It was a record-breaking turnout at the fourth annual Terrace Rod and Gun Club Mountain Bike Biathlon Oct. 5, with 37 competitors turning out to bike and shoot their way across the finish line.
“It was the most we’ve ever had out to compete at the event,” said organizer Chris Schooner. “And it has the potential to be much bigger.”
Contestants raced a lap, shot five targets, raced again, shot again, and raced again – with the distance of each lap, and the number of times shooting increasing with the age and experience of the competitors.
Two of the competitors had the distinction of shooting perfect targets.
Tyler Henry, competing in the juvenile category, had no misses on 10 targets and came in fifth place. And Magda Vandenburg, in the junior youth race, had no misses on 15 targets, taking first.
“They’ve both been out before,” said Schooner. “They’re both just excellent kids.”
Perfect targets weren’t the only highlight. Braden Clunas took first place in the midgets for the second year in a row. And for the adults, Paul Bertrand flew into first – despite the fact that he’d never shot a rifle before competition day.
For the midgets (8-10 years old), 12 competitors turned up for three laps of 0.5 kilometres and two sets of targets at 25 metres. Clunas took first, Jesse Cunningham followed in second, with Lucas Schibli in third.
In juvenile (11-12 years old), completing three laps of one kilometre and two sets of targets at 25 metres, first place went to Jonus Lecuyer, second to Spencer McAllister, and third place to Logan Clunas.
Junior youth (13-14 years old) competitors completed four laps of one kilometre and three sets of targets at 25 metres. Vandenburg took first, John Eaton took second, with Jonah Emerson in third.
In the senior youth (15-16 years old), it was four laps of two kilometres and three sets of targets at 50 metres, with competitor Eden Atkinson-Bruce coming out on top.
Adults (17+) needed to complete four laps of two kilometres and three sets of targets at 50 metres. This category saw Bertrand in first, Ryan Gorsdon in second, and Travis Carter rounding out third.
The President’s “Heart and Soul” awards were given to Aidan Carter – who kept going, even after three wipeouts on his bike; Jake Cunningham – who kept trying, and kept improving with each lap; and – Ben Bilash – who just kept going and trying his best.
A bike biathlon training camp was held in the weeks before the competition.
“The kids at the camp definitely improved, and their improvements showed during the competition – and that was the goal of the camp, to get kids who hadn’t been out before shooting and improving.”
But it wasn’t just those kids who hit the mark.
“Some of the kids who just dropped in did exceptionally well,” he said. “Nobody really did poorly. I was impressed.”
Nevertheless, the club will ensure that the camp is a clear drop-in format next year to allow even more potential competitors to practise before the event, he said.