Five members of the Prince George Blizzard speed skating club have booked spots in the Canadian age class long track championships, Feb. 7-8 in Sainte-Foy, Que.
The skaters - Eric Orlwosky, Sylvia Masich, Max Schonewille, Kieran Hanson and Jack Hanson - qualified for the national meet thanks to their performances at provincials in Fort St. John this past weekend. Orlwosky was golden in his division, Masich won a silver medal in her category and Schonewille and Kieran Hanson finished with bronze medals in their groups. Jack Hanson placed fourth in his division, which was good enough to get him on the plane to Quebec.
Meanwhile, Lyle Dickieson and Dave Connell, who are masters skaters with the Blizzard, were gold-medalists in their age categories at the B.C. meet.
The youngest members of the Blizzard club - Nolan Vansickle, Ben Konwicki, Megan Vansickle and Sarah Hanson - also had great weekends in Fort St. John.
Nolan Vansickle took top spot in his age group, Konwicki and Megan Vansickle grabbed silver medals and Sarah Hanson ended up in fourth spot.
Provincials also featured the inaugural Randy Sulyma Memorial 5,000m Open, which was held on Sunday. Orlowsky was first across the finish line, beating out about 50 other skaters.
Sulyma, a long-time Fort St. James resident who was heavily involved in speed skating in northern B.C., died in a motor vehicle accident while he was traveling to Fort St. John for the 2011 B.C. championships.
