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Great news for the Spence sisters!

Saskatoon – Josie Spence, a speed skater with the Kamloops River City Racers Club, secured a spot on the Canadian Junior Long Track Team this past weekend at Junior Nationals and will be representing Canada at the Junior Worlds in Obihiro Japan on March 3 and 4th.

At the Junior National Championships this past weekend Josie raced to personal best times in all of her four distances skated. She was a double silver medalist, once in the 1500m with a personal best time of 2:15.47 and a second time in the 3000m event with a personal best time of 4:49.92. She placed fifth in the 500m event in a personal best time of 43.55 and sixth in the 1000m event in a personal best time of 1:28.60.

The top 4 male and 4 female skaters from this event were named to the World Team. Joining Josie on the female team are Kate Hanley of Alberta, Heather McLean of Manitoba and Meryem Labidi of Quebec. Josie’s next competition will be the Junior World Cup event in Calgary this coming weekend.

Younger sister Sara also qualified to compete in the Junior National Championships in Saskatoon this weekend and placed 13th overall with personal bests in all four distances she skated: 45.53 in the 500m; 1:33.86 in the 1000m; 2:29.57 in the 1500m; and a whopping 26sec personal best in the 3000m for a new time of 5:10.89.

Tori Spence, the eldest sister, was racing in the Canada Cup division of the Saskatoon races and finished with a first place in the 3000m event in a new personal best time of 4:39.87. Tori was second in the 1500m with a new personal best and provincial record of 2:14.39. She was 5th in the 1000m event and 7th in the 500m. Sara and Tori will be competing in the North American Championships this weekend in Calgary. Tori will be racing her second World Cup event in Heerenveen, Netherlands the same weekend her sister Josie will be in Japan, March 3 and 4th.

Results from Calgary, January 5-8

Results from Calgary Canadian Single Distance Championship and Canada Cup #2

Tori Spence of the Kamloops River City Racers qualified for her second World Cup this season. She placed 4th in the 5k Canadian single distance Championships in Calgary which earned her a spot on the World Cup team to Hamar, Norway on February 11 and 12th.

In the Canada Cup competition, Josie Spence finished at the top of the leader board setting a personal best time of 1:21.1.

Sara Spence finished in 15th spot. This is the first time Sara has qualified for a Canadian single distance championship.

Logan Lake Events Cancelled

Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating for this year's Logan Lake LOop and Polarthon. Due to warm temperatures and poor ice conditions we have decided to cancel the events this Saturday, January 7,  2012.

Thanks to everyone who registered, volunteered, practiced, and helped to promote the events. All of your efforts will be put to good use in the future!

Countdown to LOop and Polarthon

CANCELLED DUE TO WARM WEATHER AND POOR ICE CONDITIONS

Ice preparation is underway for a great season at Owen's Oval at Logan Lake. It should be in fine shape for our upcoming events on January 7th. Sign up or just come out to watch!

1. Logan Lake LOop
2. Polarthon

2012 Logan Lake LOop Invitational Long Track

January 7th, 2012

Hosted by: Kamloops River City Racers Speed Skating Club

Experience Speed Skating as it use to be and....no shoveling required

Welcome to the 6th Annual Long Track Invitational Speed Skating event for Southern BC. The purpose of this event is to give southern skaters exposure to outdoor long track skating without having to travel great distances (of course northern skaters are also welcome). Our goal is to provide a friendly and fun event with fast ice. Please be patient with us as this is an outdoor event, held on natural ice, and dependent on the weather and volunteers.

We hope to run three events for each skater and a forth, weather permitting as this is an outdoor event.

Dress warmly and in layers. Helmet, neck guard, shin and knee pads are not mandatory.  Please ensure that no skin is showing.

Location:  Logan Lake – on the Lake (Owen’s Oval)

Time: warm up 8:00am – 8:20am; racing 8:30am – 1:00pm

Medical: First Aid – St. John’s

Sanction: Safety standards per BCSSA

MEET ENTRIES: List of registrants must be emailed to longblades@hotmail.com by 8:00pm Monday January 2nd.  An excel spreadsheet is available for registrars to submit your entries by email. Registration is limited to 120 skaters on a first come, first served basis. All others will be placed on a waiting list.

