Happy New Year! Here’s the second installment of our sports year in review. These are just some of the moments that caught the community’s attention during the second half of 2012.
July
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Over the Canada Day long weekend, team Strike Force took first place on the women’s side at the Terrace Slo-pitch league’s Kings and Queens tournament.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Thanks to an idea from the city’s youth advisory committee, the old tennis courts on the corner of Kalum and Paul Clark Drive are refurbished to contain a basketball court and ball hockey space.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Thirteen-year-old Hannah Jay takes silver in long jump at the BC Summer Games in Surrey, her “personal best by a long shot.” And most of the other young Terrace athletes who travelled to the games beat their personal bests, too.
August
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
At the London 2012 Olympic Games, Terrace’s Jason Haldane competes in men’s volleyball for Team Great Britain, while New Hazelton’s freestyle wrestler Carol Huynh represents Canada at her second Olympic Games, winning bronze.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
National Roller derby team member—and former Terracite—Brie “Bone Machine” Birdsell hosts a Terrace training camp for local roller derby team the North Coast Nightmares. Around 15 players rolled out to learn how to up their game from Birdsell, who has been playing for six years in Montreal.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
the Hot August Nites drag racing event, held Aug. 5 and 6 over Riverboat Days weekend, lived up to its name. Temperatures climbed past 30 degrees, and racer Kris Barnett, who took first in the Super Pro class, took the weekend to propose to his girlfriend, Desiree Faber, who accepted his proposal.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Nineteen riders turned out to participate in the annual Terrace Off Road Cycling Association’s 26th annual Skeena River Challenge bike race on Aug. 12 which sees cyclists on a ride of more than 100 kilometres between Prince Rupert and Terrace.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Terrace athletes Mike Christensen and son Thomas compete in Birtle River Run in Birtle, Manitoba, while on family vacation in Manitoba, proving they can’t even go on vacation without running a marathon.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
In his first golf tournament ever, 11-year-old Cody Bailey is the low-net winner at the Prince Rupert Junior Jubilee on Aug. 9, shooting 103 on the par 70 course on both days.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
In his first golf tournament ever, 11-year-old Cody Bailey is the low-net winner at the Prince Rupert Junior Jubilee on Aug. 9, shooting 103 on the par 70 course on both days.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
The 35th annual King of the Mountain trail race was a terrific success, with a higher turnout than organizers expected and solid reviews of the race’s new route. Sixty-nine people, ages ranging from seven to 63, turned out for the 10-kilometre race that this year took the Terrace Mountain bike loop instead of the hiking loop on Sunday, Aug. 26.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Betty Nordstrom, Mary Arneson, Dorothy Cheyne, and Bob Goodvin head to Langley to participate in the 2012 BC Seniors Games. The group has been members of the BC Senior Games for 25 consecutive years and Maxine Smallwood has competed in 25 consecutive games—23 of those years in track and field events.
September
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
The Aquatic Centre shuts down for its yearly maintenance, which this year includes an assessment by architects and engineers who are working on a “pool master plan” for the city.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
DefenCeman Kenny Nordstrom of Terrace has made the cut and will once again be on the Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars’ roster this 2012/2013 season. The only defensive player to return from last year, Nordstrom is an asset to the team, and will be a huge part of the Cougars’ blueline, says team manager Jeff Sargeant.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Twelve dragon boat teams participate in the day-long 7th annual Lakelse Dragon Boat Society regatta on Sept. 8 at Furlong Bay.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
About 30 riders and horse lovers dressed for the Northwest Invitational Gymkhana held at the fairgrounds in Terrace Sept. 15 and 16, where Terrace took the top spot.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Skeena Middle School wins the Jr. B Girls Volleyball Kodiac Classic over the Sept. 28-29 weekend in Prince George at Prince George Secondary School (PGSS).
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
In the Fall Run marathon race, Mike Christensen comes first overall with a time of 1:26:48.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
With the NHL lockout looming, local hockey gets ready to take centre stage. The River Kings host the CIHL Challenge Cup here over the weekend of Sept. 28-29.
October
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
A wall made of glass, a “wave ride for thrill seekers,” and an exercise area that looks over the pool below – these are just some of the ideas for the aquatic centre’s future according to the pool review presented to the City of Terrace Oct. 1.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
An agreement is reached between community groups, the city, and the school board on the use of the Thornhill Jr. gym. Community groups like badminton, archery and volleyball will be using it on a three-month trial basis to see if they can make it work.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Olympic gold medalist in curling Marc Kennedy comes to town Oct. 1, speaking to Terrace students at REM Lee and partaking in a clinic and meet and greet at the Terrace Curling Club. He even let everyone touch his medal—something not very many winners allow people to do.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Local athlete Michael Christensen has been elected the club’s new head coach. He takes over from Nesia Bare, who had been leading the club for the last two years.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
For the first time in nearly 5 years an Esso Girls Sports Day is held here on Oct. 14—almost 40 girls attended the clinic and reception that featured women who have a history in hockey here in Terrace.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Terrace’s Peewee division hosts the second annual Cliff Sharples memorial tournament—and struggles to find hotel rooms and restaurants for all of the visiting teams due to a very busy autumn in Terrace.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
More than 30 competitors, and nearly as many volunteers, came out for the Terrace Rod and Gun Club Bike Biathlon, which saw competitors bike and shoot their way to the finish line at the Terrace Rod and Gun Club on Rifle Range Rd. The club also launched it’s youth-focussed Biathlon Bears program on Oct. 27.
November
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Centennial Christian school claims gold at the Grade 8 Boys Volleyball Northwest Zone Championship at Skeena Middle School on Nov. 10.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Skeena middle School’s Grade 9 Girls Volleyball team travelled by train to Houston to participate in its final zone tournament. The team didn’t lose a set in the entire tournament, and became the zone champs.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
In Kitimat at Mount Elizabeth, the Caledonia Jr. Girls team won the Jr. A Girls Volleyball Zone finals that same weekend.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Terrace’s Bantam Female Reps are in the midst of a successful season, two for two in the tournaments—even more amazing considering the group practises minimally.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Nine young referees from across northern B.C. attended the annual North West Development Camp weekend here in Terrace on the weekend of Nov. 17, taking part in officiating seminars, reffing games during the Bantam tournament, and playing some of their own.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Terrace Totem Ford Midget Reps take first place in Prince George’s Tier 2 annual tournament.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
The new climbing wall at Caledonia is ready to rock—with organizer Ben Matthias presiding over a climbing rope cutting ceremony to signal the event, years in the making.
December
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Centennial Christian School comes in 7th out of 12 teams in the A BC Boys Provincial Championships in Kelowna—and all of the young volleyball teams say they are ready to win big next year.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
The North Coast Nightmares Roller Derby teams hosts a successful all-male beauty pageant fundraiser at the Thornhill Community Centre—guaranteeing at least one bout here in Terrace next year.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Senior High school basketball season starts, with the Caledonia Kermodes winning their first two tournaments.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Shames opens for the ski and snowboard season—and on a high note after My Mountain Co-op learns that Shames’ debt to the province has been forgiven and the Co-op will be able to purchase the mountain.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
The Terrace River Kings finally find their footing after a shaky start to the season, winning four straight to end the year.