ONTARIO MASTERS SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

Thirty-six competitors took part in the Ontario Masters Short Track Championship held March 31 to April 1, 2007. Organized by the Kitchener-Waterloo Cobras Speed Skating Club, the event titled "Celeblade" was combined with OSSA's Regional Ability Championship. Waterloo's Memorial Recreation Centre provided an excellent venue featuring fast olympic-size ice and an indoor running track (perfect for warm-up) with exterior views surrounding the 3,000 seat spectator area.

Nine woman and twenty-seven men raced in 3 ability-based groups based on 500m seed-times resulting in mixed gender and age-category racing. Although the official points-based outcome is not yet known, some preliminary conclusions can be made from the meet protocol.

Racing in the Bravo and Charlie groups, women were only represented in Masters 2 (40-49) with Sheila McGinn (Ottawa) as the sole competitor and victor in the Masters 3 (50-59) age class. Based on relative time results, it would appear that Sandy Kramer (Kitchener-Waterloo) was 1st in Masters 2.

Of 5 Master 1 males racing in both Alpha and Bravo, Kevin Frost (Gloucester) appears to have prevailed based on relative time results. Spread out over all 3 ability groups, the top Masters 2 male skater would seem to be Cameron Boyd (London) who won 3 of 4 events in the Alpha group. Racing in the Alpha group, Ross Hanham (Dofasco-Hamilton) was the lone Masters 3 male competitor. Gary Whitney (Markham) was the sole participant and winner in Masters 4 (60-69) men.

The competition was characterized by tough-friendly competition with some very exciting races best represented by the Alpha 500m secondary final where a photo finish for 2nd (Charles Gower - NOL), 3rd (Don Noble - TO) and 4th (John MacDonald - KW) places resulted in a spread of only 0.26 seconds.

Most Ontario clubs were well-represented with skaters from Ottawa, Gloucester, Quinte (Belleville), Niagara-On-The-Lake, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Kawartha (Peterborough), Clarington, Dofasco (Hamilton), Oakville, Sudbury, Markham and Thunder Bay. Competitors raced distances over 7 events for which provincial records are maintained including 500m, 777m, 1000m and 1500m. Subject to OSSA verification, Sheila McGinn may have established all new Masters 3 women records as follows:

- 500m - 1:10.51

- 777m - 1:50.62

- 1000m - 2:26.58

- 1500m - 3:41.70

A mixed ability relay was also provided for some masters participants.

This event concluded the 2006-07 racing season in Ontario.