The Red Deer Central Lions Speed Skating Club’s annual Jeremy Wotherspoon Open Long Track Meet was a success.
From Jan. 20 - 21, over 90 skaters from from Banff, Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, and Red Deer competed in various races outdoors at Setters Place, despite less-than-ideal weather.
“It was a very good success considering the weather conditions that we had,” said Marie Payne, director of the Red Deer Central Lions Speed Skating Club.
“The volunteers and the staff at the oval were excellent at keeping the ice surface in good condition for the skaters.”
The event was also a qualifier for the upcoming Canadian Youth Long Track Speed Skating Championships held in Quebec City from Feb. 9-11.
Only racers aged 11-13 could qualify for the championships and no skaters from the Lions who competed at the event were in that age category.
There was also a fun five-kilometre race at the end of the two-day event to wrap up the meet.
For many of the competitors, it was their first time skating in an outdoor meet, which Payne said provided a unique experience for some kids.
“On Sunday afternoon, a lot of them thought that we were cancelling the rest of the events because of the snow. We don’t cancel the events because of snow, we skate,” she said.
“We practice outside all of the time on long track and it’s a great sport to participate in outside.”
The open long track meet is one of two major events the Lions host every year including the short track meet that is typically put on in November.
The Red Deer Central Lions have held the event since they first became a club in the 1950s. With that in mind, it’s extremely important to them to continue the legacy that was built decades ago.
“It’s really important to keep that legacy going,” she said. “I think we’ve had several skaters go on to the Olympics in the past and we’re very proud of them.
“The lockdown two years ago hurt the club so we’re just starting to build back up now… We’ve grown this year quite a bit so it’s been positive this year.”
Payne added that they’re always looking for new members of all ages and abilities. Those interested can contact the club at rdspeedskating@gmail.com for a free open tryout session.
The club will provide the skates and all the participants will need to bring are gloves and a helmet.
Results
Divison 7 – Active Start
1. Jackson Willis (Red Deer) 2. Madeline Bustamente (Red Deer) 3. Darius Klywak (Red Deer)
Divison 6
Female
1. Thomasina Payne (Red Deer) 2. Megan Bartels (Red Deer) 3. Scarlett Farand (Red Deer)
Male
1. Torren Mohrbutter (Lloydminster) 2. Lukas Versteeg (Red Deer) 3. Declan Puttick (Edmonton)
Divison 5
Female
1. Zoey Kinney (Red Deer) 2. Rebekah Wicks (Edmonton) 3. Rose Warsylewica (Calgary Grizzlies)
Male
1. Wyatt Scratch (Lethbridge) 2. Sawyer Gaudet (Edmonton) 3. Lucas Gu (Calgary)
Divison 4
Female
1. Alexa Jessee (Calgary) 2. Grace Myers (Lloydminster) 3. Cate Jackson (Calgary)
Male
1. Samual Jesney (Calgary Grizzlies) 2. Lyle Currie (Edmonton) 3. Silhoe Larocque (Calgary Grizzlies)
Youth 11 Female
1. Hope Allen (Calgary Grizzlies) 2. Nina Ireland (Calgary Grizzlies) 3. Sevana Larocque (Calgary Grizzlies)
Youth 12 Female
1. Felicia Robert (Calgary) 2. Mollie Poulin (Calgary Grizzlies) 3. Claire Peake (Lethbridge)
Youth 13 Female
1. Myla Ireland (Calgary Grizzlies) 2. Marika Anderson (Edmonton) 3. Rebeca Currie (Edmonton)
Youth 11 Male
1. Nicholas Wang (Calgary) 2. Yien Feng (Calgary) 3. Daxton Pueschel (Edmonton)
Youth 12 Male
1. Jonson Bi (Edmonton) 2. Matthew Wilson (Calgary) 3. Isaac Krahn (Edmonton)
Youth 13 Male
1. Jiaqi Lin (Calgary) 2. David Dang (Calgary Grizzlies) 3. Gavin Tyrrell (Calgary Grizzlies)
Neo Junior/Junior
1. Nathon Kettyle-Kozuback (Red Deer) 2. James Wigelsworth (Red Deer) 3. Gavin Olgivie (Lethbridge)