CALGARY OVAL FINALE

Masters were definitely in the mix, posting many personal records and season best times, at this year's Finale in Calgary's Olympic Oval during March 16 - 21, 2010.

Brian Boudreau (USA Masters 40) clocked a 500 m time of 38.01 ranking him 9th in this distance out of 60 allround short skaters of all ages. Other 500 m times included Bob Irvine (CAN Masters 55) in a season best of 40.84, Don Bumstead (CAN Masters 50) in 42.22, Rejean Lavoie (CAN Masters 40) in a season best of 42.39, Brian Johnston (CAN Masters 55) in 43.63, Werner Meyer (CAN Masters 70) in a season best of 59.21 and Roy Whitney (CAN Masters 70) in 1:05.67.

Brian Boudreau burned up the track with a personal best 3000 m time of 4:01.48 ranking him 12th in this distance out of 53 allround short skaters of all ages, followed by Bob Irvine in a season best of 4:27.37, Rejean Lavoie in a season best of 4:37.19, Don Bumstead with a personal record of 4:40.08, Brian Johnston in a season best of 4:49.81, Werner Meyer in a season best of 6:23.50 and Roy Whitney in a season best of 6:58.75.

1500 m results were equally impressive including Bob Irvine with a personal best of 2:02.84, Rejean Lavoie in a season best of 2:08.17, Don Bumstead also in 2:08.17, Brian Johnston in a season best of 2:14.69, Werner Meyer in a season best of 3:04.88 and Roy Whitney in 3:21.90.

Brian Boudreau was back for the 5000 m with a personal record time of 6:53.65 ranking him 7th in this distance out of 44 skaters, followed by Bob Irvine with a personal record of 7:49.10, Rejean Lavoie with a personal record of 7:56.83, Don Bumstead with a personal record of 8:06.20, Brian Johnston with a season best of 8:10.68, Werner Meyer in a season best of 11:03.55 and Roy Whitney also in a season best of 11:31.11.

Complete results can be seen here.

Congratulations to all skaters for a great finish to another speed skating season. The possibility of similar numerous personal records and season best times will be possible for as many as 300 masters skaters when the Masters International All Round Games returns to Calgary for its 20th edition in February 2011.

ONTARIO MASTERS SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

Combined with the Ontario Regional Age Class Short Track Championships during March 20 - 21, 2010; this masters competiton attracted 9 women and 21 men from clubs across the province including Clarington, Durham, Gloucester, Hamilton, Kawartha, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, Newmarket, Niagara, Oakville, Ottawa, Quinte (Belleville), St. Lawrence (Brockville) and Toronto.

Women, of all ages, skated in a separate group while men were sub-divided into 2 groups combining competitors under and over 45 years. All participants raced distances for which provincial records are maintained including heats and finals in 500 m, 777 m and 1000 m plus a 1500 m final.

Sunday's racing concluded with a super drop-out final of 2000 m for women and 3000 m for men. Competitors, if lapped twice, were eliminated from the race. The first 2 laps of the men's race were led out by Newmarket Jet's (host club) President and master skater emeritus Don Ego.

Complete results were provided both by group and by 5 year age classifications. Ontario provincial medals were awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each age division for women and men. Handcrafted wood plaques, made by a local artist, were given to Becky Seames and Paul Pickard (both from Quinte) for their victories in the super final races.

Many thanks to the Newmarket Jets, Ontario Speed Skating and the dozens of volunteers from all clubs who organized and conducted this excellent event.

MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Masters International Championships held in Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Centre during February 27 - 28, 2010 capped an incredible series of masters long track competition in North America during 2009-10 including the 3rd Masters International Canadian Open, the 1st Masters International American Allround & Sprints, and the 2nd Masters International Sprint Games.

In this final competition of the season, three Canadians were among four women and twenty-one men who participated. Larry Magloire, Richard Wismer and Dave Clements comprised the entire Men 45 classification respectively finishing 1, 2, 3 based on points awarded for placement in each of 8 races.

All skaters raced 500m and 1000m olympic (metric) style plus 300m, 500m, 800m, 1000m, 1500m and 3000m mass start (pack style) making for an action-packed, no-sitting-around race weekend. In fact - the Mens 50 group, with 8 competitors, definitely got their money's worth also racing heats and finals in the mass start events.

Olympic style results can be seen here.

Overall rankings for all events can be seen here.

Many thanks to all Pettit Center volunteers for their support of 2 masters competitions within the past 2 months, and to Olu Sijuwade for his coordination of both.

CANADIANS IN ITALY

Three Canadians were among 193 masters skaters competing in the 19th Masters International All Round Games held in Baselga de Pine, Italy during February 26 to 28, 2010. Participants included 40 women and 153 men from 17 different countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Norway, Latvia, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United States.

Photo courtesy of Marty Haire

Heavy snow made conditions difficult and times slow on Day 1 but warmer sunnier weather on Days 2 and 3 led to more enjoyable and faster skating.

Photo courtesy of Marty Haire

Skating in the Men 40 classification, Rejean Lavoie (Edmonton) finished 10th overall including a 9th place showing in the 3000 m.

Randy Plett (Winnipeg), continuing on his amazing comeback from last Spring's cycling accident, ended up just off the podium standing 4th in the highly competitive Men 45 group. In his Facebook page, Randy commented "finishing 4th overall in the 45 age group was a huge accomplishment following my surgery post crash last summer. I feel grateful to be skating again and competing at this level".

Randy Plett chasing Boris Orlov (RUS)
Photo courtesy of Andrew Love

And Brett Arnason (also Winnipeg), after winning his age class one week earlier in Berlin and placing 2nd in the 500 m through Day 1's driving snow, was unfortunately DQ'd in the 1500 m for not changing lanes thereby ending his podium chances. Undaunted by this, Brett commented he still considers 2009-10 the best skating year of his life.

Complete results can be seen here.

Andrew Love's reports from Days 1 & 2 and Day 3 are also definitely worth reading.