SYLVAN LAKE MARATHON

Trevor Nelson of Prince George BC sent the following report:

On Saturday March 3rd, about 100 skaters participated in the 5th annual 100 km Spitz Sylvan Lake Ice Marathon. There were other categories as well such as the Junior 25 km event and the touring event where skaters could complete up to 50 km if they chose. Altogether, hundreds of skater took part in this wonderful event on a perfect day for skating.

The day of the marathon it was just below freezing with the ice in the best condition in the years we have been participating. This year the loop was shortened to five km which made it possible for the ice-making crew to spend a bit more time filling the cracks that often proved quite deadly in years past.

This year Prince George, B.C. was well represented by four skaters (all masters) in the 100 km event. We also had our coach Matt deNys ready to provide track-side support in the form of energy foods, drinks, race information, and encouragement. We were all raring to go when the horn went a few minutes after 9:00 a.m.

The pace at the start of the race was set at a high tempo by three young Dutch skaters who had very recently been skating on the European marathon circuit. It was a race of attrition as one after the other skaters dropped off the back, unable to maintain the pace of lap after lap of sub 9:00 minute 5 km circuits. Finally only five skaters remained at the front of the pack -- two sets of Dutch brothers (the Van Benthams and the Van Blaaderens) and one lone Canadian master.

The Van Bentham brothers, Merein and Rolf, are the sons of Evert Van Bentham, former Eleven Cities race winner in '85 and '86. The family now lives in the Red Deer area and operates a dairy farm.

The fast pace of the race continued until there were only three skaters remaining in the lead group. At around 70 kilometeres the two young skaters finally got away from the lone Canadian master after he fatally tried to sprint away just prior to their more definite attack. First place went to Cor Van Blaaderen in a time of 2:58:43 with Merein Van Bentham 2nd in a time of 2:58:53 and third place went to Trevor Nelson (the author of this report) in a time of 3:00:05.

Other masters from Prince George: Lyle Dickieson, 9th place in 3:16:07, Brad Kreitz in 11th place, 3:22:30, and Kris Yip in 15th place in 3:30:37. Kris had a rough day with a bad burr on one blade right off the start which forced him to change skates. After that he broke springs on both skates and limped across the line on halfspring power.

For full results see here.

All in all a great event. I hope more masters skaters will consider attending this event next year as the organizers are in doubt as to the future of the Spitz Sylvan Lake Marathon.

Many thanks go out to all the volunteers and to the main organizers Evert and Jeannette Van Bentham and Dirk and Elizabeth Appel.

Any errors in fact or events are the fault of the author.

I have attached a few pictures: one of the Prince George team, and two that tell the story of the end of the skating season.