Spring triatht

WHEN the starter pis-
zal signals the begin-
ning of the North

Jan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer

even.to 10
11 to 15 year old con-
_ kicks

fF at. 7:30 §

: to ‘10-year-olds
il: navigate a: course’ that

— SPORTS

Shore Spring Triathion
tomorrow at the Ron
Andrews Rec Centre,
five-time champion
Mark Bates won’t be
among the field of ath-
letes.

Bates — who claimed the
last three consecutive men’s
tides at the event and five in
the last seven years overall -—
is nursing an injury and
opted to cheer from the side-
lines this time around.

He admits it's a bit

- strange that one of the peo-

ple most leoking forward to
the. event is the one person
who won't be participating in

| it.

“yp. really wanted to do it

. this year and I gave it a lot of

thought, but I think it’s the
right decision for me. It’s
going to de tough in a way
because it’s one: of _ my

favourite races.”

“Bates decided against the
race when he felz his shoulder
till needed time to heal.
“-*Pll be there co cheer

’ verybody on but I certainly
‘will be wishing I was out
_ there, because it’s so exciting,
“especially with a home course |
and such a good crowd.”

Bates tried to earn'a spot
onthe national Olympic
team. last year but didn’t

Make the cut when his injury

revented him from compet-
ing ‘in| the World Triathlon

‘Championships in Montreal.

Since then, he’s decided

to forgo. the international ©

events in favour of more local
Facese-
“Pm not " getting aay

- younger in terms of the elice
-\guys'that are out there right

_ now..I gave it 4 shot and rm

: apPy with that,” ee

curse,
While. Neil will not be

competing, another “coach,

Mulgrave © science: teacher
lex ‘Ferguson, will give it it a

N plans to continue to”
“build on‘ the success of the

lab ‘next .year- when | the

“school makes its’ move from -
North Vancciver. to its new ©
digs at: Mount. Cypress. in
» West Vancouver, -
iene Jan-Christian Sovensen

“KIDS 42' ‘& UNDER, ‘WEAR YOUR FAVORITE
_TEAM JERSEY AND RECEIVE A FREE GAME:
= TICKET AND. AN UMBRO POSTER _

on runs Monday

Not that he’s lacking for
thin fo do.

e*s coaching several of
the athletes that will compete
in the triathion and he and
his wife Hilary are also
expecting a child this sum-
mer.

He said that was the dri-
ving force behind his decision
to stick closer to home.

“All the travel gets tiring,
too, and I’ve done that for a
long time,” he said. “f think
that i just want to run and
have fun with it as opposed
to having to do the grind of
che circuit.”

When he's confident he’s
again found his stride, he’s
planning to enter in some

“B.C, Triathlon Series events.

He’s' also added a new
acquisition to his training
program — a Labrador/
German Shepherd cross dog
named Riley that accompa-
nies him during training
runs.

Tomorrow, adult triath-
letes are slated to hit the
water at 8:15 a.m. The
triathlon also features a chil-

' dren’s portion, which begins

at 7:30 a.m.

The’ adults have their
work cut out for them: their.
race combines a 740-metre
swim, an 18-kilometre bike
race and a five-kilometre run.

The swim portions will
take place in the rec centre

- pool, biking will be done on

the Mount Seymour Parkway
between Berkley and Mount
Seymour Road and the trails

and: roads around the rec -

centre will serve as the run-
ning course.

our + North
Vancouver
Chamber of . .
_.Commerce and.
sponsors: “Holiday Inn
Hotel and Suites,
| Pantry Restaurants
- and the North Shore
‘News will be hosting
’ the Chamber's premier
- networking event.

’ Wednesday. May 24th
at the new prestigious

"Holiday Inn Hotel and
Suites 2:00 - 6:00pm. |
Silent Auction. .
8:00 - 6:00. $15.00
admission fee for non
members of the .
Chamber.

“]> Join the following

suppliers and
purchasing managers

J 2 in this opportunity to

| see what the North -
Shore has to offer. _

2x

. ~ HOTEL & SUITES 5
. NORTH VANCOUVER

SPORT: Senior rugby
POSITION: Scrum half

COACHES: Brad Baker,’ .
~ Dave Smortchevsky,

Kirdy. Dixon and Kelly
‘Forest

Commissioners’ XV. . (che’.
all-star team) at the B.C. .

“AAA” invitational tourncy

in White Rock last week-.”

end. The Eagles won three
games handily before bow-
ing to Cogquitlam’s

Gleneagle '15-7 in the final. -
Outstanding all . season :
long, . Aidan. led Carson...”
Gr ain to ait 18-1 overail.

record. She’ scored at feast

one try in cach provincial: a

game, including one on a
-20 metre run in. the: final «

Pacific Environmental Corisul
Washington | Marine Group +
North Shore re Conaning Bucs

informa on:

(sod) 087-8272
- Web:

Race he.ca

NAME: Chiis Winter
SCHOOL: Handsworth ':

-. GRADE: 8

SPORT: Bantam track and

the only record-breaker at aE
the 40th annual’ North °
‘Shore ‘ championships at.

set in 1980 by Sutherland's ;
Graeme. Bowbrick by ie
over ‘one second: wi

| locking ‘of 4:23:61. Charis,
also finished se by less