August 19/03 9:32 am - Blizzard Bike Club News

Posted by Editoress on 08/19/03
 

Due to the power outtage, some news did not get put up at the end of last week.

Blizzard Bike Club - Fort St. John, BC
Courtesy Pat Ferris

Sunday was the first mountain bike race of the 2003 season. There will be four Sunday mass start races and three Thursday night trail time trials, all at Beatton Park.

The Sunday mass start races are August 17, 24, September 7 and the Dawntech Championships on September 14th. The off road time trials are Thursdays, September 4, 11 and 18th. All events are at Beatton Park.

There are total points (BAR) for the events, which contribute to various age class trophies.

The Blizzard Club's first mountain bike was way held back in October 1989 at Beatton Park. Grande Prairie's James Proudfoot edged out locals Al Ceccon and Pat Ferris for the win, that day. There were 14 riders.

Robin Sipe won the first Club Mountain Bike Championship for 1995 in the rain and snow, on the Fish Creek circuit. His time was 1:02:15 hours. Jason Pearson was second, 3:20 minutes back and Doug Framst was third with 1:19:57.

Doug Framst won in 1996; Kris St. Jean was back-to-back winner in 1997 and 1998.

Thirteen-year-old Denny Morrison pulled off an upset win in 1999 to capture the Blizzard Bike Club's Mountain Bike Championship trophy, Sunday, at Beatton Park. Pat Ferris was close behind in second with Trevor McDonell in third spot.

Pat Ferris edged out Robert Martens in the mud and snow in 2000. Twenty-one riders came out for a grueling, muddy, slippery edition. Denny Morrison was third and Trevor McDonell 4th.

In 2001 Robert Martens pulled off the upset of the year by winning the Dawntech Mountain Bike Championship, Sunday. He won the four-lap event with a time of 48:06 minutes, 1:01 minutes faster than previously unbeaten Dave Damery. Trevor McDonell was third at 51:03. Timothy Gladysz had 55:07 for 4th and Dennis Morrison 57:07 for 5th.

Trevor McDonell ended a three-year drought and picked up his first Dawntech Mountain Bike Championship, Sunday, at Beatton Park. He came in with a time of 1:07:30 hours. Jodi Isenor was second at 1:09:11 and Vaughn Hildebrand third, nine seconds later.

Anyone interested in racing requires a $20 season's membership and a helmet. Call 785-3711 or www.dawntech.bc.ca/blizzard for details.

Thursday Night ITT

Stephen Ferris won another Baldonnel time trial, Thursday night (August 14th) . He had a time of 24:12. Mike Hientzman was second with 24:41 and Pat Ferris third, 11 seconds back. Dave McKnight was 4th with 25:51 and Tim Gladysz was 5th at 27:03.

Rod Lewis had 27:05 for 6th, Gilbert Bilodeau 27:42, David Ferris 27:44, Roger St. jean 27:50 and Terry Stone 28:08 for the top ten.

Tessa Bilodeau had 28:37 for 11th, Joseph Gladysz 28:19, Brian Maddigan 28:49, Keith Koebel 29:09, Tara Wallace 29:51, Owen Giebelhaus 30:22, Sam Keats 30:39, Al Withers 30:41, Jack Gladysz 31:41, Matt Sparling 31:59, Barb Polehoykie 33:08, Heather Haugen 36:20, Melissa Bowe 37:34, Ryan Stickel 37:56 and Dawn Gladysz 43:36.

Jolea won the 8 km distance with 14:30. Dayna Stickel was second at 15:37, Adam Bilodeau 15:59 and Cody Withers 17:10.

Alberta Provincial Road Championships
Five Blizzard riders will be in Edmonton, this Sunday, for the Alberta Provincial Road Championships at Mink Lake. Gilbert & Tessa Bilodeau, Mike Hientzman and Pat & Stephen Ferris will be contesting their age classes and categories along with 120 other cyclists.
Sunday is the first mountain bike race of the 2003 season. Beatton Park race time is 10:00 am at the lower ball diamond.
The Blizzard Club's first mountain bike was way held back in October 1989 at Beatton Park. Grande Prairie's James Proudfoot edged out locals Al Ceccon and Pat Ferris for the win, that day. There were 14 riders.

2003 Mountain bike champion Trevor McDonell will lead the way for this season. There will be four Sunday mass start races and three Thursday night trail time trials, all at Beatton Park.

Wim Kok will be doing the ride of his life in France, starting Monday. He will be doing the famous 1200-kilometer Paris-Brest-Paris randonneur. Wim will be doing the distance in about 84 hours.

There are 4096 riders in this event. The ride includes 81 riders from Canada. All riders have to qualify via a series of long distance events before they can apply to enter.


Alberta Road Race Championships

Five members of the Blizzard Bike Club competed in the Alberta Road Race Championships in Edmonton, Sunday. Two Local riders picked up provincial medals.

Tessa Bilodeau is now the new Alberta Provincial Junior Girls Champion with a gold medal. Gilbert Bilodeau picked up a silver medal in the Under 17 Boys division.

Both Tessa and Gilbert competed in the Category 5 race with a 50 km. distance. It all came down to a tough, uphill bunch finish. Gilbert was 4th overall and Tessa 6th overall with the group of riders. The group's time was 1:28:21 hours. Their medals were awarded to their age classes within Category 5.

Mike Hientzman was the top local finisher in the 120 km., Category 4 race with a 7th place finish in a group finish of 30 riders. Stephen Ferris was next in 22nd spot and Pat Ferris coming in 26th. The large pack of fifty riders pushed an average pace of 40 km's per hour to finish with a time 3:00:38 hours.

There were 120 riders of all the various categories, from all over Alberta.

Coming Up:
-Wim Kok starts the Paris-Brest-Paris in France, Tuesday morning at 5 :00 am. Check on his 1200 km. ride at www.dawntech.bc.ca/blizzard
-Thursday Baldonnel time trial at 7:00 pm.
-Sunday Beatton Park mountain bike race at 10:00 am. Meet at the lower ball diamond.