Richmond News August 26 2016 by Richmond News

A34 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016

RICHMOND-NEWS.COM

SPORTS Beyond the Scores

Skaters break the ice on coming season Mark Booth

Sports Editor mbooth@richmond-news.com

or about 70 Connaught Skating Club members, it was equivalent to receiving a summer report card after weeks of hard work. Last weekend’s Super Series B.C. SummerSkate event in Burnaby provided athletes the opportunity to put their programs in front of judges for the first time as they head into the fall competition season. “It gives you a good idea of where you stand in the province,” explained Connaught’s Director of Programs/Competitive Team Keegan Murphy. “All these kids have been training all summer long for five days a week. “For us coaches, if there is a risk element that is in the program, we will see how the skater handles that. Is it something we should be pushing forward with or do we save it for next year? Do they really need it in their program? All of these kids have worked so hard all summer.” Among them was reigning 2015 B.C. Yukon Sectional Juvenile champion who has moved up to Pre-Novice Men this season. The 11-year-old showed he is more than ready for the challenge by winning the silver medal

■ Connaught Skating club sent a large contingent to last weekend’s B.C. SummerSkate event in Burnaby, returning home with 14 medals. Photo by Mark Booth

this past weekend, thanks to a program that now includes triple jumps. His total score was 20 points above his previous personal best and he was just 0.47 points away from the gold medal. He hopes it will take him to the 2017 Canadian Championships in Montreal. “For his age, he is progressing very well,” added Murphy. “He is putting a lot of time and energy

into it and it’s paying off. He loves to jump and is fearless about falling. Wesley has always been that way and that’s one of the things we are looking for in skaters at a very young age.” The other 13 Connaught podium finishers included: STAR 4: Claire Lin (bronze medal). STAR 5: Stephanie Yee (bronze medal).

Pre-Juvenile Men: Neo Tran (silver medal), David Li (silver medal). Pre-Juvenile Ladies: Ria Mesatopitis (silver medal), Dorothy Yuen (bronze medal), Madeline Kim (bronze medal). Juvenile Ladies: Isabella Arney (silver medal), Catherine Yuen (silver medal). Junior Ladies: Elvie Carroll (bronze medal).

Junior Men: Micah Lynette (bronze medal). Senior Ladies: Danielle Gordon (bronze medal). Senior Men: Mitchell Gordon (bronze medal). Connaught will be holding tryouts and auditions on Sunday Sept. 11 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All ages and levels are welcomed. Contact keeganskating@hotmail.com to book an appointment.

Richmond Rugby FC announces Maurice Smith All-Star teams he Richmond Rugby Football Club has announce the sixth annual Maurice Smith City of Richmond All-stars for the 2015-16 season. The teams include: Senior Boys All-Star Team: Ethan Bacungan (Cambie Crusaders, Prop) Rhys Daniels, (McRoberts Strikers, #8), Noah Kamamura (McRoberts Strikers, Centre), Perrin Leung (McRoberts Strikers, Scrum Half), Jacob Lorenz )McMath Wildcats, Fly Half), Omeid Niyaz (Cambie Crusaders, Scrum Half), Spencer Normann (McMath Wildcats, #8), Michael Rankin (McRoberts Strikers,

■ Senior Girls all-star Valerie Wideski in action.

Flanker), Jordan Roberts (McMath Wildcats, Centre), Will Rogers (McMath Wildcats, Flanker), Sheldon Ronse (McRoberts Strikers, Fly Half), Alek Shriver (McMath Wildcats, Prop). Senior Girls All-Star Team: Kaitlyn Agda (McRoberts Strikers, Full Back), Kate Fedoruk (McMath Wildcats, Prop), Tatum Friegang (McRoberts Strikers, Scrum Half), Jaya Gill (McRoberts Strikers, Lock), Katarina Kozij (McMath Wildcats, Lock), Thalia Puac (McRoberts Strikers, Fly Half), Danielle Robertson (McNair Marlins, Prop), Alex Strandt (McMath Wildcats, Lock), Valerie

AUGUST

EVAN DUNFEE

What a memorable Rio Summer Olympics it turned out to be for Evan Dunfee. The Richmond race walker started off by being the top Canadian in the 20 km event, placing 10th overall. Evan then turned in one of the most courageous performances at the Games to ﬁnish fourth in the 50 km race a week later, shattering his own Canadian record by over two minutes. Evan was initially awarded the bronze medal after a Japanese competitor was disqualiﬁed for bumping into him. A Japan protest to the decision was upheld and Evan opted not to pursue it any further, proud of what he had already accomplished. The Richmond News is produce to recognize Evan as Athlete of the Month for August.