March 11, 2014 (Yellowknife) -Eighty skaters from five communities were in Yellowknife over the weekend competing in the 2014 NWT Speed Skating Championships. Athletes from Hay River, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells, Inuvik and Yellowknife took part in the annual competition.

Skaters had fun setting personal bests and seeing the pay-off of their hard work this season.  Age class champions were named in each division as follows:

• Fundamentals Division 1: Lucas Tate – Fort Simpson
• Fundamentals Division 2: Tie: Sage Acorm and Mitchell Lang both of Yellowknife
• Learn to Train Division 1 Boys: Xavier Hansen - Inuvik
• Learn to Train Division 1 Girls: Alanna Bowerman – Yellowknife
• Laern to Train Division 2 Boys: Braeden Picek – Inuvik
• Learn to Train Division 2 Girls: Wren Acorn – Yellowknife
• Train to Train B Boys: River Ross - Inuvik
• Train to Train B Girls: Kristin Chapman – Yellowknife
• Train to Train A Boys: Jackson Christie – Inuvik
• Train to Train A Girls: Tori Blake – Hay River
• Junior B Boys: Alexander Robertson – Inuvik
• Junior B Girls: Lauren Eggenberger – Yellowknife
• Junior A Boys: Dominique Bennett – Yellowknife
• Junior A Girls: Monique Chapman - Yellowknife

Thanks to the hard work of over 30 volunteers, the weekend went off without a hitch. The many volunteer coaches who invest so much time putting on great programs for the kids  were recognized for their successes.

To finish off the season, NWT speed skaters will be participating in the Canadian Age Class Short Track Championships in Prince George, BC, Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks AK, CanWest Championships in Lethbridge, AB, National Short Track Team Selections in Richmond, BC and the World Short Track Championships in Montreal, QC.

For more information, please contact nwtspeedskating@gmail.com