Yukon’s top-level athletes got some financial help last week through the territorial government’s Yukon High Performance Assistance Program.
In total, $47,000 in grants were announced.
“This funding provides support to Yukon’s developing high-performance athletes, coaches and officials,” Glenn Hart, minister responsible for Sport and Recreation, said in a release.
“We have a number of conscientious, high-level athletes who are pursuing demanding training programs and are very successful in meeting their competition goals.
We also have a number of high-level coaches and officials who are striving to upgrade their skills and certifications.”
A jury composed of members of the sport community and the Yukon government decided who got the money.
The funding levels are gold, silver and bronze, and relate to an athlete’s performance at a national or international level, a western Canadian level or a provincial level, respectively.
Performance and potential of the individual determines funding levels.
“This funding allows our athletes to focus on their training and improving their performance so that they can better compete against athletes of similar calibre in national and international competitions,” said Jim Kenyon, minister responsible for the Yukon Lotteries Commission.
The Yukon high-performance coach assistance and high-performance official assistance programs help coaches and officials upgrade their training beyond a level that is available in the Yukon.
Athletes receiving funding in 2006-2007 are:
Gold level ($2,000 to 5,000)
Graham Nishikawa,
cross-country skiing
Brittany Greer,
cross-country skiing
Zach Bell, cycling
Daniel Sessford, cycling
MacKenzie Downing, swimming
Alexandra Gabor, swimming
Brent Langbakk, orienteering
Silver level ($2,000 to $2,500)
Kevin Caron, figure skating
Bryn Knight, cross-country skiing
Emily Nishikawa,
cross-country skiing
Ray Sabo, cross-country skiing
Bronwyn Pasloski, swimming
Shane Carlos, athletics
Justine Scheck, orienteering
Bronze level ($1,000)
Andrew Craigen, volleyball
Melissa Laluk, volleyball
Coaches and Officials receiving funding in 2006-2007
Tim Brady, basketball
Richard Farnell, judo
Lori Muir, squash
Hart also announced $800,200 in grants for Yukon sport and recreation groups. Twenty-four Yukon sport governing bodies will receive $457,200, incuding $29,800 specifically for preparing athletes for the 2007 Western Canada Summer Games in Alberta.
Eight Yukon special recreation groups will receive $166,000.
Sport Yukon will receive $130,000.
“All of the groups receiving funding provide programs and services that enhance the quality of life for all Yukoners,” said Jim Eby, acting chair of the Yukon recreation advisery committee.
“We are pleased to make these resources available to support the excellent work being done by these volunteers in the sport and recreation system in the Yukon.”
Sport governing bodies grants:
Alpine Skiing, $18,500
Athletics Yukon, $4,900
Yukon Badminton, $3,800
Basketball Yukon, $27,000
Biathlon Yukon, $6,300
Yukon Amateur Boxing, $3,000
Cross-country Yukon $78,000
Yukon Curling, $12,500
Yukon Cycling, $6,700
Figure Skating, $5,000
Yukon Golf, $3,500
Yukon Gymnastics, $24,000
Yukon Amateur Hockey, $60,000
Judo Yukon, $8,200
Yukon Orienteering, $3,700
Yukon Shooting, $2,700
Snowboard Yukon, $78,400
Yukon Soccer, $78,400
Softball Yukon, $16,500
Yukon Amateur Speed Skating,
$11,000
Squash Yukon, $14,300
Swim Yukon, $34,700
Synchro Yukon, $4000
Volleyball Yukon, $27,000
Special recreation group grants:
Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle,
$16,000
ElderActive Recreation, $10,000
Girl Guides, $14,000
Yukon Scouts, $8,000
RPAY, $44,000
Skookum Jim Friendship Centre,
$52,000
Yukon Special Olympics, $18,000
Yukon STARS, $4,000
Yukon Canadian Rangers
For the fifth year in a row, the Carcross Canadian Ranger Patrol came out on the top at the 10th annual Yukon Canadian Ranger Shooting Championship held in Haines Junction last weekend.
Rgr. Jim Ambrose of the Carmacks Patrol was the best overall shooter, followed by Sgt. Dan Creswell of Carcross and Sgt. Scott Odian of Atlin, BC.
The Carcross patrol team, composed of Sgt. Dan Cresswell, Master Cpl. Norm Beebe, Rgr. Jennifer Joe, Rgr. Dean Klassen and Rgr. Phil Morgan, took first prize with a convincing 812-783 point win over Dawson. Haines Junction took third spot.
