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Mountain Building Centre Atoms add more banners

And Burch cleans up at Whistler Nordics Loonie Race
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Mountain Building Centre Atom C2 Team, undefeated this season, claimed Lions Gate league banner. Photo by Mark Gershon

Burch takes Loonie

Dave Burch posted the fastest time in last week’s Whistler Nordics Loonie Race, completing a course that included Centennial, Vimy Ridge, Beach Cut and Lower Fairway. His time of 18:27 was almost three minutes faster than Mike Gihooly’s 21:14. Matteo Abel was third in 21:42.

The top female was Sylvie Allen in 21:24, followed by Maureen Harriman in 23:43 and Stacey Bodnaruk in 23:49.

Birken Metza was the top junior male, and Akiko Clarke the top junior female.

The sponsors were Ingrid’s Café and Whistler Glass. This week’s race (March 9) is sponsored by Portobello at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. It’s another headlamp race, so don’t forget your light. The theme is "black and white" to go with the Chateau’s upscale reputation.

To take part you need to be a member of the Whistler Nordics Club, and pay a $2 entry fee. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. outside the ticket booth, and the race gets underway at 6 p.m.

So far so good in hockey playoffs

Whistler’s minor hockey teams headed into playoffs last weekend, hoping to add a few more banners to Meadow Park’s growing collection. The Mountain Building Centre Atom C2 Team went undefeated all season to claim the Lions Gate league banner, and also won the playoff championships as well.

It was also a good weekend for the Boston Pizza Midget Girls team, which won the team sportsmanship award for the season, and followed up with two upset wins.

Minor Hockey Playoff Boxscores

Mountain Building Centre Atom C2 (16-0-0) defeat Whistler C1; 5-4

Bantam C1 (11-12-4) lose to North Van; 3-2

Whistler Hockey Bantam Rep (19-9-4) tie West Van; 3-3

Whistler Hockey Bantam Rep (20-9-4) defeat Sunshine Coast; 10-2

Whistler Blackcomb Midget C1 (17-6-2) tie Intrawest Midget C2; 2-2

Boston Pizza Midget Girls (5-18-2) defeat North Shore Avalanche; 7-0

Boston Pizza Midget Girls (6-18-2) defeat Langley; 5-3

Gymnasts strong at Surrey meet

The Whistler Gymnastics Club had a good weekend in Surrey, facing athletes from other clubs throughout the Lower Mainland.

The Beginner Provincial Argos and Tyros won the third place team award consistent results in all of the disciplines, and several gymnasts collected ribbons for finishing in the top-10 of their categories.

For the Argo team, Maye Akama led the way with a gold on bars, a sixth on vault, a ninth on beam and 10 th on the floor to finish fourth all around.

Averi Willis just missed the podium on bars, finishing fourth. She also was sixth on the floor, seventh on the vault and 12 th on beam to finish eighth all around.

Alex Shuker won a bronze medal for her floor routine, was fifth on beam, 11 th on vault and 14 th on bars to finish 10 th all around.

Hannah Raffler was fourth on vault, fifth on the floor, and 14 th and 15 th on bars and beam to place 11 th all around.

Jenya Nordin was sixth on the floor, eighth on vault, 11 th on beam and 15 th on bars to place 13 th .

Cate Sproule was 11 th on bars and floor, 14 th on the vault and 16 th on beam to place 14 th .

For the Tyro girls, Meg Halliwell earned a bronze on the beam, was sixth on the floor, seventh on the vault and 12 th on bars to place seventh all around.

Victoria Jazic earned a silver for her beam routine, was fourth on bars, 13 th on floor and 17 th on vault to place eighth.

Tyece Fairweather was 10 th on vault and floor, 11 th on beam and 13 th on the vault to place 16 th .

Emily Cankovic was eighth on beam, 10 th on floor, 15 th on vault and 19 th on bars to also place 16 th .

The Level 1 provincial team also took part, facing 35 other girls. Lenka Prochazka placed fifth on the vault and Rebecca Flynn fifth on beam to lead the team, while Jasmin Budge, Desirae Smith, Sonya D’Artois and Nicola Halliwell couldn’t crack the top-10 in any events but had personal bests in some events.

The next meet for the competitive team is the Zone 5 championship on April 8-9 in Vancouver. There will also be testing for Whistler Gymnastics’ LEAP athletes.

B.C. riders named to Commonwealth Games team

The Canadian Cycling Association finalized its list of mountain bike and road athletes heading to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, starting March 16.

For the women, the B.C. contingent includes Kiara Bisaro of Courtenay in cross country, Erinne Willock of Victoria in road race and time trial, Gina Grain of Victoria in track and road race, and Mandy Poitras of Langley in the road race.

The men’s team will include Geoff Kabush in the road race and cross-country, Seamus McGrath of Victoria in cross country, and Svein Tuft of Langley in road and time trial.

Some of the athletes are already enjoying summer south of the equator. At the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand, Kabush placed first and Bisaro third.