The Vernon Vortex started the competitive speed skating season in style, winning their first hosted meet against much larger clubs from Kelowna and Kamloops.
“After the Kamloops club narrowly beat Vernon for the Coyote Cup last year, this was a great way to begin a new season,” said head coach Mike Hall.
Vernon skaters recorded an impressive 37 personal bests (PBs), including veterans Nate Benn, Declan Fitzpatrick, Jared Eddy, Tadhg Boyle, Lauryn Eddy, Laura Hall and Mattias Isobe. Despite crashing twice, Daniel Hall managed two PBs.
The Vortex rookies, led by Logan and Nathan Stewart and Jonah Violini, all performed exceptionally well against more experienced racers from the larger clubs, establishing solid personal benchmarks.
“A big thank you to the parents of the skaters who all worked together to contribute to a fantastic competition for everyone,” said Hall. “The out-of town-skaters left with 14 personal best times – the meet was a tremendous success for everyone.”
For more information about the Vortex club, or to learn more about speed skating, visit www.vernonspeedskatingclub.com, or visit their Facebook page: Vernon Vortex Speed Skating.
