March 9, 2003 (Duntroon, Ontario) – Ontario's husband-wife team, Dan Roycroft and Tasha Betcherman, dominated in their respective categories to win the 30 km and 50 km classic races held Sunday, March 9, 2003 as the fourth event of the National Cross Country Ski Championships took place on the rolling Duntroon ski trails.

On the beautiful crisp Sunday morning, Betcherman, who placed 43rd in the 30 km freestyle race at the Nordic Worlds just over a week ago, claimed the fastest overall time to win the senior women's event in 1:44:08.5. This is Betcherman's second gold and third medal of the series. Second place went to Daria Gaiazova, who finished just under 25 seconds from Betcherman in 1:44:33.0. Gaiazova has claimed four medals so far this week. The bronze went to Club Nordique Mont Ste-An's Chrisine Bisson in 1:45:29.4. There were 39 finishers.

In the senior men's race, Dan Roycroft grabbed his second gold to win the long distance event in 2:32:16.6. Roycroft, who finished 57th in the same distance freestyle event at that Nordic Worlds in Val di Fiemme, Italy also won the 30 km classic race March 6th. Following the Port Sydney-native came World Disabled 5-time gold medallist Brian McKeever, skiing for Lifesport. The 23-year old Calgary-native had an incredible last month at the Championships in Baiersbronn, Germany where he was invincible in every one of his competitions. In the 50 km event Sunday, McKeever and Roycroft skied a tight race, separated only by .4 of a second at the line. In third place came Kazuma Takahashi of Foothills ski club in a time of 2:33::04.8. There were 45 finishers in this grueling race.

The Challenge/Club relays were also held as part of the National competitions Sunday. The 15 km classic Challenge boys group was won by Big Thunder Nordic in 49:20.6. Just over 20 seconds behind came the pursuing Foothills team, who skied the 16 laps in 49:41.2. Third place went to Team Hardwood #3, in a final time of 50:05.9.

On the girls side, the Challenge group was dominated by Porcupine Ski Runners, who clocked a 56:41.8 finishing time for the 15 km race. They were followed by Yukon's ski team in 57:04.1 and Team Hardwood I in 58:02.9.

In the Open Junior boy's relay, Canmore Nordic's athletes skied the 15 kilometers in 45:16.8 for the gold. Second place went to neighboring ski clubs Foothills in 45:42.6 and Banff Ski Runners in 46:03.7. Fourteen teams took part in this event.

The Open Junior girl's event was won by the Eastern teams, including Nakkertok's speedsters, who crossed the line in 53:15.6 for first place. Club Nordique Mont Ste-An claimed the silver in 55:10.1 and Soo Finnish got the bronze in 57:21.9. There were 10 teams competing in this category.

This event terminates the week-long 2003 National Cross Country Ski Championships.

The Canadian Senior National Cross Country Ski Team is supported in their international racing pursuits by Haywood Securities.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association's focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

For complete race results

For more information, please contact: Amanda Fortier (514) 971-3145 or (514) 528-6419, cccmedia@telusplanet.net or go to our web page at http://canada.x-c.com.

March 9, 2003 (Duntroon, Ontario) – Ontario's husband-wife team, Dan
Roycroft and Tasha Betcherman, dominated in their respective categories to
win the 30 km and 50 km classic races held Sunday, March 9, 2003 as the
fourth event of the National Cross Country Ski Championships took place on
the rolling Duntroon ski trails.

On the beautiful crisp Sunday morning, Betcherman, who placed 43rd in the
30 km freestyle race at the Nordic Worlds just over a week ago, claimed the
fastest overall time to win the senior women's event in 1:44:08.5. This is
Betcherman's second gold and third medal of the series. Second place went
to Daria Gaiazova, who finished just under 25 seconds from Betcherman in
1:44:33.0.  Gaiazova has claimed four medals so far this week.  The bronze
went to Club Nordique Mont Ste-An's Chrisine Bisson in 1:45:29.4. There
were 39 finishers.

In the senior men's race, Dan Roycroft grabbed his second gold to win the
long distance event in 2:32:16.6. Roycroft, who finished 57th in the same
distance freestyle event at that Nordic Worlds in Val di Fiemme, Italy also
won the 30 km classic race March 6th. Following the Port Sydney-native came
World Disabled 5-time gold medallist Brian McKeever, skiing for Lifesport.
The 23-year old Calgary-native had an incredible last month at the
Championships in Baiersbronn, Germany where he was invincible in every one
of his competitions.  In the 50 km event Sunday, McKeever and Roycroft
skied a tight race, separated only by .4 of a second at the line.  In third
place came Kazuma Takahashi of Foothills ski club in a time of 2:33::04.8.
There were 45 finishers in this grueling race.

The Challenge/Club relays were also held as part of the National
competitions Sunday. The 15 km classic Challenge boys group was won by Big
Thunder Nordic in 49:20.6. Just over 20 seconds behind came the pursuing
Foothills team, who skied the 16 laps in 49:41.2. Third place went to Team
Hardwood #3, in a final time of 50:05.9.

On the girls side, the Challenge group was dominated by Porcupine Ski
Runners, who clocked a 56:41.8 finishing time for the 15 km race.  They
were followed by Yukon's ski team in 57:04.1 and Team Hardwood I in
58:02.9.

In the Open Junior boy's relay, Canmore Nordic's athletes skied the 15
kilometers in 45:16.8 for the gold. Second place went to neighboring ski
clubs Foothills in 45:42.6 and Banff Ski Runners in 46:03.7. Fourteen teams
took part in this event.

The Open Junior girl's event was won by the Eastern teams, including
Nakkertok's speedsters, who crossed the line in 53:15.6 for first place.
Club Nordique Mont Ste-An claimed the silver in 55:10.1 and Soo Finnish got
the bronze in 57:21.9.  There were 10 teams competing in this category.

This event terminates the week-long 2003 National Cross Country Ski
Championships.

The Canadian Senior National Cross Country Ski Team is supported in their
international racing pursuits by Haywood Securities.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in
Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision:
“It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the
Association's focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of
the National Ski Team program.


For complete race results

For more information, please contact: Amanda Fortier (514) 971-3145 or
(514) 528-6419, cccmedia@telusplanet.net or go to our web page at
http://canada.x-c.com