Whitehorse was the host of the Regional Marksmanship Competition for air and army cadets this past weekend at the Canada Games Centre.

Twelve communities from all over the north were in the city to take part in the event which began Saturday with practices, and continued Sunday with the competition.

The Games Centre welcomed 69 competitors altogether, and 113 people in total including staff and volunteers to run the event.

The competition was held to decide which five cadets would represent their territory at the National Marksmanship Competition to be held in Edmonton in May.

Representing the Yukon this year will be Dominic Larkin (air cadet), Nolan Mountain (army cadet), Mitchell Shepperd-Wipp (army cadet), Halley Wilson (air cadet) and Nathan Brown (army cadet).

The cadets will be accompanied by coach Crystal Dunn from Whitehorse Army Cadets.

In previous year, only five cadets altogether from the north attended, but in recent years each territory has been allowed to send five each, said Capt. Cheryl Major, public affairs officer for the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northern).

Each team must include two junior members under the age of 14.

This year Whitehorse's cadets did extremely well, with the Whitehorse Army Cadets (1328) earning a gold in the team awards, and the Whitehorse Air Cadets (1208) earning bronze.

The event used to be held in Yellowknife every year, but it has since switched to Whitehorse, ahead of the city's hosting of the National Marksmanship Competition in May 2011.

For the competition, cadets shoot Daisy 853D Air Rifles. Each cadet is given 20 rounds to shoot at an individual target. The targets are then graded out of 400 points.

The rifles are an introduction to marksmanship.

On Saturday the cadets zeroed in on their targets, and the actual competition began Sunday.

Major said each squad's practice times vary.

"It could be as much as twice a week, it could be as little as once a month,” she said.

The regional and national marksmanship competitions are the only time that cadets get to compete in marksmanship. The cadets skills competition does include some marksmanship.

Major said the competitions are a chance for cadets to get together and learn tips and tricks from each other.

Cadet's marksmanship competitions Outside begin with an area event, then progress to a regional gathering, and then the Canada-wide competition.

Because the territories are so small, the regional competition welcomes all cadets.

After the national event, some lucky cadets get to move on to a competition in England, but Major says no Yukoners have gone that far in her memory.

"It's an exciting opportunity,” she said.

At the national competition in Edmonton, a cultural day will be held and Majors says they will have an opportunity to present the north to the rest of Canada.

"We always welcome an opportunity to show off the north,” she said.

The competition in edmonton will be held from the 9 to 14 of May.

– – –

Cadets Regional Marksmanship Competition top Yukon results

Western Arctic Area Junior

Category (14 and under)

Gold- Nolan Mountain 2685 Whitehorse Army Cadets (354)

Silver- Mitchell Shepperd-Wipp 2685 Whitehorse Army Cadets (334)

Bronze- Halley Wilson from 551 Whitehorse Air Cadets (311)

– – –

Western Arctic Area Open Category (any age)

Silver- Nolan Mountain from 2685 Army Cadets (354)

Bronze- Nathan Brown from 2685 Army Cadets (350)

– – –

Western Arctic Area Team Awards (scores out of a possible 1600)

Gold- 2685 Whitehorse Army Cadets (1328)

Bronze- 551 Whitehorse Air Cadets (1208)