Quesnel will be represented by athletes competing in archery, biathlon, curling, ringette, alpine skiing and figure skating events at the upcoming B.C. Winter Games in Fort St. John.
The B.C. Winter Games, a biennial event, brings together British Columbia’s most talented and high-performing young athletes in a celebration of sport and community. The competitive event is billed as a stepping stone and important development experience for athletes as they move into higher level sport.
This year, the Games are being held Feb. 19-23 in Fort St. John, the most northern community in the province to ever host the event, and will see an estimated 1,200 athletes, 300 coaches and 200 officials descend on the community during the event.
Representing Quesnel in the archery discipline will be five members of the Quesnel River Archers Club. McKayla Bolitho, Alison Dewling and Jaeana Dumais will be competing in the event, while Lora-Lee Murray will serve as their assistant coach, and Stuart Murray will take on the role of event official.
Team Woollends will be the single curling team headed to the games representing Quesnel in the boys division, coached by Lori Tresierra-Durocher. The team is made up of skip Noah Woollends, lead Landon Cherry, second Brycen Trimble, third Kyle Eggert and fifth Caleb Woollends.
The individual event most represented by Quesnel athletes will be the alpine skiing competition, which will see five athletes — Maggie Beaudoin, Elliot Jarrett, Maya Knauf, Boroka Peter and Beth Turton — hit the slopes. These athletes will be coached by Lightning Creek Ski Club’s alumna Grace Klapatiuk.
Individual athletes from Quesnel will also be competing in several disciplines. The Cariboo Ski Touring Club’s Laura Balkwill will be representing Quesnel in the biathlon event. Figure skater Mitchell Dunn of the Quesnel Figure Skating Club will attempt to wow the judges with his short and long programs, and Taylor McGillivray will represent Quesnel on the ice in the ringette competition.
Also heading to the Games to serve as officials are Liz-Anne Eyford, who will officiate badminton events, and Lisa Laundry, who will officiate gymnastics events.
READ MORE: Quesnel figure skater headed to B.C. Winter Games
editor@quesnelobserver.com
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