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North Shore wheelchair athlete Alistair Dutson
to represent B.C. at Canadian national marathon

SOME THINGS are just tou
powerful to overcome. For
Alistair Dutson, competition,
speed and racing are a part of
his life that gets stronger con-
tinuously.

By Kevin Gillies
Contributing Writer

That is despite having broken his
back in eight places while he was
racing a motorcycle two years ago.

The accident occurred when his
bike landed on top of him while he
was jumping an obstacle on a
motorcross track.

He was in a coma for a week
and in rehabilitation therapy for six
months. Doctors said the former
Cypress lift operator woulda’ t walk
again.

With the help of a cane, he is
walking even though he is consid-
ered a paraplegic.

“Normally, Pd have only been
there (rehab) a maximum of two-
and-a-half to three months,” he
said. “They kept me there because
things kept improving for me. ] kept
getting more recovery in my legs.”

Before the accident he was an
avid skier and motorcyclist.

Now Dutson, 21, has found a
passion for wheeichair racing. He is
even flirting with mono-seat skiing.
He said he may compete in the
sport in the future.

But it is as a wheelchair athlete
that he is gaining some notoriety.

At the Canada Summer Games
in Kamloops last August, Dutson
placed in.the national top 10 and
recorded personal bests in the 200-

ALISTAIR DUTSON

and 800-metre races, reaching the B
finals in both events,

All this with only four months
training.

Dutson competes in races of
100, 200. 400, 800 and 1,500
metres in track and five, 10 and 15
kilometres as well as marathons (42
kilometres or 26 miles).

Last year was his first scason as
a marathon racer. In October. he
competed in the Royal Victoria
marathon and in December he was
the only Canadian to compete in the
Honolulu Marathon.

Currently he is sponsored by the

Rocky Mountain Bike Company

and Pleasure Foods.

In the spring, Dutson will be
representing B.C. in Toronto at the
Canadian National Wheelchair
Marathon Championships. He
hopes to take part in the Los
Angeles. Boston, New York,
Victoria and Honolulu marathons
this year.

His long-range goal is to take
part in the 1996 Summer Olympic
Games in Atlanta or the 2000
Games in Sydney. Australia.

He added he can’t compete in
the Vancouver marathon because
the event doesn't include wheel-
chair athletes. Race officials claim
the Lions Gate Bridge deck is too
bumpy to accommodate wheel-
chairs and the Second Narrows
Bridge has too steep a grade.

“Fd love to be able to compete
in my home town,” he said.

His goal for 1994 is to compete
in the 100-kilometre ultra-marathon
in Victoria near the end of the
Commonwealth Games.

Dutson considers the ultra-
mirathon to be # stepping-stone
event to the Midnight Sun
Marathon.

“His the ultimate wheelchair
racing event.” he said. +

The 400-mile, six-day event fol-
lows the Alaska Highway and is the
“Tour-de-France™ of wheelchair
racing.

Currently Dutson is training
with two-time winner Ron Scanian.
Most of his training is done on
Capilano Road, on Handsworth’s
track and in the Seymour
Demonstration Forest.

“Hd lke to‘take il as far as f can
in this sport.” he said.

TAKaya Golf Centre
New Winter Rates

2 tokens

for the price of 1

Note: Does not apply to daily specials or

monthly memberships.
(50 pak and coupon book users qualify)

NEW HOURS
Weekdays 9:30 am-8:00 pm
Weekends 9:30 am-9:00 pm

Thank you

TAKaya Golf Centre
Sp

TAKAYa

Combine errands instead of using the. car

several times a day, plan trips to reduce

vehicle use.

Greater.

Vancouver

Regional
District

January 27 - 30, 1994 at the P.N.E.

Show hours

Thurs. Jan. 27-3pm to J0pm Sat. Jan. 29 - 10am to 10pm
Fri.Jan.28-noontol0pm — Sun. Jan.30- 10am to Spm —

ALL-SEASON
RADIAL

INVICTA GS

‘ALL WINTER TIRES AT:
CLEARANCE PRICES

$6.50
$5.50
$2.00
FREE
$15.00

Adults

Seniors (60+)

Accompanied children 6-16 .
Kids 5 and under

Family pack (max 2 adults)

ULTRA GRIP N

It’s easy to win!
Mail or drop off your completed entry form
to the North Shore News before January 25.
Winners will be contacted by phone.

Winners are also eligible to wina
Kevin Longards “Fishing Flies of B.C.” video.
WORKHORSE .

RADIAL
TATRA OA ont

Pre
321.95

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133.95

DECATHLON
P155/ 80R13 StI praning
Whitewnll Size Price S Size

P205 / 75R14 SLI. 63.95 115/85R16 OBL & PLY
P215 /7SRISSi2 67.95 TAS/TSR16 BSL 8 PLY
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Price S

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Whitewod Size
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one entry per person please

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[A rree Roration
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