From the Klondike International Road Relay to the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay, the Buckwheat Ski Classic and numerous soccer, basketball and hockey tournaments, Alaska and Yukon have always been key in helping one another's athletes along the path of development.

Their neighbourly relationship provides cheeper alternatives for elite sports teams looking to test their mettle Outside, as well as great opportunities for the younger athletes to hone their skills amongst those their own age.

This past weekend, nearly 100 swimmers hit the pool at the annual Ryan Downing Memorial swim meet, held at the Whitehorse Lions Aquatic Centre.

Twenty-nine of those swimmers were from Haines, Alaska a much larger number than in previous years. Haines head coach Steve Vick, who is in his third season with the Dolphins, said the trip to Whitehorse has become a huge draw for his young swimmers.

'For the kids, the fun is that over there,' he smiled, pointing to the water slide and lazy river areas of the aquatic centre. 'For me, it's seeing our club's numbers grow since we've been coming here.

'We've been coming regularly, so I think now it's just word of mouth. The kids go home and talk about how great it is and the newer kids who haven't been here before go, 'OK, I've got to see this for myself.''

Being able to compete in Whitehorse, against a Glacier Bears club that is considered extremely talented, is exciting for the Haines swimmers, added Vick.

'They get to really challenge themselves.'

And while it's still very early in the short-course season, the Dolphins seemed up to the challenge on the weekend. Kai Sato-Franks broke meet records in the 12-and-under male category, while five Dolphins finished in the top three for their age category in the 50-metre freestyle competition.

'We're not looking for great times when we come here and we make sure the kids know that,' said Vick. 'We're just getting a lot under our belts, getting the kinks out. We'll build from this.'

Twenty of the 29 swimmers from Haines were under 10 years of age, Vick pointed out, so they're still learning what heats are and how to 'do it on their own'.

'The younger kids actually had a pretty high percentage of best times.'

Many of the Glacier Bears also swam personal bests at the meet, with a total of 25 meet records and two club records broken over the two days.

Twelve-year-old Josh Kelly broke four of those meet records. Kelly also achieved several AA qualifying times, along with Erin Oliver-Beebe and Mark Verhall, all three swimmers in the up and coming Polar Bear swim group.

From the Kodiak group, it was Kate McArthur who once again achieved several AAA qualifying times for this year.

Taylor Campbell, Erin McArthur and Isobel Parkkari who at 10 years old swam her first 800-m freestyle and did an incredible job all swam well on the weekend, with lots of personal bests. Glacier Bears assistant coach Kathy Zrum said those three young swimmers will certainly be ones to watch for in the near future.

Many of the swimmers from the Black Bears and Cubs competed for the first time, achieving personal bests.

At the Ryan Downing Memorial swim meet, there has been a tradition of having the swimmers compete in a 50-m freestyle preliminary event. From there, the top eight in each age category compete in the finals, for a plaque donated by Smart Choice Business Machines.

Here are the results:

Girls 10 & Under

1st Isabel Parkkari, WGB

2nd Taylor Campbell, WGB

3rd Haley Stout, Haines

Boys 10 & Under

1st Kai Sato-Franks, Haines

2nd Keegan Sundberg, Haines

3rd Craig Berube, WGB

Girls 11-12 years

1st Kirsten Berube, WGB

2nd Kate McArthur, WGB

3rd Cascade Galasso, Haines

Boys 11-12 years

1st Josh Kelly, WGB

2nd Mark Verhall, WGB

3rd Corey Piper, Haines

Women 13 & Over

1st Ariana Edelman, WGB

2nd Aurora Cherian-Kuni, WGB

3rd Hayley Bielz, WGB

Men 13 & Over

1st Brendan Zrum, WGB

2nd Tanner Cassidy, WGB

3rd Geoffrey Thompson, WGB

Bronwyn Pasloski and Alex Gabor were not at the weekend meet, as both swimmers were in Nanaimo at a Swim B.C. provincial training camp. They were named to the B.C. team based on their results at previous swim meets.

Next up for the Whitehorse Glacier Bears is the annual Midnight Sun swim meet in Fairbanks next month. More than 30 athletes are planning make the 12 hour drive, with swimmers from the youngest group, the Cubs, to the oldest group, the SilverTips.

After Fairbanks, the SilverTips and Kodiak swimmers will be traveling to Victoria for the annual Christmas Cracker meet.

Many swimmers this year will be working hard to achieve the Swim Yukon qualifying times for team selection to the 2007 Western Canada Summer Games, next August in Strathcona, Alberta.

Head coach Marek Poplawski, along with assistant coaches Zrum, Olwyn Bruce, Vanessa Brault, Mike Francis and Kelly Patrick, said the Bears are off to a great start and predicted they will see many personal bests from all swimmers over the next year.