Dutton 7th in World Junior 500

Dutton Seventh in World 500

Press Release
Humboldt Speed Skating Club
For Immediate Release

February 21, 2009

(Zakopane Poland) Humboldt speed skater William Dutton finished in eigth place in the second of the two 500 meter races at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Poland Saturday. Dutton moved up from 10th position in the first 500 meter race to finish seventh overall in the combined time for the two races.

"I knew I had my work cut out after my first race." Dutton said. "I knew I had to make the top eight to make the Canadian Development team." he added. Conditions were not the greatest on Saturday with snow falling all day on the each flood caused the ice to become pebbled like curling ice. The rough ice slowed everyone down and caused some serious slips. Dutton was able to advance while many of those in front of him after the first race had slower times in the second race. Dutton's time in the second race increased by .07 seconds. Only one skater, Canadian team mate Richard MacLennan, improved their time on day two.

"We're looking for some great things from William in the future" said World Junior Coach Crispin Parkinson. "We know he will be faster next season. He has world class 100 meter times now and he's getting stronger" he added. Speed Skate Canada high performance Chairman Greg Planert said "William is being rewarded for his hard work and dedication, it's good to have him on the team."

Dutton and Humboldt Speed Skating Club teammates Nathan Bernhard and Ryan Bernhard will be in action again at the Calgary Oval Finale meet in March.

Dutton models Team Canada Gear

First and third fastest junior 500 in the world this year

Dutton wins Silver and Bronze at North Americans

(Calgary) Humboldt speed skater William Dutton skated to two medals in the North American speed skating Championship at the Calgary Olympic Oval this weekend. Dutton won silver in the 500 and bronze in the 1000 meter sprints.


The second of two junior men’s 500 meter races had everyone at the Calgary oval on their feet as Dutton lead fellow Canadian World junior team member Richard MacLennan into the final corner. With MacLennan gaining on the inside Dutton slipped and was forced to put his hand down to maintain his balance. MacLennan shot into the lead coming out of the corner but Dutton regained his balance and closed the gap down the final straight. MacLennan missed the Canadian record by one hundredth of a second and Dutton crossed less than two tenths behind.

“I think Richard would have broken the record if I don’t slip. It would have been a photo finish and he would have gone faster” said Dutton. His time lowered Dutton’s own Saskatchewan Junior record set earlier this year. Dutton and MacLennan have one more shot at the Canadian record this year in Calgary during the ING Finale meet in March.

The two skaters, who train together, were on the podium in the 1000 as well. MacLennan took the silver and Dutton the bronze as both skaters finished narrowly behind American Peter Whitmore.

Dutton’s success in the Canadian Junior Championship places him on the Speed Skating Canada 2018 prospect team. MacLennan and Dutton go into the World junior championships seeded as number two and three in the world in the 500. If either of the skaters finish in the top 8 in the World Championship they will move up to the Canadian LT development team. MacLennan presently has the 7th fastest time by a Canadian man this year and Dutton has the 10th fastest.

Humboldt skaters and brothers Nathan and Ryan Bernhard staged a meet within a meet at the North American championship culminating in their skating a 500 meter race one within one hundredth of a second of each other.

Nathan started the day with a personal best 38.19 and all the fans waited to see little brother Ryan straining to take over the family title to the fastest 500. Ryan had a great race and clocked 38.20. Nathan is a former N.A. Champion and Ryan was a double medalist at the 2007 meet.

The “Burning Bernhards” are not done this season as Ryan and youngest brother Terran have both qualified and are headed for the Canadian Age Class championships in Regina next weekend. Saskatchewan Provincial Coach Brian McSorley says “we expect Ryan to come home with medals and Terran is a dark horse in his first year in the division”.

Dutton Named to World Junior Team

NEWS RELEASE
February 1st, 2008
For Immediate release
Humboldt Speed Skating Club


HUMBOLDT SPEED SKATER HEADING TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS



(Richmond BC) Humboldt's William Dutton won the sprint spot on Canada's World Junior speed skating team Sunday at the Canadian Junior Championship at Richmond Olympic Oval. Dutton qualified by posting a 1000 meter time of 1:14:05 in the last race of the championship. Dutton will represent Canada at the 2009 World Junior speed skating Championship in Poland February 20 - 22.

As always the Humboldt Speed Skating Club member saved his best for the last race of the meet. "I was very nervous for the first few races of the meet and it hurt my skating" Dutton said. "I managed to control my emotions in the thousand and now I get to wear the maple leaf. It has always been my dream to skate for Canada" he added. Dutton will skate in the 100,500 and the 1000 meter races at the World championships. He has skated some of the fastest junior 500 races in the world this year and presently has the 5th fastest time skated this season. He also set new Saskatchewan junior and men's records in the 500 in November.

Humboldt team members Nathan and Ryan Bernhard also raced at the new 2010 Olympic oval on the weekend. Ryan is junior with two more years of eligibility. He is presently the third fastest Canadian in his age category. Nathan, a senior, raced in the men's 500 and 1000.