Seed Time: Fundamental Skaters and up (age 6 and up)  300m, 16+ and up 500m, Cradles 100m; please use best times from short track for consistency

Entry Fee:  $27.00 Fundamental Skaters and up (age 6 and up).  $17.00 Active Start (under 6) One cheque per club please.

Registration: Owen’s Oval, Logan Lake, BC

Eligible skaters: Active Start to Master

Format: Age Class. If there is less than 4 skaters in an age class these skaters will be combined with the closest age class of the same gender but not to exceed 7 on a line. Skaters in these combined divisions will continue to receive points based on their registered age class. If there is more than 7 skaters in an age class heats will be skated.  Only the top 6 skaters will advance to the final.

Officials: Needed. Please contact Diana Coder at longblades@hotmail.com or at (250) 374 - 3719 if you can help officiate or volunteer for this event.

Races will start with the Active Start to Masters.

Athletic BIBS will be provided for each skater to wear while racing. Please return these bibs at the end of the competition.

SCHEDULE:
General registration: 7:45 am – 8:00 am (Owen’s Oval)
Coaches and officials meeting: 8:00 am – 8:15 am (Owen’s Oval)
Skaters' Warm Up: 8:00 am – 8:20am (Owen’s Oval)
Racing: 8:30 am – 1:00 pm (Owen’s Oval)
Lunch – Officials only: 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Curling Rink – upstairs)
Awards presentation: 1:30 (Owen’s Oval) approximate time

Lunch and Awards presentations are approximate times.

ACCOMMODATION:
Logan Lake - Copper Valley Motor Inn
 (includes restaurant – 500 meters from the LOop) 19 Apex, Logan Lake
To reserve phone: 250-523-9433

Merritt – Econo-lodge, 2201 Voght, Merritt
To reserve phone: 250-378-4291

Various other motel/hotels in Kamloops (approximately 35 minutes from Logan Lake, BC).

For more information please contact:
Meet Coordinator: Diana Coder 250 374 3719 (longblades@hotmail.com)

View and download this information and entry form.

Time to form your teams and register for the 2012 Polarthon

It's time to register for the 2012 Polarthon!

View / download the brochure and entry form. Here's one in black and white if you don't want to waste printer ink. Register by mail, in person, or online and pay on the event day.

When: January 7, 2012 | 2pm
Where: Owen's Oval, Logan Lake Campground
What: Team -- 3 km skate, 2.5 km run, 4 km ski (any style), 2.5 km run

2012 Polarthon

Plan to participate in the 2012 Polarthon to be held January 7, 2012 at Logan Lake! This is an annual fun event suitable for teams of all ages and skill levels. All you need to do is skate, ski, and run... oh and crazy costumes are also encouraged. More information will be available soon!

October Chill Short Track Event

There were many club firsts at the October Chill Short Track event held in Kamloops over the weekend. Tim Mburu finished first overall in division 1, while Sara Spence won her division 4. Eric Spence qualifed for each primary final in division 3. Other skaters that won heats within their divisions were Li and Luukas Dong, James Waterman, Margaret Jean and Alexander Willis, Finn Bogetti-Smith and Josie Spence. Personal best times were skated by Alexander and Margaret Jean Willis and Roman Hessel. Establishing times for their first time racing were: AJ Timewell, Finn Bogetti-Smith, Mia, Li and Luukas Dong and James Waterman.

The next competition for the Racers is the BC Cup in Prince George November 12 and 13.

Tori Spence qualifies to compete in her first World Cup event

October 30 – Calgary Tori Spence of the River City Racers Speed Skating Club, (and beginning her second season of skating at the Calgary Olympic Oval), qualified for her first World Cup Speed Skating event and is off to Heerenveen later this month. Tori competed in the World Cup Trials which were held in Calgary over the weekend. This was the first time Tori qualified to participate in the world cup trials and was entered in three events - the 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m. The top 5 women in each distance qualify to race at the Fall World Cups. Tori placed 8th in the 1500m, setting a new provincial record and personal best time of 2:03.00. In both the 3k and 5k events she placed 4th. Tori secured a world cup spot in the 5k event. Because two skaters requested a buy in the 3k event it is as yet undecided which skaters will be named to participate in the world cup 3k events.

