March 21, 2010 (Whitehorse, Yukon) – In the Junior men’s 20km event Joey Burton from BC’s Overlander Ski Club captured the Canadian Championship with an 8-second victory over two local skiers. Martin Schrama of Banff finished 4th and Andrew Stewart-Jones from Nakkertok was fifth. Unofficialy it appears that Skibec’s, Etienne Richard was the overall aggregate Junior champion despite his 9th place finish in today’s race, with Stewart-Jones in second and today’s winner Burton, finishing third overall.

The Senior Men’s 50km classic event saw Frederic Touchette of Mont Ste. Anne Ski Club capturing the Rolf Petterson

trophy in a photo finish over Foothills Nordic’s, Brent McMurtry, a 2010 Olympian in the final sprint of the classic event. McMurtry led the race until the last 15 metres, when Touchette sprinted for the win.

Lappe Nordic’s (Thunder Bay) Michael Somppi took the bronze medal, with Banff’s Haakon Lenes in fourth and Foothill’s Kevin Sandau in 5th. The top skiers stayed in a pack throughout most of the race but began separating during the last lap of the seven-lap race.

McMurtry is the overall aggregate champion for the men and will be honoured by his name being added to the Malcolm Hunter trophy for this achievement.

Junior/Senior Women

Michelle Workun-Hill of Nakkertok powered her way to gold in the Junior Women’s 15km classic distance race on Sunday in Whitehorse. Workun-Hill was followed closely by Kara Jaspers of Big Thunder Ski Club who won the silver medal in a photofinish with Whitehorse skier, Dahria Beatty who finished 3rd. Annika Hicks of Canmore was fourth and Andrea Lee of Strathcona Nordics on Vancouver Island was fifth.

Unofficially, local skier Dahria Beatty will receive the overall aggregate award with a one point margin over the race winner Workun-Hill. A member of the Canadian team at the World Junior championships, this is an amazing performance for Beatty who is skiing against athletes as much as three years older than her.  Results:

The Senior Women’s event came down to a sprint finish as Shayla Swanson of Foothills Nordic, out-sprinted Highland Nordic’s, Brittany Webster for the women’s 30km championship title and the Mary Anderson award. Chandra Crawford from Canmore finished third. The championship title is a fitting end to Swanson’s long and distinguished career.

Unofficially Crawford’s bronze medal finish will be enough to take the Individual aggregate title and her name will be added with Brent McMurtry’s on the Malcolm Hunter trophy.

Juvenile Girls and Boys

Colin Ferrie from Kimberley, BC captured the Juvenile boys 10k classic event today at the 2010 Haywood Ski Nationals. There was 91 participants and it was a close race all the way with Ezekiel Williams of Nakkertok who finished less than two seconds back followed by Raphaël Couturier of Skibec in third. Skinouk teammates Simon Lapointe and Alexis Turgeon finished 4th and 5th.

Frédérique Vézina of Mont-Ste Anne, Quebec was the Juvenile Girls winner today and  also clinched the Aggregate title, the Sophie Manarin Award. Sarah Beaudry of Prinec George was second in a photo finish victory over Katherine Stewart-Jones of Nakkertok. Vezina’s Mont Ste. Anne teammate Anne-Marie Comeau was 4th and Maya Macissac-Jones of Rocky Mountain Racers was 5th.

Unofficially Couturier is the Juvenile Aggregate boys champ, and will have his name added to the Sophie Manarin Trophy along with the Juvenile Girls aggregate winner.

Results

Junior Men’s results here.
Junior Women’s results here.

Open Women’s results here.

Open Men’s results here.

Juvenile Girls results here.
Juvenile Boys results here.

Full results here.