Forty-four skippers from Jack Hulland Elementary School and 19 skippers from Takhini Elementary gathered last Friday for the Yukon skipping championships, held at Takhini.

The skippers were separated into four age categories seven and under, eight-nine, 10-11 and 12-14 and each competed in eleven events.

'It ran very smoothly,' said Takhini Heartbeaters coach Judy Ratcliffe, who also organized the championship. 'Everything was on time. Last year there were big complications, but this year there were no major glitches.'

Ratcliffe got involved in skipping nearly 14 years ago. But it was Barb Phillips, who coaches the Selkirk Skippers, who first got her interested in starting a team at Takhini.

'I saw Selkirk and started thinking. Then I went to Juneau with my kids for a competition. I was amazed at what Juneau could do and I organized a team at Takhini the next year.'

The Jack Hulland skippers are run mostly by the parents. Ratcliffe gives a lot of praise to volunteers.

Fifteen judges, one timer, three tabulators, two floor captains and two registration organizers also took part in the championship event - all of them volunteers.

'The schools were closed today, so I could use high-schoolers as judges,' explained Ratcliffe. 'That's why we chose today for the championships.'

Ratcliffe hopes to plan the championships for a later date next year, so that more schools can participate. Other schools such as Holy Family, Hidden Valley and Haines Junction elementaries didn't start their skipping programs until after Christmas, so they didn't have enough time to prepare.

But Ratcliffe also cautions the event can't be held much later, because the B.C./Yukon championships are in April.

'I kind of want to get this over with, so I can concentrate on those championships,' she said.

The provincials take place in Nelson, B.C. this year. Ratcliffe will be taking two teams of four skippers, plus two coaches and two judges, to the event. Provincials feature skippers ranging from 10-13 years old, performing freestyle as well as doing tricks.

'My goal is for the kids to do the best they can do,' said Ratcliffe. 'And have them as prepared as they can be.

'Their goals should be to learn from other skippers. I just want them to soak it all in.'

The provincials are almost an annual event for the Yukon. Ratcliffe said there have been a few years where teams didn't go because of fundraising issues.

'We always do quite well,' she said. 'They give ribbons for eighth, ninth and 10th place, so we're sometimes a little lower. But we get ribbons, and they come back as proud as can be.'

Results of the Yukon skipping championships are as follows:

30 Second Speed

Seven and under: 1. Kassidy Smythe, JH, 2. Ellysse Dunstan, Tak, 3. Bruce Wilson, JH

8-9: 1. Alex Schultz, Tak, 2. Renee Gauthier, JH, 3. Brittany Keleher, Tak

10-11: 1. Taylor Forsgren, Tak, 2. Samantha Jarvis, JH, 3. Olive Morland, JH

12-14: 1. Amanda Keleher, Tak, 2. Shanny Kaiser, Tak, 2. Jessica Borgford, Tak, 3. Aliesha Rentmeister, Tak

3 Minute Speed Endurance

Seven and under: 1. Kassidy Smythe, JH, 2. Bruce Wilson, JH, 3. Ellysse Dunstan, Tak

8-9: 1. Renee Gauthier, JH, 2. Alex Schultz, Tak, 3. Linsey Eby, JH

10-11: 1. Taylor Forsgren, Tak, 2. Erin Borgford, Tak, 3. Kirsten Berube, JH

12-14: 1. Amanda Keleher, Tak, 2. Shanny Kaiser, Tak, 3. Jessica Borgford, Tak

Consecutive Front Crosses

Seven and under: 1. Bruce Wilson, JH, 2. Ellysse Dunstan, Tak, 2. Kassidy Smythe, JH

8-9: 1.Renee Gauthier, JH, 2. Linsey Eby, JH, 3. Shay Burgess, JH

10-11: 1. Taylor Forsgren, Tak, 2. Kirsten Berube, JH, 2. Jada Davidson, JH, 3. Tessa Rittel, JH

12-14: 1. Alyssa Wheler, Tak, 2. Jaime Whitty, JH, 3. Kristina Fuller, JH

Consecutive Double Unders

8-9: 1. Linsey Eby, JH, 2. Alex Schultz, Tak, 3. Renee Gauthier, JH

10-11: 1. Erin Borgford, Tak, 2. Julia Fedoriak, JH, 3. Kirsten Berube, JH

12-14: 1. Jessica Borgford, Tak, 2. Kristina Fuller, JH, 3. Shanny Kaiser, Tak

Consecutive Matadors

Seven and under: 1. Kassidy Smythe, JH, 2. Bruce Wilson, JH

8-9: 1. Renee Gauthier, JH, 2. Brittany Keleher, Tak, 3. Rasheeda Slater, JH

10-11: 1. Erin Borgford, Tak, 2. Taylor Forsgren, Tak, 3. Olive Morland, JH

12-14: 1. Aliesha Rentmeister, Tak, 2. Alyssa Wheler, Tak, 3. Jaime Whitty, JH

Consecutive Double Under Matadors

8-9: 1. Shay Burgess, JH, 2. Renee Gauthier, JH, 3. Chanel Cain, JH

10-11: 1. Erin Borgford, Tak, 2. Samantha Jarvis, JH, 3. Julia Fedoriak, JH

12-14: 1. Alyssa Wheler, Tak, 2. Amanda Keleher, Tak, 3. Aliesha Rentmeister, Tak

Speed Relay

8-9: 1. Little Devils, JH, 2. Lizards, JH

10-11: 1. Super Penguins, JH, 2. Groovy Skippers, JH, 3. Scooby Skippers, JH

12-14: 1. Pink Bunny Bouncers, Tak, 2. Jelly Jumpers, Tak, 3. Hot Hot Jalapenos, JH

Double Under Relay

8-9: 1. Lizards, JH, 1. Little Devils, JH

10-11: 1. Super Penguins, JH, 2. Groovy Skippers, JH, 3. Scooby Skippers, JH

12-14: 1. Pink Bunny Bouncers, Tak, 2. Hot Hot Jalapenos, JH, 3. Jelly Jumpers, Tak

Double Dutch Pairs Speed

10-11: 1. Scooby Skippers, JH, 2. Groovy Skippers, JH

12-14: 1. Jelly Jumpers, Tak, 2. Hot Hot Jalapenos, JH, 3. Pink Bunny Bouncers, Tak

Double Dutch Speed Relay

10-11: 1. Scooby Skippers, JH, 2. Super Penguins, JH, 3. Groovy Skippers, JH

12-14: 1. Jelly Jumpers, Tak, 2. Pink Bunny Bouncers, Tak, 3. Hot Hot Jalapenos, JH