September Schedule

Check the River City Racers Calendar of Events for updates to our fall schedule.

Thursday, 22 September

 Registration and skate fitting

When: Thu, 22 September, 16:00 – 18:30

Where: McArthur Arena - main lobby

Description: Registration and skate fitting

Friday, 23 September

 Practice: Skate Fast + others

When: Fri, 23 September, 06:30 – 07:30

Where: McArthur Island Arena

Description: This practice is mainly for Skate Fast skaters but skate skills and skate masters welcome if can’t make a Tuesday or Thursday practice.

Sunday, 25 September

 Club Coaching Clinic

When: Sun, 25 September, 15:00 – 16:00

Where: McArthur Island Arena

Description: For any parent or oder skater interested in helping out on the ice this season

Tuesday, 27 September

 Practice: Open to everyone

When: Tue, 27 September, 16:15 – 17:15

Where: Ice Box Arena 

Description This is the first training session at the Ice Box – open to everyone except the skaters in the Learn to Skate and Skate Fun program.

Thursday, 29 September

 Practice: Skate Fast, Skate Skills, and Masters

When: Thu, 29 September, 16:15 – 17:15

Where: Ice Box Arena

 Skate Fun and Learn to Skate

When: Thu, 29 September, 17:15 – 18:00

Description: Skate Fun and first Learn to Skate session

Friday, 30 September

 Practice: Skate Fast

When: Fri, 30 September, 06:30 – 07:30

Where: McArthur Island Arena 

Description: Skate Fast (Skate skills and skate masters welcome if can’t make a Tuesday or Thursday practice)

Nelson Mini Meet

Nelson is pleased to announce its second annual meet!

• This is a non-sanctioned event. 
• ALL age classes from cradle to Masters are welcome. 
• All age classes will race in the classic “flight” format (oldest to youngest) 
• Races will be on the 111m or 100m track depending on the age group. 
• Everyone will be guaranteed 4 races. 
• If there is enough time at the end we will feature additional races. Last year everyone completed 7 races each!! 
• Entry fees are $10.00 per Skater. 

This is Nelson’s second locally hosted meet, we hope to make this an annual event and turn it into a sanctioned meet. We encourage Athletes of all ages to enter, and hope this will be a meet the entire Family can participate in and enjoy.

Location


District Community Complex, Nelson | map

Accommodation

1. Prestige Inn Nelson, 1301 Front Street Nelson, Ph. (250) 352-3595, $79.95- Special Rate plus applicable taxes per night per room, 12% HST, 2% MST not included.
2. Alpine Motel and suites, 1120 Hall Mines Road, Nelson, 1-888-356-2233, call for rates, kitchen suites available.

Send entries to:
Jason Hartleb
hartleb@telus.net
Home: 250-365-8402

Entries should be in by Tuesday Morning, October 11th so everyone can be seeded. Seed Times: 300M for L2T and younger (100M track) 400M for T2T (100M track) 500M Junior and up If your athlete does not have times for these distances, please indicate the distance you are providing the time for. Thank you and the Nelson SpeedSkating Club is looking forward to putting on a great meet.

Jason Hartleb
Head Coach
Nelson Speed Skating Club

Time to Skate!

From River City Racers Web Album

Speed skating is starting up soon! We'll kick off the season with a free skate on Saturday, September 17, 10am at McArthur Arena. Come out for a warm up or to try speed skating for the first time.

Here is a list of programs we offer. We're busy updating the scheduling details.

