2010 Road to World Championship Starts in Humboldt

(Calgary) From Humboldt to Obihiro Japan, with stops in Calgary, Richmond, Quebec City, Salt Lake City, Holland, Germany and China; 2010 has seem a lot of ice pass under the blades for Humboldt Speed Skating Club's William Dutton. "When I was a kid I never really thought about World Cups or World Championships or flying around the world, I raced because it was fun" said Dutton.

Christmas last year was spent at the Calgary Oval as the Canadian Olympic speed skating trials started Boxing Day. Dutton hit the starting line against former World Sprint Champion Mike Ireland for the opening race. "This year I raced the two greatest sprinters Canada's ever had, Wotherspoon and Ireland," Dutton said with a grin.

The young sprinter missed the Olympic cut but caught a break when the Olympic team chose to skip the World Sprints and he was named as one of the alternates. Dutton described the experience as exciting "but I felt like I came in the back door". A disqualification in the 1000 at the races in Japan left him frustrated and disappointed in his final placing. "I promised myself I'd be back next year" Dutton said.

During the summer Dutton and his team mates spent many hours on road bikes in the Canadian Rockies. One trip resulted in a near tragedy when his team mate Matt MacLean of Winnipeg hit a mountain sheep while travelling at more than 80 km/h. Dutton, who was in the lead, dodged the animal when it ran out from behind a parked car in High Wood pass near Kananaskis. MacLean was not so lucky. Dutton stopped and turned to see his team mate down, his bike destroyed and the sheep struggling to escape. "I wondered if he was alive at first" Dutton said. Fortunately MacLean was bloody but not critical. Dutton called the coaches with his cell phone and MacLean was taken by ambulance to hospital. He suffered a broken clavicle, scapula and severe road rash but was able to start skating again in November.

The Speed Skating Canada final rankings for the previous season had Dutton fifth in the country in the 500. In August, he started the new racing season with some solid times. In the summer three of Canada's Vancouver Olympian's retired, Wotherspoon, Ireland and Parrot. Dutton found himself as the ranking number two sprinter in Canada. "It did not mean anything until I proved I earned it instead of getting there by other guys retiring" said Dutton. He stepped to the line at the Fall World Cup trials with something to prove to himself and when the clock stopped he stood second only to Olympian Jamie Gregg in the 500 and fourth in the 1000. Both were good enough to qualify him for the World Cup racing circuit in Europe and Asia.

The first races of the World Cup were in Holland the speed skating crazy capital of the world. Bands, fans, beer and live television greeted the skaters. "It was fun, speed skaters don't usually get much TV time at home unless it's the Olympics or a World Championship" said Dutton with a smile.

Dutton was scheduled to race the world's number one ranked male sprinter, Korean Lee Kyou-Hyuk, in the first 500 of the meet. "I was pumped to race the world number one and I warmed up hard" he said. Maybe a little too hard, as Dutton entered the corner during warm up he lost an edge and slammed into the wall. "I nearly took out the Japanese coach and I ripped my skin suit from ankle to knee so I had to borrow a team mates for the race" Dutton said. Another skater, Korean Moe Tae Bum the Vancouver games men's 500 Olympic Gold medalist also crashed into the wall. When the buzzer rang for the start of racing Tae Bum was scratched due to injury and Dutton was bandaged up enough to go to the line. But the race pairing were changed due to Tae Bum's injury.

Dutton skated another Korean, Moon Jun. In his first world cup race the young Canadian skated a respectable 35.75 good enough for 15th in the world that day. Later in the day, Dutton paired with a young Dutch skater Hein Otterspeer for the A Group 1000, "the roar as we went around the last turn was unbelievable" Dutton said. Otterspeer nipped him at the line and Dutton ended up 19th after race one. Not a bad first day for the rookie, two top twenty finishes.

