A Yukoner took home one of the highest honours at the Biathlon Canada Annual Awards presentation banquet, which was held in Ottawa.

Judy Hartling was recognized in June by the national organization, which awarded her with the Carl Zeiss Female Coach of the Year honour.

"We are very pleased that Judy was selected," said Vicki McCollum, president of Biathlon Yukon. "I actually was at the banquet where it was awarded and because they don't announce it until the banquet, I had my fingers crossed. It was pretty neat also that Judy could be there for it, but she is very deserving of it. She devotes a lot of time to the athletes and is very concerned about them as athletes and as individuals."

Hartling began her involvement in the sport by coaching the Biathlon Yukon's Bears program after her son, Lars, who was only seven at the time, needed a greater challenge than cross country skiing. At the time there was no coach for the Bears program, but Hartling, who was an experienced cross country skier, stepped up to take over the responsibility.

She had previously obtained her level one coaching certificate in cross country skiing and with some help from Biathlon Yukon coach Lars Fossum, Hartling was able to develop a firm understanding with regard to the shooting aspect of the sport.

It wasn't long before Hartling developed a personal interest herself and in her very first year she ended up buying her own rifle shortly after Christmas.

Owning her own rifle proved to be an enormous benefit in helping Hartling convey proper technique as coach. She became more efficient with the little subtleties as a biathlon, such as the positioning and holding of the rifle, breathing techniques, the trigger pull as well as a number of other details that are needed to be successful.

In addition to practicing on her own, Hartling also enrolled in some biathlete specific instructing classes. She currently has a Level 3 coaching level.

Eventually Hartling made the switch to being the head instructor for the junior program for Biathlon Yukon, which she is still currently doing.

Hartling said it meant a lot to win the female coach of the year award.

"It was just wonderful to think that the parents and the athletes thought that much of me to award it and that Biathlon Canada would recognize it because it is a national award," she said.

"I suppose it's just a nice thank you. Coaching for biathlon is all volunteer and all you really need is a thank you, that they appreciate you, that they think that your type of coaching and quality of coaching is great.

"I suppose it just means a lot because they would even nominate you and it means a lot that I have been kind of accepted."

Biathlon Yukon presently has two age level programs, being Bears and Junior.

Typically Bears' are biathletes who are between nine and 13, while Juniors are 14 to 17 years of age.

Biathlon Yukon currently has 12 members in the junior program, which is one of the largest groups the organization has ever had.

Members on the team practice 12 months a year and have a training plan, which involves a commitment of five days a week. Three of the days have to be devoted to biathlon, while the other two remaining days can be cross training.

Some of the members in the junior program even double train, which can involve swimming in the morning five or six days a week and then coming out to the biathlon range on Grey Mountain Road to shoot at least three days a week.

The personal training program is re-written every three or four months for minor adjustments that accommodate changes in the season or personal obligations.

Last season, the junior program enjoyed a number of out of territory successes, which included winning a bronze medal in the relay event at the nationals.

The team will begin to train in the Shoot More Program on Sunday and will also work on the cardiovascular requirements, so they will be ready for the start of the competitive season in January.

This season, the team plans on participating in three out of territory competitions, which will include the nationals, westerns and a smaller Alberta event.

Hartling said the junior team has become more competitive over the years.

"We are improving," she said. "We are doing more Outside races. We do have some really good athletes too, which has really kept the interest for sure."

She said that it is rewarding as a coach to see the team's improvement.

"It is so rewarding because it's watching young people improve and do their best," Hartling said, adding she is looking forward to the start of the season.

"I expect great things from these kids this year," she said.

"I expect the team to have a good time, they work hard. I also expect some podium finishes again. We are taking the kids out to three races, so this is going to be a great season. We had a great season last year and we are really going to build on it."