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Whistler Cup draws Olympic hopeful, huge turnout

It was a perfect day for a loppet. The sun was up, the air was cold, and the snow was hard and fast. Although a few dogs took exception to the starter pistol, Sunday’s 24 th annual Chateau Whistler Cup Loppet couldn’t have gone much better.

It was a perfect day for a loppet. The sun was up, the air was cold, and the snow was hard and fast. Although a few dogs took exception to the starter pistol, Sunday’s 24 th annual Chateau Whistler Cup Loppet couldn’t have gone much better.

Some 284 competitors turned out to the event, including 86 Jackrabbits – kids aged 13 and younger. As one of the longest running events in the valley, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Cup cross-country loppet attracts its share of visitors to the resort.

David and Margaret De Gama travelled all the way from Warburton, Australia to participate. Meyer Costman. The oldest competitor at 74, hails from Winnepeg. Loppet veterans Nello and Jenny Busdon, former Whistlerites who moved to Sun Valley, also made the trip.

The fastest time of the day in the 30 kilometre race belonged to Glenn Bond, a 27-year-old Olympic hopeful who travels with the national team and lives at Silver Star Mountain. Bond finished the 30K circuit in one hour 17 minutes 44 seconds, two and a half minutes ahead of Joe Buchar of North Vancouver (1:20:20) and Arthur Ayers of Vancouver (1:20:24).

The top overall female time belonged to Whistler’s Nikki Kassel at 1:29:40, putting more than 10 minutes between her and Catherine Hunchak (1:39:59) of North Vancouver and Chris Bowlby (1:40:11) of West Vancouver.

By age category, the results are as follows:

5K Junior Jackrabbits – ages 5 to 7

1. Wasani Jones (Whistler)

2. Bobby Bunbury (Whistler)

3. Connar Haberl (Garibalid Highlands)

7.5K Jackrabbits – ages 8 to 13

1. Sydney Vanloon (Pemberton)

2. Ian Moult (Vancouver)

3. Ryan Hellevang (Pemberton)

15K Female Junior – ages 14 to 17

1. Linsday Los (Pemberton)

15K Male Junior – ages 14 to 18

1. David Wyness (Vancouver)

2. Martin Utley (W. Vancouver)

3. Adam Quiring (Squamish)

30K Female 18 to 29

1. Nikki Kassel (Whistler)

2. Sylvie Allen (Whistler)

3. Annie Kvick (Vancouver)

30K Male 18 to 29

1. Glen Bond

2. Arthur Ayers

3. Christian Fournier

30K Female 30 to 39

1. Catherine Hunchak (N. Vancouver)

2. Arlene Schieven (N. Vancouver)

3. Kim Kawaguchi (Vancouver)

30K Male 30 to 39

1. Joe Buchar (N. Vancouver)

2. David Kvick (Vancouver)

3. Glen Ruperpus (Courtney)

30K Female 40 to 49

1. Chris Bowlby (W. Vancouver)

2. Gail Morrison (Whistler)

3. Barbara Zimich (N. Vancouver)

30K Male 40 to 49

1. Eric Crowe (Whistler)

2. Lee Harrison (Whistler)

3. Rob Metza (Whistler)

30K Female 50 to 59

1. Jenny Busdon (Sun Valley)

2. Eva Zabilka (Whistler)

3. Shirley Gray (Nanaimo)

30K Male 50 to 59

1. Robert Disbrow (Vancouver)

2. Jim Bishop (N. Vancouver)

3. David De Gama (Warburton)

30K Female 60 to 69

1. Alena Branda (W. Vancouver)

30K Male 60 to 69

1. Nello Busdon (Sun Valley)

30K Male 70-plus

1. Al Fisher (Rossland)

15K Female Recreation

1. Cindy Dekker (W. Vancouver)

2. Francesca Cole (Whistler)

3. Deidre Cole (Vancouver)

15K Male Recreation

1. Vladimir Dvoracek (Vancouver)

2. David Read (Vancouver)

3. Al Ball (Vancouver)