The results are in for this year’s King of the Canyon Race, which took place Saturday.
Twenty-two riders hit the trail in the early morning chill, and Daniel Sessford led the way on the 35-kilometre course, winning by more than 11 minutes.
Katharine Sandiford and Monika Malnychuk were named the Queens of the Canyon, finishing first in the two-person team division.
Results:
Solo
1st Daniel Sessford, 1:47:26
2nd Jonah Clark, 1:58:48
3rd Ian Parker, 2:01:27
4th Marcus Waterreus, 2:01:28
5th David Greer, 2:02:38
6th Bradley Barton, 2:07:02
7th Aaron Foos, 2:09:09
8th Bill Slater, 2:09:10
9th Dan Reimer, 2:15:32
10th Jake Derksen, 2:18:49
11th Graham Riske, 2:20:28
12th Sean MacKinnon,
2:23:40
13th Devon McDiarmid,
2:23:41
14th Mark Koepke, 2:28:55
15th Bill Greer, 2:36:57
16th Darren Holcombe, 2:38:30
17th Philippe Leblond, 2:54:00
18th Kevin Tatsumi, 3:05:52
2-Person Team
1st Katharine Sandiford, Monika Malnychuk, 2:51:47
2nd Joshua Robinson, Ron Billingsley, 2:51:59
Orienteers end season
Last week, the Yukon Orienteering Association wrapped up a busy summer of events.
The Golden Aspen Orienteering Festival encompassed three events over the last week.
Each focused on a different format, which required different skills.
Saturday’s race was a middle-distance format. Course planner Brent Langbakk designed four courses with short legs and lots of changes of direction to keep people focused.
Detailed map-reading skills were necessary, as the Copper King map has many boulders and other such fine features.
This map was last used in July for the Western Canadian Championships and, unfortunately, will probably be changed drastically after the development of the Raven’s Ridge subdivision.
The Yukon Orienteering Championships were part of Sunday’s race were held on the newly revised Golden Horn map.
Amazing scenic views didn’t seem to distract too many of the orienteers who took on the seven courses planned by Juri Peepre and Pam James.
The longer classic distance challenges all orienteering skills, but route choice takes on an added importance.
One of the most wonderful aspects of orienteering competitions is the fact that on the same day, using the same map, people of all ages and skill levels can be out together enjoying the forest.
On Sunday, the elite athletes tested the more than 10-kilometre course for men 20-34.
Brent Langbakk was first to complete the course, which was so long two maps were required.
Competitors in this category had to run through an exchange zone in the assembly area, pick up another map and go back out on the course a second time.
Members of the Yukon Orienteering Squad turned in some of the more notable results.
Many of them ran “up” on longer and more difficult courses than their ages would normally allow, and are already challenging the big boys.
Colin Abbott and Lee Hawkings were first and second, faster then every other competitor who ran course 5 on Sunday.
Trevor Bray also had excellent results over the three days, firmly showing his mastery of course 1.