Dollard Short-Track Speed Skating Club hosts meet

Over 141 skaters from 19 western Quebec region clubs showed their wares at the event, designed for skaters at the lowest category on the competitive scale in provincial short-track speed skating. Grouped into separate age categories seven and over, each competed in five races, with skaters competing in A, B, C and D finals, according to their qualifying times. Only those in the A finals qualified for medals.

“Hosting a meet like this is very important for our club,” said DSSC vice-president Irene Isshak. “It not only puts our name out there, but sets the base for our skaters to get better with time. For example, we now have advanced skaters such as Charles-Mina Wissa, Jeremy Kafouri, Julien Choirniere and Gabrielle Morasse, who have all achieved their qualified times and advanced to the developmental level. But they all started at a meet like this.”

Four DSSC competitors competed on Saturday. Two captured medals, including Peter Maniatakos, who earned bronze in the juvenile category and Jeremy Allen, who picked up the Iron Medal for finishing fourth in the benjamin category. Meanwhile, Jacob Desrochers came sixth in the juvenile category while Matthew Maniatakos ended up 16th in the cadet category. Also of local interest were the seven athletes who represented the Trois Lacs Speed Skating Club, based out of St. Lazare. Six came home with pieces of silverware around their necks, including Mathieu Lefebvre and Émile Philibert, who won gold and silver respectively in the cadet category, Michel Lanthier, who won silver in the open class, Claudette Jolicoeur, who captured bronze in the benjamin class, and Rafaël Thibault, who along with Élizabeth Maclean captured respective Iron Medals in the minime and juvenile classes.

Handing out all those medals was Dollard councilor Errol Johnson, who dropped by to represent Dollard Mayor Ed Janiszewski and offer his support to each and every skater.