four of these skaters had top four finishes and will be competing at the Pacific Skate Championships in Vernon, February 22–24.
Teneil Caron, Rachel Pettit, Chantal Emond and Kristin Glass will travel to Vernon.
Teneil placed third in the Bronze Interpretive event. Rachel Pettit placed second in Preliminary Skills. Chantal Emond won the Gold Skills event and Kristin Glass placed third in Senior Silver Ladies.
Other big achievements coming up for skaters include Kevin Caron’s trip to Junior Nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick, next week. He will be competing in the Pre-novice men’s event.
Hockey
Oldtimers league (Wednesday)
AON Flames 4
Edgewater Windsors 4
Brian Fedoriak led the Flames’ scoring with two goals, and Bill Bohmer and Doug Janzen added singles
Windsors’ goals came from Rick Blaker, Mark Pinter, Shelby Workman and Steve McGrath.
Yukon Inn 6
Klondyke Dental Molars 1
Dave Pearson had a big night for the Yukon Inn, scoring three goals and three assists. Bernie Adilman notched a pair and Glen Heinbigner added one.
Bob Allison scored the lone Molars’ goal.
Firth Rangers 5
Medicine Chest 4
Tim Vincent scored two goals for the Rangers in this close match up, and Ross Phillips, Stu Mackay and Phil Bastien scored as well.
Scoring for Medicine Chest were John Mahoney, Mitch Malchow, Dean Hassard and Brian Eyolfson.
Soccer
Under-11 (Tuesday)
Sorrento 4
Rafter A Ranch 2
Aziz Van Gassen led Sorrento with a pair of goals, while Josh Hansen and Darren White rounded out the scoring. Megan Lanigan was named Sorrento’s player of the game.
Micah Coupland and Ryley Anderson scored for the Ranch. Josh Harlan was the top rancher.
Snap On Tools 6
CIBC 4
CIBC’s Charlie Kedziora recorded a hat trick, and Ryan Burke scored as well, but it wasn’t enough to put away Snap On.
With Belgie Nunez-Zuniga’s three goals, and Jeremy Linville, Clay Lichamer and Sabrina Clarke scoring singles, Snap On managed to overpower CIBC for the win.
Heiko Nyland was named Snap On’s MVP, and Jake Ruddy was CIBC’s player of the game.
Remax 7
Kiwanis 2
Hat tricks from Remax’s Tristan Olynyk and Max Melvin-McNutt were enough to put away Kiwanis, and Chrissy Anderson’s goal was icing on the cake.
Kiwanis’ goals were scored by Jessie Cebuliak and Felix Bouchard.
Nicole Bandera was named Kiwanis’ player of the game, and Remax’s MVP was Jorden Lyndsay.
Mt. McIntyre ski report
Five centimetres of new snow has made a difference. The World Cup 10 kilometre was groomed with the Pisten Bully machine for the first time this season and it’s excellent for classic and skating, although the snow is very slow. There may still be a rock or two so use caution on hills.
Copper to Best Chance, Dog, Selwyn’s Loop, and Logan Burn were also groomed Wednesday and are good for classic and skating.
Coyote and Whisky Jack are packed only.
Most other trails are still in good condition and will be groomed over the next few days.
Skiers with dogs who are using the Stadium Trailhead are asked to ski along the fenced trail to the east side of the stadium. This will help keep the stadium area clean and will make it safer for Jackrabbit lessons and ski team practices.
Wax of the Day: rode special green. Apply several thin layers.
Coming up:
Sportslodge Wax and Wine is January 27 at 7 p.m. All are welcome and admission is free. Food provided by Alpine Bakery.
Free Ski Day, Saturday, January 28.
30K skate time trial Sunday at noon. Register up to start time.
The next Subway 5k is Wednesday, February 1 at 6 p.m. Register by January 31.
Marsh Lake Loppet and Northwestel Loppet entry forms now available.
For updated trail conditions and event information call the ski club information line at 668-7742 or check the website www.xcskiwhitehorse.ca
Carbon Hill Race
Due to a lack of snow, the Carbon Hill dogsled race scheduled for January 29 at the Mount Lorne Community Centre has been postponed until March 11. Contact Al Pope at 393-1939 for details.