MASTERS AT OVAL FINALE

Masters skaters were amongst the over 200 competitors from 14 countries enjoying the fast ice at Calgary's Olympic Oval during March 14 to 18, 2012. Participants included:

• Gail Bouchette (CAN F30) - personal records 500m, 1000m and 1500m
• Brian Boudreau (USA M45) - season bests 1500m and 5000m
• Gerard Garon (CAN M50) - season bests 500m, 1000m and 1500m, personal record 5000m
• Brynjulf Makestad (NOR M60) - season bests 500m, 1000m and 1500m
  
• Herman Vermeer (NED M50) - season bests 500m and 1000m, personal record 1500m
  
• Kees Bollaart (NED M50) - season bests 500m and 1500m, personal record 1000m
  
• John Pillar (CAN M50) - personal records 500m and 1000m
  
• Ronald Johnston (CAN M70) - season bests 500m and 1000m
  
• Octavian Moga (ROU M45) - season bests 500m, 1000m and 1500m
  
• Russ MacDonald (CAN M45) - personal records 500m and 1000m
  
• Thony Hannevig (NOR M55) - personal records 500m and 1500m
  
• Daniel Harney (CAN M45) - personal records 500m and 1000m
  
• Tijmen Hartel (CAN M45) - season best 1000m
  
• Martin Hanggi (SUI M40) - season best 500m, personal records 1000m, 1500m and 10000m
• Vaughn Thibault (CAN M40) - personal records 500m and 1000m, season best 1500m
  
• Bob Irvine (CAN M55) - season best 500m, personal records 1000m and 1500m
  
• Sean Maw (CAN M45) - season bests 500m and 1000m
  
• Cornelis Hijnen (CAN M40) - season bests 500m and 1000m
  
• Brian Johnston (CAN M55) - season best 1500m
  
• Matthew Otwinowski (CAN M55) - season bests 500m and 1000m
  
• Werner Meyer (CAN M70) - season best 1500m

Congratulations to all skaters. Complete results may be seen here.

21st MASTERS' INTERNATIONAL ALLROUND GAMES

This year, 7 Canadians took part in the 21st Masters’ International Allround Games held March 9 to 11, 2012 in the Gunda-Niemann-Stirnemann-Icehall, in the beautiful city of Erfurt/Germany. A total of 192 participants from 15 countries (AUS 1, AUT 1, BLR 5, ESP 1, FIN 8, GER 28, ITA 6, KAZ 2, NED 67, NOR 39, RUS 15, SUI 5, SWE 3, USA 4) came from as far as Australia to skate in this unique event.




The meet was again a success thanks to the organisers, Eissportclub Erfurt and all the friendly volunteers who welcomed us, provided good ice for breaking new IMMSC masters records and personal achievements and a good time! Usually, one of the rules of this meet is that the skater has to qualify to skate the 4th distance (women 3000m and men 3000m or 5000m depending on age) according to their overall standing after the third distance. This year, because of a lower number of skaters and higher dropout number, the organisers had enough time to exceptionally allow all skaters to skate their 4th distance. We would like to thank them and wish that this would always be the case.

Congratulations to all Canadian skaters who skated well: Jennifer Boyer (F30-34) finishing overall 5th, Anika Bédard (F45-49) 9th, Julie Houle (F45-49) 11th, Constant Montpellier (M50-54) 5th, Alain Meilleur (M50-54) 16th, John Pillar (M50-54) 19th and Bob Irvine (M55-59) 6th.

Next year, this meet will take place in the recently build oval in Inzell, Germany. Start training soon and we hope to see you there!

The complete results are available here.

SUE STECKLE JOINS MSS NEWS

Readers may have noticed the February 10, 2012 post titled "Masters Speed Skating Events Calendar" by Sue Steckle. Starting with the 2012-13 competition season, Sue will be coordinating the MSS News Events Calendar using Google Calendar. In addition to being the usual one-stop shop for many events of interest to Canadian masters, this calendar will provide increased interactivity and additional information such as links to event location maps. The calendar will also be able to be synchronized into other calendar platforms or mobile phones.

MSS News is very pleased to welcome Sue (Edmonton AB, originally from Waterloo ON) to the existing team of blog contributors which will again increase coverage of what's happening with masters speed skating all across Canada. If you know about events which may be of interest to masters speed skaters, please send information to Sue at skate@suesteckle.com

MSS News continues to thank Anika Bedard (Quebec City), Rejean Lavoie (Edmonton) and Shelia McGinn (Halifax) for their ongoing support.

As always, if there's something happening in your area - let us spread the News by sending your stories, reports, photos and results to mss@cogeco.ca By working together, we can continue to promote masters speed skating in Canada and around the world.

CANADIANS IN BERLIN

Congratulations to Randy Plett, of Winnipeg MAN, for his 2nd place overall finish in the Men 45 category at the 15th Masters International Masters Cup in Berlin GER during March 3-4, 2012. Randy's 41.41 sec 500m was the 2nd fastest in his age category and 3rd fastest out of 69 men of all divisions. His 2:06.06 1500m was also 2nd fastest for Men 45 and 4th fastest out of 69 men of all divisions.

Bob Irvine, of Calgary AB, also skated well finishing 4th overall in the Men 55 category. Bob's 42.92 sec 500m was the 2nd fastest in his age category and 11th fastest overall.

This competition, held at the Icehall Sportforum, attracted 80 skaters from 7 nations. Complete results can seen here.

2012 Skate the Common Marathon Halifax NS

The Skate the Common Marathon returned to the Halifax Common on February 18th and 19th, 2012, with six races over two days, including two new events: Tri-the-Oval, a skate-bike-run winter triathlon sanctioned by Triathlon Nova Scotia, and the 3K Top Blade Sledge Race, both firsts for the Common.

Warming up for the 5K Family Race
Photo by Peter Steeper

After a week of challenging weather, conditions improved on Saturday morning for the 5K Icebreaker Family and Open races.

Olivia Gowan of Fredericton NB showing great form in the 5K Open

Photo by Peter Steeper

In the afternoon, the weather and ice were great and the skating fast for the 25K Big Ice Challenge.

Susan Hayden enjoying the 25K Big Ice Challenge
Photo by Elio Dolente

The weather was cold and windy Sunday morning for the triathlon.

Landon Zeeman and Mike Christie in the lead in the Tri-the-Oval winter triathlon
Photo by Peter Steeper

Sunday afternoon, the ice was fast for the 10K Hockey/Speed Skate Challenge, and the sledge race.

Start of the 10K Hockey/Speed Skate Challenge
Photo by Peter Steeper

Jake Maarse of North Gower, ON, who skated all three skating marathon distances, was the overall winner of the 5K Open, and 10K Hockey/Speed Skate Challenge, and came second in the 25K Big Ice Challenge. Landon Zeeman was the overall winner of the 25K, and the Tri-the-Oval Triathlon.

Dave Waters and Vicki Morton on their way to winning their classes

Photo by Peter Steeper

Fifteen sledge hockey players from the Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, and the Halifax Regional Municipality competed in the 3K Top Blade Sledge Race. Vicki Morton, Sam Meehan, Eric Durand, Dave Waters, and Van Bernard won their classes.

Complete results are available here.

More pictures by the marathon's official photographer, PeterSteeper.ca available here.