Day two did not go quite as well, and when the weekend was over Dutton stood 18th in the 500 and 22nd in the 1000. The results put him into Group B for the next world cup stop. The next week the Canadian team raced in Germany, where Dutton had his first podium finish in Group B with a third. "They did not give out a medal for Group B in Berlin but the gummy bears were delicious and I move back to Group A" Dutton grinned. The podium finish moved him back into Group A for the 500 in China and gave him 19 more points in the World Cup standings. Dutton's results in China were good enough to keep him in the top group in the 500 but he dropped down to group B in the 1000.

The team finished the season in Obihiro Japan the site of Dutton's first International Championship as a senior, the 2010 World Sprints. This trip to Obihiro there was no disqualification. The highlight of this trip was an abscessed tooth. Dutton finished 18th in both 500s and scratched from the 1000. As he boarded the flight home he discovered he had left his iPhone at the Hotel. "Obihiro memories may need an upgrade" Dutton commented.

This Christmas for the first time in many years Canada's speed skaters were able to go home for holiday. For the last decade speed Skating Canada has chosen to hold the Canadian Single Distance Championships between Christmas and New Years. This year the Championships start January 6. "Mykola Makowsky (Regina born National Development Team skater) asked if we could have Christmas at home this year. We all owe him a turkey dinner" Dutton commented. It meant the skaters get a few days with friends and family and a chance to reflect on the year, the races, and the future. Racing starts at the Oval January 6th.

"The World Championships are in Holland this year and the road to Heerenveen oval passes through Calgary but it started in Humboldt" said Dutton, "Discovery Ford licensed a van right off their lot so we could drive to Minneapolis, the Humboldt Journal gave us great coverage, the town of Humboldt supported the club and staff at the Elgar Peterson Arena gave us a hand painting the ice. Racing Addison Thiel and Nathan Bernhard gave me someone to chase. Happy New Year Humboldt!"

Dutton Finishes 2010 22nd in World Cup 500 Standings

(Calgary) William Dutton of the Humboldt Speed Skating Club is back in Canada after his World Cup tour of the speed skating ovals of Europe and Asia. Dutton enjoyed some success on the circuit in his first World Cup competitions and he presently stands 22nd in World Cup 500 points.

Dutton back in Group A for China

Dutton on Podium in Berlin



(Berlin) Canadian World Cup team rookie William Dutton stepped on the World Cup podium for the first time Sunday in Berlin. "In Berlin they don't give medals to the top three of Group B but the Gummy Bears and flowers were terrific" Dutton said with a smile. He finished second in Group B earning 19 points in World Cup standings.
"I am excited about moving back to Group A, that is what we raced for in B, a chance to race with the top twenty in the world" he added. The top twenty in World Cup points qualify for the World Sprint Championships in February. Combined with his fourth place on Friday Dutton now sits 18th in the men's Group A 500 points standings.
His podium finish moves him up to Group A for the World Cup races in China December 4-5.
Dutton 20, is a second year member of the National Development team. He is also member of the Humboldt Speed Skating Club.

Kramer Done for the Season?

Sports

Olympic speed skating champion Kramer out of season
English.news.cn 2010-11-23 10:13:01 FeedbackPrintRSS
HAGUE, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sven Kramer will not compete in the remainder of the speed skating season as the Olympic 5,000m champion is suffering from a right leg injury.

The 24-year-old has already withdrawn from the Dutch single distances championships and the World Cup events in Heerenveen and Berlin.

Kramer hoped that a period of rest would help to heal the injury and he seemed to be on his way back.

But the injury arose again. "It's the inside of my knee", he said to Dutch television channel NOS. "I can not put enough pressure on my leg, so I can not train fully. We will now investigate exactly where the complaints are coming from. That will take some time."

Because of the injury, Kramer will not be able to defend his titles at the European and World Championships.

Editor: Fang Yang

Morrison back in the Hunt

(Berlin) Denny Morrison showed his mettle Saturday in Berlin winning the B group going away. Morrison unexpectedly ended up in the B group as the result of a starting line stumble in Heerenveen left him in second last place in the Mens 1500 World Cup standings last week.

Morrison, clocked at 1:46:98, picked up 25 world Cup points this morning while toiling in the trenches in group B. Out of the lime light, Morrison easily tallied the win. He will move back into group A for the next races in China early in December.

