Audet and Grandbois win gold again at the Easterns
It was the final day of the Eastern Canadian Championships today at Gatineau’s Nakkertok Ski Centre, a classic, mass start race. Presenting sponsors were Tourisme Outaouais and Ville de Gatineau and conditions were much more pleasant for racing, compared to Saturday with -10C. temperatures and warmer for the races. Orford’s/ Pierre Harvey Training Centre’s Leo Grandbois made it 4 wins in a row at Nakkertok, after his win yesterday and 2 wins at the Candy Cane Cup in December.
Kanata’s Aidan Kirkham a University of Ottawa skier came through in 2nd just over 5 seconds back, after out lunging Mont Ste. Anne’s Félix-Olivier Moreau at the finish.
The top junior was Jérémy Lantz of St. Julie. Mont Ste. Anne’s Alexis Ermel was 2nd followed by St. Jerome’s Samuel Picard.
Leo Grandbois: “It was good today, I tried an attack at the beginning of the race, but it didn’t work. On the second try, it worked, so I am happy with the result. It is always a pleasure to ski at Nakkertok.”
On the women’s side there was also a repeat winner as Chelsea’s Tory Audet took the open title. Second was Hannah Shields of Lappe (Thunder Bay) and 3rd was Ottawa/Nakkertok’s Katya Semeniuk who trains out of the Alberta World Cup Academy. Tory was also the top junior with Chelsea’s Isabelle Haag 2nd and Quebec City’s Élie-Anne Tremblay 3rd.
Tory Audet: “My wax was great and it was a good day today. It was nice to be able to ski and not feel frozen all the time!”
Leo and Tory picked up $1500 each as part of the Hall Mark of Excellence prize money contribution.
In the other age group races local medallists included:
- U18 F Addison Frank, 2nd, Nakkertok, 3rd Anna Semeniuk Nakkertok
- U16 F 2nd Evelyn Davies Nakkertok
- U16 M Owen Siderius Nakkertok
- U14 M Kai Samm 1st Chelsea 3rd Marc-Antoine Daoust Skinouk
Locally the focus will now switch to the Gatineau Loppet Feb 18-19 and the next big national event for the racers will be the Canadian Championships in Thunder Bay, Mar 11-17.
Photos Credits: Tim Austen
For more information contact :
Anton Scheier media@engne.ca 613-601-8257
Marie-Pier Pelletier-Millette mariepierpm@gmail.com 819-593-1159