While the majority of Yukoners were probably outside enjoying the sunshine finally this past long weekend, dozens of other residents and visitors from outside of the territory were taking part in the latest in a long line of test events for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

The 2006 Western Canada Open table tennis championships featured the top athletes from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alaska, as well as the Yukon, fighting it out for ranking in both men's and women's doubles and singles action at the Canada Games Centre Saturday and Sunday.

Twelve tables were set up in the flexi-hall at the centre, with action ongoing at almost all of them throughout the day, whether it was practice or competition. Ten local athletes tested their mettle against tough competitors and coach Kevin Murphy, who was also one of those who played, was pleased with their performance.

'Some of them were very impressed with the level of play,' he said. 'We did some videotaping, including some of (the local athletes') matches, so we'll be doing a little analysis.

'We did see some of the kids take some games in some of their matches. They were quite proud.'

Other Yukoners who didn't manage to win any games were still able to achieve some smaller goals, he pointed out, like taking points of their own from a top player, instead of just relying on that players' mistakes.

'Everybody had a good time, got in some good practice and made some new friends,' said Murphy.

The coach felt the entire weekend went fairly smooth, with the logistical side coming together well and a fair number of volunteers. The competition was excellent, he said, although he would have liked to see a few more spectators at the Games centre.

'But I kind of understand, because it was a long weekend and the first few days that we saw a lot of sunshine,' he said, acknowledging most people would prefer to be outside.

Overall, he said, local table tennis organizers feel like their ready for the Canada Games, at least in terms of running the control desk and setting up the facility.

Table Tennis Canada (TTC) representative Bob Westfall, who will be the technical director for the sport at the 2007 Games, was in Whitehorse this past weekend to get a glimpse of the local organizational skills.

'Basically, he gave us a thumbs up,' said Murphy. 'There were a few concerns he had, but he sat and talked to (local table tennis organizer) Dave Stockdale about them and we'll do our best to work on them.'

Those concerns, according to Westfall, have less to do with the facility and organization, and more to do with the availability of enough volunteers. But, he said, there is still a lot of time to figure that out.

'One of the requirements of a host is they provide us with officials,' he explained. 'Right now, we feel there's a requirement for 20 umpires and at this point in time, Yukon will be able to provide six provincially-registered umpires.

'That's probably quite an accomplishment for a community that has just recently embraced table tennis again. And the population base is quite small.'

Westfall said the physical space at the Games centre is great and he believes the lighting competitors will be playing under is probably the best in Canada.

'Most of our events take place in high school gymnasiums, so the lighting isn't anywhere near this.'

At the national badminton championships, a previous test event in Whitehorse, players and coaches were concerned with the draft coming through the flexi-hall because of the high ceilings and open walls. Westfall said that's not a great concern for him, though he plans to have the fans redirected and set to the lowest speed for the table tennis competition.

Twelve of the 13 regions in Canada will be participating in table tennis at the 2007 Games. Each team from each province will be separated by age categories, with two boys and two girls each in both the under-15 and under-17 divisions.

Like this past weekend's event, there will be singles, doubles and team competitions. Table tennis athletes who participate in the Canada Games are not on the national team, since the Games are geared to the promotion of players who are close to the national level but not quite there yet.

Still, said Westfall, there will be some very talented table tennis players in Whitehorse next year.

'The people coming from lower Canada, the kind of weather and the time of year here will be a real eye-opener for them. Very few have seen the North.

'I actually think this community has taken on a tremendous responsibility. The Canada Games are a huge, huge commitment for a community this size. Also, it's located so far away from everything.

'But I'm sure northern hospitality will prevail.'

Here are the singles, doubles and team results from the Western Canada Open:

Men's Singles

Division A

1. Zhen Wang, BC

2. Dennis Su, SK

3. Peter Yau, BC

4. Enoch Yiu, BC

Division B

1. Frederick Eng, MB

2. Andrew Hutzel, AK

3. Jeffrey Woo, SK

4. Kevin Murphy, YK

Women's Singles

Division A

1. Ioulia Degtiar, AB

2. Shirley Yan, AB

3, Hannah Li, AB

1. Shelley Chan, SK

Division B

1. Diann Darnall, AK

2. Lucy Liu, MB

3. Alayna Chan, SK

4. Chuling Ye, SK

Over-50 Singles

1. Danny Ho, B.C.

2. Andrew Hutzel, AK

3. Ken Madsen, YK

4. Sandy Neuman, YK

U-1600 Singles

1. Jeffrey Woo, SK

2. Fiona Yu, BC

3. Connie Fu, BC

4. Cynthia Tan, BC

U-800 Singles

1. Kevin Murphy, YK

2. Diann Darnall, AK

3. Ken Madsen, YK

4. Sandy Neuman, YK

Junior Boys U-17 Singles

1. Frederick Eng, MB

2. Patrick Serda, MB

3. Tian-Terry Zhang, MB

4. Jeffrey Woo, SK

Junior Girls U-17 Singles

1. Hannah Li, AB

2. Cynthia Tan, BC

3. Fiona Yu, BC

4. Joy Yiu, BC

Cadet Boys U-14 Singles

1. Tian-Terry Zhang, MB

2. Danny Chang, AB

3. Malkolm Boothroyd, YK

4. Wesley Bowman, AK

5. Cadet Girls U-14 Singles

6. Alayna Chan, SK

7. Chuling Ye, SK

8. Claire Abbott, YK

9. Jada Powell, YK

Men's Doubles

1. Z. Whang/P. Yau, BC

2. E. Yiu/D. Ho, BC

3. D. Su/C. Woo, SK

4. D. Chang/M. Tanjour, AB

Women's Doubles

1. I. Degtiar/S. Yan, AB

2. F. Yu, J. Yiu, BC

3. C. Fu/C. Tan, BC

4. A. Dzioba/M. Pointon, MB

U-1600 Doubles

1. K. Murphy/S. Fecteau, YK

2. K. Madsen/R. Wohlfarth, YK

3. Darnall/B. Bennett, AK

4. M. Boothroyd/B. Barrett-Forrest, YK

Male Interprovincial Teams

1. BC

2. AB

3. MB

4. SK

5. YK

Female Interprovincial Teams

1. AB

2. BC

3. MB

4. SK

5. YK