Canadian team mate William Dutton, the Canadian World Cup team rookie out of Humboldt Saskatchewan notched his first International podium finish with a second in the men's group B 500. Dutton moved back into contention for the World Sprint Championship qualification with his morning skate. He will compete in group A at the next World Cup stop in Changchun China.

Racing continues in Berlin later Saturday. The Canadian women are heavily favoured to finish on the podium in the 1500.

Nesbitt Dominant in 1500 World Cup

(Berlin) Christine Nesbitt continued to dominate the womens 1500 in the Essent World Cup of speed skating winning her second Gold in as many tries Friday in Berlin. Nesbitt has won comfortably in both races and finished almost a full second ahead of second place Ida Njatun of Norway and nearly two full seconds faster than Irene Wust of the Netherlands.

The rest of the Canadian team came close to making it an all Canadian podium. Cindy Klassen, clearly on the come back trail after a year off, was fourth but only by two tenths. Britanny Schussler was one-hundreth of a second behind Klassen finishing a strong fifth. Kristina Groves was eleventh and Shannon Rempel continued a strong start to the season placing thirteenth.

The Canadian women are setting a great example for the Canadian men who have yet to hit the podium in this years World Cup. Denny Morrison is among the favourites in the men's 1500. Racing continues Saturday and Sunday with the women expected to hit the podium again in the 3000 and 1000.

Dutton Skates First World Cup Race in Holland

(Heerenveeen) William Dutton skated for his country Friday Nov. 12 in the World Cup of Speed Skating at the Thialf in Heerenveen Holland. He skated to a 15th place tie and lost a tiebreak by 3/1000ths of a second moving him to 16th.
In his World Cup debut Dutton raced Korean Olympic and World Cup veteran Joon Mun. Mun beat Dutton at the line.
"I thought I had him coming out of the final corner but he closed the gap and shot the line" said Humboldt Saskatchewan's Dutton. "I was excited and nervous but good nervous not scared nervous" he added.
Dutton 20 is one of the Canadian men's new generation of skaters who grew up watching the great Jeremy Wotherspoon blister the opposition along with his sidekick Mike Ireland. Now the youngsters are joining some of the less known veterans of the Canadian team and hoping to work their way onto the podium. The young Canadians are skating international competitors who saw mostly the back of Wotherspoon and Ireland for more than a decade. The international men are taking some pleasure beating the young Canadians.
All of this is taking place in the high temple of speed skating in Holland; the Thialf, the first closed speed skating oval in the world. The Thialf is to Holland what the the old Maple Leaf Gardens or the Montreal Forum were to Canadians; the revered home of a sport near to the heart. It can be more than a little intimidating but the Canadian team is not backing down.
Dutton skates Mun in the second 500 as well. This time Dutton falls of the pace but still betters his first time by two hundreths. Team mates and fellow youngsters MacLennan and Junio race in the B group. Junio has a good first race but also falls of the pace in his second start. MacLennan skates a fairly well in the first race then nearly falls in the second losing all momentum.
The kids have mixed feelings about their first time in the temple. Mostly they are turning their minds to the next series in Berlin next weekend."We'll be better in Berlin" said MacLennan as Junio nodded. They will be and the crowd that gathered around asking for autographs seems to agree.

