From the left, Brian McArthur of Red Deer, Rick Dijkstra of Innisfail, Berend Ridder of Olds and Henrik Helmig of Olds pull away pack early in the North American 100 km.
Speedskating Championship on Sylvan Lake Saturday morning. Thirty-five men and six women started the race on the five km. track for the last of three days of racing at this years event.
Twenty-five and 50-km events were held Thursday and Friday under warm, sunny conditions while Saturday’s event was a much colder affair. Gusty north winds blowing snow and cool temperatures greeted skaters at the start line and stayed with the racers for the duration of the event.
The men’s event saw a tie for first place with Helmig and Dijkstra finishing in 3:32:39 and Ridder 3rd in a time of 3:38:34 and McArthur a second later in 4th position. Susan Cameron of Edmonton was the first female finishing completing the 100 km. in 4:01:21.