Children’s Learn to Skate - $75.00 - must be at least 5 years of age. A learn to skate program for the beginner skater. Focus will be on fundamental movement skills on skates, ie balance, skating stride, stopping, starting, corner cross overs and agility. Skills taught through games. Report cards and achievement pins awarded 1X week McArthur Arena - Thursdays 5:15 - 6pm

Skate Fun - for the skater who is past the beginner stage and wants to be further challenged on skating skills. 1X week - McArthur Arena - Thursdays 4:00 - 5:15pm

Skate Skills - for the beginning competitive racer or recreational skater that would like more ice time 2X week - McArthur Arena - Thursdays 4 - 5:15 and Tuesdays at the Ice Box

Skate Fast - for the competitive racer 3X week - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday morning (6:30 - 7:45am - McArthur)

Skate Masters - either Friday morning and/or Tuesday evening TBA

For more information please contact Cathy Spence at 250 374 5430

RCR AGM and Awards Ceremony

From 2011 AGM and Award Ceremony

Josie Spence captured top honors at the Kamloops River City Racers Club Awards Ceremony on Sunday. Josie was presented with the ‘Skater of the Year’ trophy for a stellar competitive season. Josie was the only skater in BC to qualify for both the long track and short track speed skating team for the Canada Winter Games in Halifax. She chose long track and raced to two medal performances. She captured an individual bronze medal in the 3000m race and a gold medal, and new Canada Games record, in the team pursuit event. She qualified for both the Junior National Short Track and Long Track and ranked in the top 10 for both. She also qualified for the Canadian single distance in the 3000m event.

Other members awarded for their efforts this season were as follows:

• Margaret Jean Willis and Roman Hessel were presented with the Female and Male (respectively) Club Skater of the Year award. 
• Matej Pederson (regional boys champion) was awarded the Male Short Track award.
• Eric Spence (Canadian age class champion) won the Male Long Track trophy. 
• Anneke Pederson was named the Female Short Track Skater (silver medals at provincials and Canada West)
• Sara Spence (Canadian age class champion) was presented with the Female Long Track award. 
• Conny Forbes and Diana Coder took top honors in the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ category. 

Medals were given to all club skaters that raced in a competition this season. In all, 40 medals were awarded noting the skater’s fastest racing times achieved, in kilometers per hour. Skaters personal bests ranged from 2 KPM to 44.9 KPH.

The Racers will be holding inline skating clinics throughout the summer. If you are interested in inline skating or skating with the Racers in the fall please visit our blog site at speedskatingkamloops.blogspot.com or call 250 374 5430 for more information.

Canada West Short Track Championships

March 27, 2011

Eric Spence of the Kamloops River City Racers Speed Skating Club came home with two gold medals, two new personal best times and a second place overall finish in the 12 year old male division at the Canada West Short Track Championships this weekend in Kelowna. His gold medals came in the 10 minute event and the 3000m points race. He raced to personal best times in the 400m with a new time of 41.55 and a 4th place finish, and in the 100m he placed 5th with a time of 12.08 sec.

Team mates that also qualified for this event were sister Sara who finished 3rd overall in the 14 year old female category with two bronze medals, one silver medal and two personal best times and Anneke Pederson who finished 4th overall in the same age category with one silver and one bronze medal finish and two personal best times. Sara’s silver medal came in the 500m event with a new personal best time of 51.94. Bronze medal finishes came in the 3000m points race and the 100m distance where she set a personal best time of 12.14 sec. Anneke’s silver medal came in the 100m with a new personal best of 11.98 sec and her bronze medal was in the 500m event with a personal best time of 52.42. Anneke placed 6th in the 3000m points race and 4th in the 1500m event.

In the interprovincial team relay event Sara and Anneke combined with Emile Medland of Kelowna and Kaitlin Holtby of Port Coquitlam to finish second to the Alberta girls team. Eric’s relay team also won the silver medal in their category. Team members on this relay, in addition to Eric, were Alexander Chizawsky of Abbotsford, Cormac Chui of Burnaby and Ben Maxfield of Fort St. John. They came second to the 13 year old BC provincial team.

The Canada West Short Track Championships drew the fastest skaters aged 11 to 15yrs from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC and NWT. This is the highest level of short track competition for this age group and the last competition for the Racers for the 2010-2011 season.