Dutton World Cup Bound

(Calgary) Humboldt Saskatchewan speed skater William Dutton is following a trail blazed by another Humboldt native, world renowned speed skater Jeremy Wotherspoon. Dutton, in his second year as a National development team long tracker, is on his way to the World Cup of speed skating where the name Wotherspoon is as revered as the name Gretzky.
"We (Humboldt skaters) used to look for Jeremy at the Oval when he was World Champion" Dutton said. "Now we see him every day and he helps with the coaching" he added. Apparently it's working. Dutton skates in the glory race of speed skating the 500. He moved up to second in Canada at the Canadian fall World Cup trials this weeend in Calgary. At the end of the 2009 season he was ranked 5th. He qualified for this years World Cup fall circuit in the sprints; the 500 and the 1000 meter races.
Dutton raced Wotherspoon last year as the Canadian team prepared for the Olympic team qualifier. In the Olympic trials he skated another Canadian speed skating Icon former World Champion Mike Ireland. "It seemed like every time I stepped up to the line I was skating one of the fastest guys in the world" Dutton laughed. He went on to race Denny Morrison, Jamie Gregg, and Kyle Parrott all Canadian 2010 Olympians. "I didn't win any of those races but when I was done I knew I could skate with them, that I belonged on the ice with them" he said.
Apparently he was right. Now he is on the ice with Gregg and the senior sprint team every day. Dutton skated against the fastest man on the Canadian team, Olympian Jamie Gregg, in the 1000 and both races of the 500 this weekend. When the skating was done he was fourth in the 1000 and second in the 500.
Dutton has worn the maple leaf twice in his young career. In 2009 he was a member of the Canadian junior team at the World Junior Championships in Poland and in 2010 he skated at the World Sprint Championships in Obihiro Japan. This will be his first time as a member of the Canadian World Cup team. "We race in four cities on two continents in the next six weeks. I won't have the same kind of first time jitters when I skate this year" Dutton said.
The Canadian team is young this year. Veterans Wotherspoon and Ireland have retired. They were followed off the ice by 2010 Olympic sprinters J.F. Roberge and Kyle Parrott. Gregg, an Own the Podium athlete, who came to speed skating from hockey is a veteran at age 25. Quebec skaters Vincent LaBrie and Muncef Ouardi are 27 and 24 respectively. Dutton is 20 and his Sault St. Marie room mate Richard MacLennan is 19. Junior Gilmore Junio is 18.
These young athletes are Canada's future in long track sprints. It remains to be seen if they can carry the torch thrown from Wotherspoon and Ireland. They quietly go about their business. Learning about the tension and stress of being on the line with the fastest skaters in the world.
When you ask them about it they shrug and smile. Then they head back out to the ice. After all, when you've raced Wotherspoon who could possibly intimidate you?We'll find out soon.

Dutton Makes Canadian World Cup Team

(Calgary) Humboldt speed skater William Dutton qualified for the International Speed Skating Union World Cup with a fourth place finish at Canadian World Cup trials in Calgary Thursday. Dutton 20, is a member of the Humboldt Speed Skating club, a small town club that is known as the "per capita speed skating capital of Canada".
Dutton, a National Development team member, nearly fell in the first few strides of the race. Fortunately he was saved by a false start by his team mate and opponent in the heat, Canadian Olympian Jamie Gregg of Calgary.
In the restart Dutton quickly closed on Gregg. Dutton took the lead late in the race but Gregg caught and passed him in the final corner. Despite nearly falling at the finish line Dutton managed a fourth place finish good enough to qualify for the International Skating Union World Cup fall races.
Dutton, Gregg, Denny Morrison, Phillipe Riopel and Richard MacLennan will form the Canadian 1000 meter team at the 2010 World Cup fall series in Holland, Germany, China and Japan.

The Next Ones - 2014 Olympics

(Calgary) In 2010 Canadian men's speed skating sprint coach Sprint Mike Crow was working with two World Sprint Champions, legends in the speed skating world. Crowe's focus was on getting speed skating icon Jeremy Wotherspoon and sidekick Mike Ireland back to their world beating best for the home town Olympics. It did not happen.

This season Crowe's sprint team is mostly raw and unproven. Five male sprinters skated for the Canadian Olympic team in Vancouver. Only one of them is still wearing the maple leaf, Jamie Gregg. The others have all retired or at very least taken the year off. Jeremy Wotherspoon is shadowing Crowe at the Oval in Calgary working with the young Canadian team and getting ready to coach in Europe. Mike Ireland is attending classes at the U of C. Kyle Parrott is working on his engineering not his skating. Francoise Roberge just announced his retirement. That leaves relative newcomer Jamie Gregg as the only Olympic veteran on the Canadian sprint team.

