Receiving recognition
Annual awards recently handed out to athletes, volunteers, supporters
Becky Wedge received Biathlon P.E.I.’s top award at its recent ADL awards night.
The backbone of the Bears program in the western Prince Edward Island received the volunteer of the year award. She has been a coach and club organizer with the Mill River club since its beginning three years ago. In addition to coaching and creating practice plans, Wedge also looks after the equipment and offers transportation to participants.
The award is in memory of Jack MacKinnon, a longtime volunteer who died in 2015. For many years MacKinnon gave time and materials to help build the sport of biathlon and make sure that events happened with ease.
For the first time, Biathlon P.E.I. had co-winners for contributor of the year award with Stephen Hale and Maritime Electric both having a huge impact on bringing the organization’s de- velopment plan alive.
Awards of distinction went to Team Spud for their bronze medal at the Canadian championship. It was the province’s first civilian relay medal. Team Spud members Caitlin Campbell, André Boudreau and Lucas Boudreau shot clean and finished just behind Alberta and British Columbia, but ahead of the two Quebec squads.
Felicity Montgomery, from the Brookvale
Bears and formally Mill River, was named most improved Bear.
She showed perseverance and strong attendance during the past season and her shooting and skiing improved during the winter. Nick Harris earned the top shot Bear award after excelling during Biathlon Canada’s precision shooting program, where he shot the highest score of 80 per cent in the country. Daniel Wight was named rookie of the year. He had an average hit percentage of 58.3 and an average ski speed of 3.58 m/s. He displayed a quiet enthusiasm for the sport and consistently supported the team with a strong work ethic during practice, set-up and cool down. Wight was July’s winner with a score of 180 in Biathlon Canada’s precision shooting contest.
Liam Ellis took home the most improved award with an average hit percentage of 55 (20 per cent higher than last year) and an average ski speed of 3.80 m/s (0.48 m/s faster than a year ago).
Ellis, who purchased his own rifle at the start of the season, took part in both Atlantic Cups and was Biathlon P.E.I.’s sole representative at the Eastern Canadians. He travelled to Canmore, Alta., to participate in the NorAm races in early December.
Lucas Boudreau for the first time was named top shot biathlete.
His overall shooting for the season was 81.2 per cent. During 17 competitions, he had 18 clean bouts and three clean competitions and won every month of the Biathlon Canada precision shooting contest.