HEERENVEEN MASTERS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

MSS News has been silent for the past few weeks while we travelled in Europe. Part of this vacation included a stop in Heerenveen, NED during March 19 - 21 for the 5th Masters International Long Distance Races and the 1st Masters International Heerenveen Sprint Competition.

In the one-day Long Distance Races, all 62 competitors skated 500m and then chose from 3000m (16 skaters), 5000m (22 skaters) or 10000m (24 skaters). Although the majority of competitors were from the Netherlands, international participation included 2 Canadians, 1 Finn, 3 Germans, 2 Italians and 3 Norwegians. Complete results can be seen here.

The Sprint Competition, consisting of the standard 2 x 500m and 2 x 1000m format over 2 days of racing, attracted 69 masters competitors including 1 Australian, 2 Canadians, 4 Germans, 1 Irish, 2 Italians and 2 Russians with the balance of skaters from the Netherlands. Complete results can be seen here.

International participants were welcomed with towels embroidered by local volunteers featuring the MCLN logo. In keeping with the tradition of the Easter holiday, there were also gifts of chocolate eggs.

The Canadian contingent included Ann Hanham (sprint only), Ross Hanham (long distance & sprint) and our good friend and fellow blogger, Anika Bedard (long distance only). We were very fortunate to be coached by Corry Zwaal from Amsterdam, who Ross had met at the 2007 Olympic Oval Masters Camp and who had also coached Mickey Kupchyk to a 1500m Canadian masters record in the 2006 Oval Finale.

Ross Hanham (CAN), Corry Zwaal (NED) and Anika Bedard (CAN)
photo by Ann Hanham (CAN)

Anika Bedard (CAN) - 5000m
photo by Paolo Gemme/Fabio Ravanelli (ITA)

Ann Hanham (CAN) & Paolo Gemme (ITA)
photo by Fabio Ravanelli (ITA)

Ross Hanham (CAN) - 1000m
photo by Paolo Gemme/Fabio Ravanelli (ITA)

Along with our good friend Victor van den Hoff, we had excellent bed & breakfast in the thatch-roofed De Markestee in the peaceful and quiet village of Blesdijke about 15 km south of Heerenveen.

De Markestee - Blesdijke NED
photo by Ross Hanham (CAN)

These competitions were an opportunity to skate in Thialf, the first and one of the great indoor ovals of the world. Although the stands were somewhat empty for our events, one could imagine the energy and excitement of 12,500 exuberant speed skating fans cheering for their world cup heros. Thialf also has some unique features such as a restaurant overlooking the ice and a tight-cornered 333m long inner track suitable for teaching and warming-up.

Thialf - Heereveen NED

photo by Ross Hanham (CAN)

As the premier ice facility in the Netherlands, Thialf is constantly in use and there were no times specifically available to masters for pre-race training. As such, we joined approximately 300 other locals in public skating on the evening before the competition. With long trains of skaters, all on long blades and of increasing speed from the outer to the inner lanes, this is an exhilarating and somewhat nerve-wracking situation that all visitors to Thialf are encouraged to experience.

The ice conditions were excellent and may contributed to 17 new IMSSC records as reported on the MCLN website.

Heerenveen, itself, is a beautiful Dutch town with a pedestrian-oriented centrum configured around beautiful canals and historic buildings. Many of skaters from Italy, Russia, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands gathered at the Ristorante Paolo for some fine Italian food on the night between the 2 sprint days. Despite this training-breaking revelry, most skated faster times on the next day - although a coincidental drop in air pressure may also have helped.

Heerenveen Centrum

photo by Ross Hanham (CAN)

This was a great experience, highly recommended for all masters skaters. Many thanks to the helpful and friendly volunteer officials and to the hard-working competition organizers - Bram and Trudi de Vries.

Paolo Gemme (ITA) and Fabio Ravanelli (ITA) greeted by Bram de Vries (NED)

photo by Ross Hanham (CAN)