A team of eight cross country skiers and two coaches from the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club raced to strong results Saturday in Quesnel at the Hallis Lake Loppet.
Williams Lake skiers, in a field of roughly 70 competitors, brought home three first-place finishes, one second-place finish and a fourth- and fifth-place result in the classic skiing only event.
Cooper Seabourne started things off in the five-and-under age category snapping up a gold medal in the one-kilometre event.
Jessabelle Atkinson-Trelenberg followed that up with a first-place finish in the two-and-a-half kilometre race, while Livia Seabourne was just behind in second in the six- to seven-year-old age group.
Jake Sutton, meanwhile, was fourth to the finish in the eight- to 10-year-old five-kilometre event, with Connor Sutton taking fifth in the 11- to 13-year-old five-kilometre category.
In the adult events Sean Seabourne and Darcy Lazzarin raced the 16-kilometre and 32-kilometre distances, respectively. Julianne Trelenberg was first in the female eight-kilometre race.
Coaches Rob Sutton and Lisa Seabourne helped organize and cheer on the kids and were pleased with the results.
“The rain stopped the night before and the trails were re-groomed early in the morning before the 9:30 a.m. start time so conditions were pretty good,” Rob said, who heads up the Jackrabbits program at Bull Mountain.
“Cross country skiing is a great winter sport the entire family can enjoy.”
Lessons for kids take place at Bull Mountain Ski Area just north of Williams Lake for kids aged four to 12 between December and March twice a week.
“This season we have 40 kids participating in the Bunny/Jackrabbit/Track Attack ski program,” he said. “We also have a new Junior Racing Program this year where skiers compete in various races throughout the winter. We’ve had some very good results and are hoping this new program continues to grow next year and beyond.”
For more information about the Bunny/Jackrabbit/Track Attack program or if you’re interested in joining next season contact Rob, the youth development co-ordinator and Jackrabbits head coach, at skijackrabbit@gmail.com.
More information on the WLCCSC, including registration forms, is available online at www.bullmountain.ca.