Canada Cup #4

March 18, 2011

Calgary – Tori Spence (18yrs) of the Kamloops River City Racers Speed Skating Club set two new provincial records at her final competition of the season – Canada Cup #4 being held in Calgary this week and weekend. This is an international competition with up to a field of 70 skaters (junior and senior combined) in each distance. (Tori is still a junior skater)

Tori set personal best times in all three of the three distances she has raced so far and two were fast enough to also set new provincial records. New provincial records came in the 3000m with a time of 4:16.19 – the old record was 4:19.35 set by Tori earlier this season. In the 5000m Tori smashed her old time of 7:42.09 setting a new provincial record of 7:16.44 which also was less than a second off the Canadian junior record of 7:15.56. Tori was the second place finisher out of the Canadian skaters who raced this distance.

Tori also set a new personal best time of 41.76 in the 500m distance – her previous time being 41.98. Tori is scheduled to race the 1000m on Saturday and the 1500m on Sunday.

RCR skaters - fantastic performance at recent events!

Monday March 14, 2011

Matej Pederson (9yrs) of the Kamloops River City Racers Speed Skating Club picked up six first place finishes at the Funale meet in Vernon on Saturday. Tim Mburu (9 yrs) came home with two seconds, one third, two fifth and one 6th place finish. Siblings Margaret Jean (6yrs), Alexander (8 yrs) and Delray Willis (11yrs) were also in action at this competition. Margaret Jean skated to four first place and one 2nd place finish, Alexander had four second place and one fourth place finish and Delray raced to two second and two fourth place finishes. All skaters were skating in their respective age divisions.

In other action, the River City Racers came out on top in the Handicap 500m team competition. This regional event was held in Salmon Arm this weekend. River City won with 5235 points, Long Blades were second with 4375 points, in third was Salmon Arm 3110, Nelson with 360 points was fourth, and in fifth was Vernon with 240 points.

This event was organized by the Salmon Arm Club. Each skater raced a 500m and their individual time was compared to their personal best and then tabulated with other team member’s performances. River City Racers coach, Cathy Turnbull Spence stated ” This was a great initiative by Salmon Arm and a great way to build club team spirit. We had Canada Winter Games medalists entered along with first year skaters. Each contributed equally to the team results. In fact the younger skaters had a better chance of earning more points for the team”.

The River City Team was composed of Roman Hessel, Anneke and Matej Pederson, Margaret Jean, Alexander and Delray Willis, and Josie, Sara and Eric Spence.

The following is a quote from the Salmon Arm Coach, Mike Hall:

 “ Congrats to the River City group, your club participation and enthusiasm serves as a lesson to us all. We will have your cup delivered to you on our next trip to Kamloops.”

Provincial Work Safe Short Track Championships

Four River City Racers Speed Skaters competed at the Provincial Work Safe Short Track Championships on the weekend in Port Coquitlam and four skaters came home with medals. Sisters Sara (15 yrs) and Josie (17yrs) each skated to gold medal finishes and were crowned provincial champions in their respective age divisions. Brother Eric (12 yrs) and teammate Anneke Pederson (15 yrs) placed second in their respective age divisions and came home with silver provincial medal. Eric set three new personal best times while Sara and Anneke set personal best times in each of the four distances skated.

Based on these results, Eric, Sara and Anneke qualify to skate at the Western Regional Championships in Kelowna on March 26 and 27th. Josie qualifies to compete at the Canadian Championships in Montreal March 19 and 20th.

More medals!

From 2011 Canada Winter Games

Tori Spence won a Gold medal today in the Long Track Speed Skating 3000m event. This is the first Gold medal for Team BC at the 2011 Canada Winter Games and Tori's third medal of the games. Josie Spence won the Bronze medal in the same race. Fantastic! We can't wait for the photos!

Second medal for Tori Spence

Tori Spence won Bronze in the 1500m long track speed skating race today at 2011 Canada Winter Games. This is her second medal; yesterday, Tori won Team BC's first medal, also bronze, in the 1000m race.

There are more races to come! You keep up-to-date on the results of our River City Racers' skaters here:

• Results: Tori Spence
• Results: Josie Spence

The sun was shining and the wind was blowing, and for us watching from our living rooms we could her Tori and Josie's mom and coach, Cathy, cheering them on!

TSN2 appears to be the only television station covering the games, but you can follow the long track speed skating online.