by Cross Country Nova Scotia, Staff, December 20, 2023
GATINEAU, Q.C. – Emma Archibald earned double gold in para-nordic standing sprint and distance races; Sircom-Brown placed 14th in sprint qualifier, advanced to quarter-finals, and posted 24th and 22nd rankings in distance freestyle and distance classic events; Norman clocked 20th in distance freestyle, 17th in sprint qualifier, and 23rd in distance classic; Neklia, Doyon and Miner also gained racing experience; at the Eastern Canada FIS Cup / Candy Cane Cup, held at the Nakkertok Nordic Ski Centre, on December 15-17, 2023.
Our provincial team athletes competed alongside over 610 racers across 50 clubs from Eastern Canada and beyond; under direction of head coach, Daniel Murray. Our athletes home club is Scotia XC Ski Club, while Murray’s home club is North Highlands Nordic. Special thank-you to team chaperone and course photographer, Melanie MacDermid.
Races were organized on three courses, which included: 1 km sprint course, 1.3 km sprint course and 2.5 km distance course; on the homologated “Nakkertrak” training and race loop, which is supported by artificial snowmaking. Known as the Candy Cane Cup, this racing event is part of the Nordiq Canada Eastern Canada Cup series, CCUNC, the Ontario Cup and the Quebec Cup.
Provincial team alumni earned strong results. Athletes included: Fiona McClure, Maggie McClure, Ogen Newcomb, and Colin Ward; all current members of Carleton Ravens Nordic Ski team. Highlights below.
Race Highlights:
· Emma Archibald, member of uOttawa Nordiq, and Nordiq Canada Development Team, earned gold in sprint freestyle para-nordic standing, and gold in distance classic para-nordic standing;
· Milo Sircom-Brown (Wolfville), member of uOttawa Nordiq, progressed to quarter-finals, securing 14th in U20 sprint freestyle. He finished 22nd in the distance classic event;
· Cohen Norman (Halifax) finished 20th in 2.5 km freestyle. Norman advanced to quarter finals in sprint freestyle, finishing 17th in qualifier. Norman ranked 23rd in distance classic race;
· Fiona McClure, Carleton University racer and NS Ski Team alumni, earned 13th place in the open women’s classic distance event (32nd in open/U18);
· Maggie McClure, Carleton University racer and NS Ski Team alumni, progressed to finals and secured 5th place in the open women’s sprint, freestyle. McClure finished 6th in freestyle distance. A strong classic distance race for McClure, she placed 2nd in senior category, (3rd, CCUNC, 4th Open/U18);
· Ogen Newcomb, Carleton University racer and NS Ski Team alumni, finished 21st in senior men’s 4.6 km freestyle. He finished 20th in distance classic;
· Colin Ward, Carleton University racer and NS Ski Team alumni, finished 13th in senior men’s 4.6 km freestyle. Ward earned 14th place in distance classic event.
Coach Quotes:
“The competition was very thick this year, especially in the U18 boys, where fields were up to 82 finishers (in comparison to 69 last year). For example, in the individual classic, a performance that would have scored a top 40 this year would have put someone into the top 30 last year. With that in mind, I feel that our NS skiers started the season very well and now have very real awareness of where to improve their race performances, especially those who’ll be returning to Nakkertok in March for Ski Nationals.” … Daniel Murray, Head Coach, NS Cross-Country Ski Team
Race Results:
FIS Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Fri, Dec 15: Sprint Qualifier – Free Technique
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME | DIFFERENTIAL | ROUND | FINAL RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milo Sircom-Brown | uOttawa | U20-1 M | 1.3 km | 14/32 | 2:40.55 | +13.61 | Quarter- Finals | 14/32 |
FIS Eastern Canada Cup – Fri, Dec 15: Interval Start – Free Technique
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynden Doyon | U18 B | 2.5 km | 45/79 | 6:09.7 | |
| Ewan Miner | U18 B | 2.5 km | 64/79 | 6:37.6 | |
| Cohen Norman | U18 G | 2.5 km | 20/79 | 5:49.1 | |
| Paige Neklia | U18 G | 2.5 km | 48/51 | 8:57.4 |
Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Sat, Dec 16: Interval Start Free Technique
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milo Sircom-Brown | uOttawa | U20-1 M | 4.6 km | 24/33 | 11:28.3 |
Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Sat, Dec 16: Sprint Qualifier – Free Technique
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME | DIFFERENTIAL | ROUND | FINAL RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Archibald | uOttawa | SR F P/N | 1 km | 1/2 | 2:57.70 | Finals | 1/2 | |
| Lynden Doyon | U18 B | 1 km | 39/82 | 2:19.70 | +16.08 | Qualifier | 39/82 | |
| Ewan Miner | U18 B | 1 km | 68/82 | 2:33.51 | +29.89 | Qualifier | 68/82 | |
| Cohen Norman | U18 B | 1 km | 17/82 | 2:11.66 | +8.04 | Quarter-Finals | 30/82 | |
| Paige Neklia | U18 G | 1 km | 47/54 | 3:04.86 | +39.95 | Qualifier | 47/54 |
Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Sat, Dec 16: Interval Start – Classic Technique
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Archibald | uOttawa | SR F P/N | 7.5 km | 1/2 | 26:13.7 |
| Milo Sircom-Brown | uOttawa | U20-1 M | 10 km | 22/32 | 28:46.9 |
| Lynden Doyon | U18 M | 10 km | 62/82 | 32:01.2 | |
| Ewan Miner | U18 M | 10 km | 71/82 | 34:26.2 | |
| Cohen Norman | U18 F | 10 km | 23/82 | 28:30.3 | |
| Paige Neklia | U18 F | 10 km | 48/52 | 45:35.3 |
Complete Results: https://zone4.ca/event/2023/P4qAWZ/
Video:
View additional videos (FB Album).
Photos:
View additional photos (FB Album). Photo credits Jo-Ann Holden (1-4), Steve Jacobsen (5-9), Rob Smith (10), Daniel Murray (11-17). Athletes photographed: Lynden Doyon (1), Maggie McClure (2), Ewan Miner (3), Cohen Norman (4), Emma Archibald (5), Ewan Miner (6), Maggie McClure (7), Paige Neklia (8), Maggie McClure (9), Milo Sircom-Brown (10), Cohen Norman (11), Paige Neklia (12), Milo SIrcom-Brown (13), Lynden Doyon (14), Ewan Miner (15), Emma Archibald (16).
2022-2023 Domestic Calendar – Nordiq Canada:
Cross Country Nova Scotia 