The Yukon Orienteering Association held their Riverdale Sprint on May 18.

A pleasant May evening brought 45 orienteers out for the great education run – all the courses were within the area of F.H. Collins, CSSC Mercier and Selkirk Elementary schools. Three courses were on offer: novice, short advanced and long advanced.

On the Novice course, junior Erik Embacher led the pack with a time of 24:49 closely followed by Lise Klein at 27:28 and then Carl Embacher at 28:11.

Three juniors decided to try their hand on the advanced courses with Ian Turcotte and Peter Embacher doing the short advanced (times of 27:27 and 28:34 respectively) and Carl Turcotte nailing the long advanced in a time of 23:26.

At first glance it seemed like Virginia Sarrazin landed on top of the women on the short advanced course by a few seconds, but on closer examination made an error at the start of the course and top place went to Judith van Gulick (18:17) followed by Desiree Coad-Broerein (20:39) and then Joan Stanton (24:49).

The men were led by Martin Slama (who was running with Desiree: time of 20:39) followed by Bob Nishikawa (running with Joan: time of 24:49) and then Richard Vanderkley (35:45).

Beatriz Sanguino, our visiting coach from Portugal, pipped out local Pia Blake by two seconds (17:23 and 17:25 respectively) to take the women’s fastest time on the long advanced and also came third overall.

Third for women is Rima Khouri with a time of 20:29. Forest Pearson had the fastest time, completing the course in 14:52 followed by Benoit Turcotte with 16:30. Third in the men’s division was Jeremy Johnson with a time of 18:23.

Honest orienteer of the night award goes to Erik Blake, who initially punched the control on the basketball court through the fence (which is not allowed) but then in a scene straight out of Crime and Punishment was overwhelmed with guilt over the next three legs before returning to punch the basketball court control correctly to clear his conscience.

Thanks to all participants for coming out.

This week’s meet organizer was Dave Hildes. Thanks to Craig Brooks, Erik Blake and Darren Holcombe for helping at the registration/results table and Brian Forsyth for picking up the controls.

– Submitted by Dave Hildes.

Novice 2.0 km 14 Controls

Erik Embacher........24:49 Junior
Kevin Embacher.....24:49
Lise Klein.................27:28 Junior
Carl Embacher........28:11 Junior
Sarah Johnson........28:11
Maud Henaff..........31:03
Jasper Klein............31:20 Junior
Aven Scheck............31:41 Junior
Justine Scheck........31:41
Cronmiller Linden...32:07 Junior
Fischer Scheck.........37:20 Junior
Katherine Scheck.....37:20
Maura Glenn.............49:41
Elvira Knaack............49:41

Total on Course 14

Short Advanced 2.6 km 16 Controls

Ian Turcotte....................27:27 Junior M
Peter Embacher............ .28:34 Junior M
Judith van Gulick...........18:17 F
Desiree Coad-Broerein...20:39 F
Joan Stanton...................24:49 F
Deb Kiemele...................25:15 F
Sheri Hogeboom.............27:50 F
Rowena Beckett..............35:45 F
Nesta Leduc....................36:44 F
Karin Keeley-Eriksson...39:15 F
Karen Archbell................41:31 F
Ev Pasichnyk..................42:04 F
Gwen Hogan...................42:04 F
Martin Slama..................20:39 M
Bob Nishikawa...............33:57 M
Richard Vandrekley........35:45 M
Craig Brooks...................36:44 M
Virginia Sarrazin............18:08 F Mispunched
Anais Hildes...................39:00 F Mispunched
Cassie Jensen................39:00 F Mispunched
Shravan Adiyodi.............42:15 M Mispunched

Total on Course 21

Long Advanced 3.1 km 19 Controls

Carl Turcotte.................23:26 Junior M
Beatriz Sanguino...........17:23 F
Pia Blake.........................17:25 F
Rima Khouri...................20:29 F
Julianna Scramstad......25:23 F
Lara Melnik....................33:08 F
Forest Pearson..............14:52 M
Benoit Turcotte.............16:30 M
Jeremy Johnson............18:23 M
Darren Holcombe..........20:36 M
Erik Blake........................25:49 M

Total on Course 11