McQuaid, Larter take top honours

P.E.I. award winners announced

Peter McQuaid of Charlottetown and Jenna Larter of Brookfield were named top male and female athletes recently as Speed Skate P.E.I. handed out its annual award winners following a season of progress and breakthrough performances.

McQuaid won the top male award for the first time, after capping his season with his best performances at the Canadian Junior Selections 2 event in Calgary in March. He set three new provincial records and recorded the fastest ever times by an Island short track skater while training on P.E.I. at junior selections.

McQuaid’s strong season also included a second overall placement at the Atlantic Canadian Short Track Championships in Dieppe, N.B., in February, along with overall wins at the Atlantic Cup in Charlottetown and at the Citadel Cup in Halifax.

Larter took home the Nancy White award, presented to the top female, on the strength of her season which included a trio of new provincial records and some of the best times ever recorded by an Island female short track skater.

She had a 15th-place finish in the 500 metre distance in her first appearance at the Canadian Junior Selections 2 event in Calgary, after making a strong debut on the Quebec Provincial circuit earlier in the season. Larter was also the top female skater in the Atlantic Cup meet in Charlottetown.

Andrew Binns won the rising star award, after winning a pair of medals, including P.E.I.’s first ever gold, at the Canada East Short Track Championships in Lévis, Que.

Zack O’Meara and Jane Bruce were named top male and top female skaters, respectively, in the intermediate group, while Zachary Chatfield was awarded the rising star honours for the same group.

In the learn to speed skate

program, Jacob Taylor picked up top male skater honours, while Sophia Erdogan was named top female skater.

Kohl Dallaire won the rising star award, while Sadie Hansen was named most improved skater in the program.

The president’s award was presented to Kerby Bruce, who was recognized for his significant contributions as Speed Skate P.E.I.’s equipment manager for the past several years.

Eric Reynard was named volunteer of the year and Paul Trainor the official of the year for his work as a starter.

Mia Stewart won the mentorship award in recognition of her contributions to the learn to skate program, while Kristen Binns earned a special contribution award in recognition of her photography.

KRISTEN BINNS PHOTOGRAPHY/SPECIAL TO THE GUARDIAN Peter McQuaid, left, was named Speed Skate P.E.I.’s top male skater for 2017-18. From left are Island skaters McQuaid, Andrew Binns, Kyle Connell and William Lyons.

SUBMITTED Peter McQuaid and Jenna Larter were recently named the province’s top male and female speed skaters for 2017-18 at Speed Skate P.E.I.’s annual awards banquet.

KRISTEN BINNS PHOTOGRAPHY/SPECIAL TO THE GUARDIAN Jenna Larter leads the group around the turn during the 2017-18 season.