Provincials 2003

The eleventh annual BC Championships were held April 12th in Maple Ridge. Marlene Walker and her crew of volunteers tackled the job with great enthusiasm which more than made up for their lack of experience in staging a one day event. This was the first time that BC had the final four events in one day.

Rick Maynard produced the ride event the week before. He took on the responsibility of designing the course, providing the ring and horses to those athletes who did not have access to their own horse. Thank you Rick, we wouldn't have had a ride portion without your expertise and generosity.

Despite the small turnout  (18 athletes and 5 Masters), the event demonstrated the training and dedication it takes to be a member of this diversified sport. Each participant showed promise in all the events and excellence in more than one of the events. European competitions diverted our senior athletes. We missed them. This is an important qualification season as the Pan American Games, held once every four years happen in August.

The provincial championships recognize the individual event results whereas our JAAP events throughout the year only award for the aggregate total. This difference at the BC Champs allows for athletes starting in the sport to be recognized for their achievement in their best discipline and use the other results as a measurement of development as the continue in their training in disciplines new to them.

Throughout the award presentations, Robin Taylor and Marlene Walker stressed the importance of athletes' Personal Best results and recognition of those athletes by their peers. Modern Pentathlon is a sport where an athlete can compete against his/her previous score and feel like a first place winner each time they compete. And they can do that three, four or five times over! (depending on the competition and the number of events they compete in)

We would like to especially recognize the athletes who competed in the five disciplines. These athletes are awarded the "PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGGREGATE MEDALS".

Hillary Godin Senior Woman Langley

Alison Fox UIPM Woman Langley

Steve McLay UIPM Man Langley

Sportsmanship is a highly regarded behaviour in the sport of Modern Pentathlon. The ribbon for sportsmanship was awarded to Barry Tompkins. Barry was a late comer to the sport. He competed in his first BC Champs in 1994. He epitomizes the athlete who can come into Pentathlon from a distinguished career in another sport and tackle and succeed in mastering new events. His encouragement and support of new athletes is exemplary.

Rumour has it that the National Championships are to be held in the Chilliwack area on the weekend of August 23, 24. See you all there.

Charlotte Cronin