January 2, 2010 (Valcartier, QC) – The third round of the 2009/10 Haywood NorAm XC Ski Cup began on Saturday in excellent weather conditions at the Myriam-Bédard Center located in Valcartier near Quebec City starting with the pursuit races. In the Open Men’s category, Brent McMurtry, a member of the national team (NST), training with the Pierre-Harvey National Training Center (CNEPH), won the men’s 30km (15km classic +15km free) race.

Quebec’s Frédéric Touchette (NST, CNEPH) was the top U23 racer finishing fourth overall, earning himself a spot on the U23 World Championship team, which will be held in Hinterzarten, Germany, at the end of January. Graham Nishikawa, also from CNEPH, and Drew Goldsack (NST) finished second and third respectively.

In the Open Women’s 20km Pursuit (10km classic +10km free) category, Dasha Gaiazova (NST), another skier from Quebec, delivered an excellent performance by finishing first with a 43-second lead over Madeleine Williams from the Edmonton Nordic Club. Gaiazova’s victory reaffirmed her spot as the Haywood Cup leader. Brittany Webster, her NST teammate, finished third.

Rebecca Reid, out of the Blackjack Ski Club in Rossland won the junior girls 10km (2 x 5 km) pursuit trials with a strong skate leg, pulling away from a group of five skiers after the transition to take the first race of the World Junior Trials at the Miriam Bedard Ski Centre in Quebec City. Heather Mehain and Marlis Kromm, also from Western Canada, rounded out the podium in second and third respectively

In the junior men’s race, Steffan Lloyd of Nakkertok lead almost from the beginning to out-distance the field with a time of 57:27.0. Andy Shields picked up 40 seconds over the final 10km portion of the pursuit to end up in second spot while Patrick Stewart-Jones of Nakkertok took third. Lloyd’s win gives a ticket to the Nordic Junior World Championships, in Germany.

The Quebec Haywood NorAm Cup continues tomorrow, Sunday, January 3, with the Teck free style Sprint races.

Open Women’s full results here.
Open Men full results here.
All categories here.

Results (brief)

Open Men
1. Brent McMurtry (NST)
2. Graham Nishikawa (CNEPH)
3. Drew Goldsack (NST)

Open Women
1. Dasha Gaiazova (NST)
2. Madeleine Williams (Edmonton Nordic Club)
3. Brittany Webster (NST)

Junior Men
1. Steffan Lloyd, Nakkertok Ski Club
2. Andy Shields, Waterloo Nordic
3. Patrick Stewart-Jones, Nakkertok Ski Club
4. Joey Burton, Overlander Ski Club
5. Etienne Richard, Skibec Nordique

Junior Women
1. Rebecca Reid, Blackjack Ski Club
2. Heather Mehain, Sovereign Lake Nordic
3. Marlis Kromm, Foothills Nordic
4. Dahria Beatty, Whitehorse
5. Corey Stock, Cambridge Sports Union