A season long competition encouraging all speed skaters to strive toward their personal bests came to a close last Thursday for the Williams Lake Bullets Speed Skating Association.
The Bullets recorded a win during the Interclub Personal Best Challenge against the Vernon Vortex.
Racers from both clubs were timed once a month at a set distance and, using a mathematical formula based on net times, incremental points were awarded individually for skaters who made the most improvement on their personal best time.
All skaters were awarded points for participation. Monthly club totals based on individual results were then tabulated, resulting with Williams Lake accumulating the most points during this year’s skating season.
“The idea came about at last year’s BC Speed Skating Association AGM,” said Monica Johnson, assistant coach of the Bullets. “I got to know Mike Hall, coach of the Vernon Vortex. He suggested the Interclub Challenge as a way to motivate the kids in both clubs, and to provide a monthly race environment to help prepare the racers for sanctioned meets.”
No stranger to competition, Hall is a former Olympian, competing for Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.
“With credentials like that, you leap to take his suggestion,” Johnson said. “Mike has been an incredible support and mentor to our coaching team.”
Johnson added the interclub competition achieved its objective.
All skaters made very significant improvements in their personal best times, and became more comfortable and look forward to timed races.
“We also recognize the skater each month, within our club, who has made the most improvement with their personal best time,” she said.
Additional points were also awarded to skaters who achieve personal bests at sanctioned meets.
Johnson said though improvements in their racing is important, the focus with the skaters remains on participation and fun.
“We’re committed to providing a supportive environment for kids to improve their fitness and participate in sports in a fun environment,” she said.
For more on the Bullets visit the club’s website at www.wlspeedskating.com.