Speed Skating Nelson gets better with age
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The season may have concluded, but with the recent success this past year on ice the Nelson Speed Skating Club is already gearing up for 2018.
Club Nelson toured the province to find top flight competition for its skater, traveling to meets in in Kamloops, Kelowna, Port Coquitlam and Vernon.
Kamloops — November 5th, 2016:
In Kamloops with four skaters attending the meet, Berend Platje, Ian Walgren, Luke Platje and June Platje.
- Berend won his 200 m race with personal best times of 25:05 second, his 400 m race he was first with a PB time of 54:25, second in the 500 m in 56:45 and second in the 1500 m race with a PB of 2:59:62.
- Ian Walgren finished third in all of his races with times of: 200 m – 33:77, 400 – 1:10.78, 500m – 1:29.65, and 1500 m race 4:48.40.
- Luke Platje, won his 100 m, 200 m and 400 m races with Personal best times of 17:75, 33:66, and 1:05.32 respectively, Luke fought back to finish second in his 500 m race after two hard falls, with a time of 1:29.03.
- June Platje did not race due to illness.
Kelowna — December 3rd, 2016:
Berend Platje, Ian Walgren, Luke Platje and June Platje were the four skaters competing in Kelowna.
- Berend Platje finished with three first place finishes in the 200 m sprint, 400 m and 500 m races with Personal best times of 23:86, 45:80, and 54:94.
- Ian Walgren finished third in in all of his races posting personal best times of 1:20.45, and 3:38.90 in the 500 and the 1200 m races.
- Luke Platje posted personal best times of 36:22 and 1:32.52 in the 400 and 500 m races.
- June Platje posted personal best times of 21:86, 42:11 and 1:44:17 in the 200, 400, 500 m races.
Port Coquitlam — January 24th, 2017:
Ian Walgren traveled to Port Coquitlum to take part in his first ever Special Olympics meet.
- Ian Walgren finished second in the 222 m race with a PB time of 36:66, third in his 333 m race again with PB of 53:01 and first in the 777 m race with a PB of 2:15.19.
The long term goal for Walgren is to make Team BC and hopefully qualify for Nationals with another year of qualifying trials starting in September and October.
Kamloops — January 28th, 2017:
Berend Platje, Mercedes Phillips, Tristan Phillips, Luke Platje, June Platje, Oliver Ludwar and Charlie Ludwar all traveled to Kamloops to take part in the Coyote cup.
- Berend Platje came away with Gold in his group after posting some solid PB’s in the 200, 400, and 1500 m races, younger brother.
- Luke Platje captured the Silver medal with PB’s in the 400 and 500 m races, and younger sister June Platjecaptured the Silver medal in her group with PB’s in the 100, 200, 500 m races.
- Mercedes Philips grabbed a Silver in her group after posting speedy PB’s in the 400 and 1500 m races with times of 56:02 and 2:53.77.
- Tristan Phillips captured the Bronze medal in his group with PB’s in the 100, 200 and 400 m races with times of 19:45, 37:25, and 1:20.12.
- Brothers Oliver and Charlie Ludwar both grabbed the Bronze medal in their groups after posting very quick PB’s.
- Oliver Ludwar posted a 100 m time of 21:38 and a 400 m time of 1:23.71.
- Charlie Ludwar posted a PB 200 m time of 48:94, and his 400 m time of 1:48.46.
Vernon — February 11th, 2017:
Skaters Ian Walgren, Oliver Ludwar and Charlie Ludwar made the trip.
- Ian Walgren finished third in his group just missing out on PB’s in the 400 and 500 m races and posting a PB in the 1200 m race with a time of 3:37.90.
- Oliver Ludwar finished Second in his group posting PB’s in the 200 and 400 m races with times of 21:73, and 1:24.08.
- Charlie Ludwar, also finished second in his group.
Nelson 5000m Skate-a-thon race fundraiser — February 23, 2017:
- In the over 12 age group Berend Platje came first with a time of 11:14.35, Second was Mercedes Phillips with a time of 14:15:69, and Third was Ian Walgren with a time of 18:12.22.
- In the 12 and under age group, Cameron Boyes came first with a time of 13:46.00 just narrowly beating out teammate Luke Platje who posted a time of 16:54.00, Dylan Boyes was third with at time of 18:54.73, Fourth was June Platje with a time of 20:09.00, Fifth was Tristan Phillips with a time of 20:34.00, Sixth was Oliver Ludwar with a time of 20:44.00, Charlie Ludwar completed 4000 m in a time of 21:26.00 and Max Loubser completed 2500 m in a time of 20:50.00.
The skaters would like to thank everyone who helped make this event successful.
The Skaters worked hard this year and all of them improved immensely in the Speed Skating BC Skills Pin Program.
Berend Platje completed his Black Pin, Mercedes Phillips and Ian Walgren both completed their Green pin, Cameron Boyes completed three levels this year White, Yellow, and Orange, Dylan Boyes earned his Orange and Red Pins, Luke Platje earned his Red Pin, June Platje completed her Yellow and Orange Levels, Tristan Phillips completed his Yellow and Orange Levels, Oliver Ludwar earned his Red Pin and his brother Charlie Ludwar earned his White and Yellow Levels, and Max Loubser earned his White Pin.
Top awards went to Berend Platje for earning 20 personal best times this season in the over 12 age group and Tristan Phillips and Oliver Ludwar tied with 15 personal best times in the 12 and under age group.
Speed Skating will be back on the ice in late September early October and runs until mid March.
The club practices on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. at the NDCC.
For more information please contact Bruce Walgren at 250 352 – 7110 or email at walgren@telus.net.
