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Top-40 finishes for locals at Enduro World Series opener

Sports Briefs: Melamed notches top result, placing 30th in Chile
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Good start Whistler's Jesse Melamed finished 30th to lead the local contingent in Chile at the first race of the Enduro World Series. file photo

Three Whistler riders who travelled to Chile for the first Enduro World Series event of the season each posted top-40 finishes to begin their race seasons.

Jesse Melamed was the top local, finishing in 30th spot at the Montenbaik Enduro held April 19 and 20 at Nevados de Chillan. Melamed, who finished with a total time of 39 minutes, 11.540 seconds — about 2 ½ minutes off Jerome Clementz's winning pace — earned his best stage finish on the fifth of six legs, placing 22nd.

Meanwhile, Dylan Wolsky and Nick Geddes finished 36th and 37th, respectively, at the event. Wolsky's best stage finish came on Stage 2 when he placed 33rd, while Geddes notched his top result on Stage 1, ranking 26th.

The seven-race series continues on May 30 at the Tweedlove Festival in Scotland. Whistler will host the penultimate race of the series during Crankworx in August. See www.enduroworldseries.com for more details.

DAVIES HEADED FOR NATIONALS

Joe Davies has become the first athlete from Whistler Gymnastics to qualify for a national championship meet, as he'll be representing the club in double-mini competition at the 2014 Canadian Trampoline Championships.

Davies is currently working on more difficult routines and training with Team B.C. in the Lower Mainland before the event, which takes place May 26 to 31 at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Davies reached national-level status, making him eligible for the Canadian Championships, after strong results at the fourth B.C. Provincial Cup meet of the season, taking place April 18 and 19 at the Port Moody Recreational Complex. In other highlights for the Whistler club from Port Moody, Sydney Lovell-Schmidt earned her first gold medal in Level 3 individual trampoline, while Gigi Kranjc collected her first gold in Level 2 double-mini. Caitlin MacConnachie also secured a gold in Level 3 tumbling.

Athletes are also now preparing for the Western Canada Cup that will take place in Calgary in June.

Meanwhile, Hailey Jackson will become the first Whistler Gymnastics athlete to compete in the artistic disciplines at the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships, which take place this week in Saskatoon. The 11-year-old earned her spot at the meet based on impressive performances at the provincial championships in March.

STRONG FINISHES FOR SKATERS

The Whistler Skating Club's athletes were impressive again during the Vancouver Island Super Series meet for skaters from B.C. and Yukon held April 11 to 13 in Parksville.

Caitlin Patterson led the way by skating to a gold medal in Star 4 women's competition and a silver medal-finish in the Gold Interpretive division. Madeline Blaser came up just short of the podium in the Bronze Interpretive class, placing fourth.

Brennan Riddle claimed a silver medal while skating in the Introductory Interpretive group and was one of several locals who performed well in the class. Also from the Whistler club, Olivia Hutchinson, Lily MacConnachi, Kate Risso and Eme Leigh placed fourth through seventh, respectively. All five skaters also achieved the silver standard in Star 3 girls' competition.

Georgia Strim had strong outings in Parksville with a fourth-place finish in Pre-Introductory Interpretive and a silver standard performance in the Star 2 girls' group. Clara Iida reached the gold standard in Star 1 girls' skating.

The club's Year-End Exhibition and Family Fun Skate is quickly approaching, taking place May 6 at 5 p.m. at Meadow Park Sports Centre.