2012 CACLT Wrap-Up

Ontario skaters had a very successful weekend at the Canadian Age Class Long Track championships which were held in Fort St. John, British Columbia. The event was held in a beautiful facility-  on the second floor of a three storey building. There were two hockey rinks on the main floor and from the inner part of the oval, you could look down onto them. On the third floor was a running/walking track. The competition was well run, and the organizers and officials were very approachable.

Twelve Ontario skaters took part in the competition and ten of them brought home medals. This accomplishment is amazing considering they were competing against athletes from provinces where there are far more opportunities in long track skating, and with far more competitions as well. Many of our skaters had just had their first introduction to long track speed skating at the Christmas camp in Ottawa, followed by one competition – the provincials in Ottawa. They were most pleased by the huge improvements in their times and there were quite a few pleasant surprises in their results. (There are no winds or cold weather when you get to skate indoors.)

Ontario’s medal winners were: 

• Sarah Ouimette (open women):  bronze medal in the O-S 3000m, 6^th overall;
• Alphonse Ouimette (15-year-old male): silver in 300m mass start, gold in 3000m O-S, bronze in 100m O-S, 2^nd overall;
• Paisley Perrie (14-year-old female): silver in 300m mass start, silver in 3000m O-S, silver in 100m O-S, gold in 500m O-S, 2^nd overall;
• Nick Everett (12-year-old boys): silver in 3000m mass start, silver in 100m O-S, and silver in 500m O-S, 3^rd overall;
• Aliya Howard (11-year-old girls): silver in 300m mass start, bronze in 3000m mass start, silver in 100m O-S, and gold in the 500m O-S, 1^st overall by a mere 3 points! This makes Aliya the Canadian Champion!
• Julie Tourrilhes was 9^th in 12-year-old girls; Josh Bateman was 4^th, Cameron Mason was 5^th, and Will Harris was 6^th in 13-year-old boys; Amanda Tickner was 6^th in 13-year-old girls; Adrienne Gaudreault was 6^th in 14-year-old girls; Kaitlin Tropper was 9^th in open women.

In addition Cameron Mason, Josh Bateman, and Will Harris won a silver medal in the 12 & 13-year-old male relay; Paisley Perrie, Amanda Tickner, and Adrienne Gaudreault won the bronze medal in the 13 & 14-year-old female team pursuit; Nick Everett won bronze in the 12 & 13-year-old male relay on a mixed-province team; Alphonse Ouimette won bronze in the 14 & 15-year-old male team pursuit, also on a mixed-province team.

Ontario was also presented with the plaque for the most improved province over last year’s results! 

(OSSA Note: Thank you to team coach Kristi Copeland for not only writing this wrap-up for us, but for doing a great job in Fort St. John!)