Eight Yukon community Ranger patrols competed, using the .303 Lee-Enfield rifle that is standard issue to all Canadian Rangers.
Sessford’s journal
Yukon mountain bike racer Daniel Sessford continued his Canada Cup season in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, last weekend.
“It wasn’t as muddy as Bromont, but it was still slippery in the trees,” said Sessford via e-mail.
No call up for the top 20 riders meant everyone rolled out together. “I started the race in the back and had to work super hard to get to the front group for the first single track,” said Sessford.
Problems on the technical section of the course puzzled Sessford, “I realized I had my tires pumped up way to much for me and after dropping back to around 27th position, I stopped and let some air out of my tires,” he said. “After that, things started to improve.”
Sessford managed to battle back to a 17th-place finish. It’s all good experience for the young racer.
“Maybe I will check my tires before I start next weekend,” he said.
Whitehorse Men’s
Soccer League
The revamped Whitehorse Men’s Soccer League kicked off last night at Porter Creek field.
This season, the league features two divisions, the top-calibre Premier Division and the competitive recreational Division One.
Under-18 rep team 2
Shenanigans FC 1
In last night’s season opener for the Premier Division it was Willy Quarton leading the way for the under-18 rep team as they knocked off Shenanigans. Quarton booted in both goals, including the winning marker with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
Replying for Shenanigans was Victor Lavenderos.
Whitehorse
Minor Soccer
Under-12 (Monday)
Rodan Air 6
Dana Naye Ventures 4
After the first half Rodan Air was up 4-1. A pep talk from the Dana Naye coaches sparked the team, as it pulled together with some great passing and came back to win.
Scorers for Rodan Air were Chris Fisher, with a pair of nice goals, and Jarrett Worsfeld and Michael Hare each added one. Fisher was named MVP for the air squad Chris.
Shayna Jordan and Kurtis Hills scored two each for Dana Naye, with Adrian Blythe and Josh Hanson adding singles. Nicole Tarr was the MVP for some great offence and defence.
BMO Bank of Montreal 3
RCMP Drug Awareness 2
Matthew Pollard scored a pair for the Bank, but Dylan Sands’ game winning goal earned him the MVP.
Mary Bennett and Michael Bennett scored for the Cops, and Becky Leslie was named top player.
Bumper to Bumper 7
Locksmith Services 1
Hat tricks for both Brayden Kulych and Tyler Wiens did most of the damage as Bumper to Bumper smashed Locksmith Services. Kelsey Smeeton added a single and MVP Miriam Ott had a solid defensive game.
Gibson Pearson scored for Locksmith Services, and Sabrina Clarke was the MVP.
Under-11 (Monday)
Gartner Lee 3
A1 Autobody 2
This Monday night match was a fast paced with great checking by A1 and excellent forward passing by the Gartner Lee squad.
Meagan Lanigan scored all three Gartner Lee goals. Michaela Klassen-St. Pierre was named MVP.
Nigel Sinclair-Eckert’s two goals earned him A1’s top player honours.
Wintemute Electric 5
Kluane Mechanical 2
Michael Wintemute led the Electric squad with three goals, and Willy Oulton, and Tyler Koenen added singles. Deanna Klubi took MVP honours.
Heather Clarke and Riley Andrew scored for Kluane. Julianna Campbell was the MVP.
Under-10 (Monday)
Arctic Respiratory 2
The Deli 0
Dylan Reed and Wyatt Gale scored for Arctic Respiratory. Tristan Walsh’s strong goaltending earned him MVP.
Teagyn Vallevand was the top player for The Deli.
Under-nine (May 23)
Prime Meridian Physiotherapy 3
Surgical Precision 2
Prime Meridian’s scorers were Etienne Geoffray, River Tourangeau and Caelan MacLean, with one each. Gavin Aimoe had a pair of goals for Surgical Precision. MVP for Surgical Precision was Nick Guevette and for Prime Meridian it was Brendan Irish.
Fitzsimmons Driving School 2
Gartner Lee Ltd. 0
Benjamin Grundmanis scored all the goals in this game. Hailey Patterson earned the MVP for a shutout. Jakov Tokis was Gartner Lee’s top player.
Norcope 4
Coates Service 3
Max Clarke’s two goals led Norcope, while Marcus Deuling and Jarvis Scheffen added singles. Luqman Malik took MVP honours.
Brett Nichols, Odessa Beatty and Chris Torgerson scored for Coates, and Alex Tuberfield was the top
player.
Physio Plus 2
Tim Hortons 2
Tim Hortons’ scorers were Samantha Wintemute and MVP Alex Bouvier.