Yellowknife, NT (November 18th, 2013) - Eight skaters from the Yellowknife Speed Skating Club were in Richmond, British Columbia over the weekend competing at the Western Canadian Single Distance Championships. Austin Miller, Tara Stockton, Lauren Eggenberger, Dominique Bennett, Ali Fleming, Camille Rourke, Monique Chapman and Kirianne Ashley were joined by Hannah Clark and Simon Austin, two Yellowknife skaters who are training at the Calgary Olympic Oval National Training Centre.

The weekend was a great success with five out of eight athletes achieving personal best times after only 2.5 months of onUice training this season. This event pitted athletes against other Train to Train and Train to Compete speed skaters from across western Canada. Yellowknife had the largest contingent at the competition. Coach Shane Clark was pleased to report that the Yellowknife skaters got stronger as the competition progressed.

This was the first competition of the year for these athletes and was excellent preparation for the Arctic Winter Games Territorial Trials which take place in January. Fifteen year old Lauren Eggenberger established herself as a favourite vying for the Arctic Winter Games team as she achieved several personal bests and proved to be very competitive against the older skaters of Alberta and BC.

Hannah Clark led the team as she skated away with two event titles in the 500m and 1500m events. Simon Austin placed well in all five A finals. These two skaters inspire their younger counterparts with their hard work and dedication to their training at the Olympic oval.

The athletes also had a chance to see the Olympic Torch in downtown Vancouver which was a fun and inspiring experience to cap off a successful weekend.

For more information, please contact Shane Clark: sclark@homelifeyk.com