It seems strange that no one has made note of this changing of the guard but then it is an off year; that is the next Olympics are four years off. Who's left besides Gregg? Veterans who have not been able to get past the old guard and rookies who were too young to get it done.

The five fastest 500 skaters, as the team closes in on the World Cup trials are; Jamie Gregg (1985), William Dutton (1989), Vincent LaBrie (1982), Richard MacLennan (1991), and Muncef Ouardi (1986). The Olympics are four years away and the battle to represent Canada in 2014 in Sochi Russia starts October 21st in Calgary. The youngsters and not so young have their shot.

They have some very very big shoes to fill. Good luck gentlemen, may the fastest men win.

Sean Ireland Named Long Track Program Director

Calgary - Speed Skate Canada today announced to it's National and Development Team members that Sean Ireland would be the Long Track Program Director for the 2010 season. Skaters training in Calgary have been doing so without knowing who was going to coach them for the upcoming season. Some Oval program coaches have as many as 40 skaters ranging from first year Oval skaters to National team skaters under their tutelage.

Ireland may be stepping into the breach and his decision is one welcomed by the skaters. His experience and advocacy for the athletes should make him a popular choice at the Oval. Speed Skate Canada seems to be undergoing a mass exodus at the management level and uncertainty appears to the order of the day in Calgary. The skaters will almost certainly welcome his direction as the next generation of Canadian long trackers prepare to face the world on the long road to Sochi in 20104.

Ireland has been heavily involved with speed skating at the highest levels as an athlete and as a coach. He has experience on the world stage as an Olympian, at the World Championships, and on the World Cup circuit. Ireland should be a skaters director. That could be the first step on the way to the podium in 2014. Go Ireland Go!

Vancouver 2010 Oh Canada Go Canada

Stephen%20Brunt%20Olympic%20Montage

Dutton sets Track Record at Gaetan Boucher Oval in Quebec

(Ste Foy) After a tough start including a toe-in, a 360, a fall and a rolling restart in the 1000 to a 10th place finish William Dutton ripped off a good one in the 500 Saturday in Ste Foy Quebec. Dutton set a new track record on the fast and sometimes melting ice of the outdoor Quebec oval during the Canada Cup 3 meet. "I didn't skate to well on Friday but I entertained the fans. Today I hammered it." Dutton laughed.

Dutton's 500 time of 36.79 was the fastest in the track's history and good enough to move him from 6th on day one to a Silver medal finish in the combined 500. Dutton also earned 100 points in the Canadian speed skating high performance rankings. "It's the first time I've had a track record and I picked up $200 cash for the effort" he added. Dutton was not alone in picking up beer money as the men tore up the track setting records in the 1000 - Phillipe Riopel, the 1500 - Jeff Kitura, and the 5000 - Jordan Belchos.

The Canadian ranking circuit wound to a close with rankings tight in the men's 500. Dutton presently sits in first place with Canadian Olympic team members likely to close on him when they skate next week in World Cup races in Heerenveen Netherlands.

The seasons closes in Calgary March 17 - 20 at the Intact Finale meet at the Calgary Oval. The open meet attracts the top skaters from around the world including Olympians and World Cup members.

The meet is open to the public. Intact offers cash prizes for records skated during the meet.

World's Fastest Women are Worlds Fastest Women

Seen here training at the Richmond Olympic Oval Olympians Kristina Groves, Shannon Rempel, and hiding behind Kristina - Clara Hughes introduce National Development team rookies William Dutton and Richard Maclennan to the beautiful Richmond Olympic Oval. Coach Xui-li's son is playing in the foreground.
Both Groves and Hughes went on to medal in the 2010 games. Rempel skated as a member of the 2010 team and Dutton and MacLennan continue to train for 2014.
Go Canada!
(Vancouver) The Richmond oval was transformed into a home team hotbed during the 2010 games. A knowledgeable crowd cheered stomped and generally raised the roof each time the lap clock posted a split for the Canadian skaters. Hughes in particular could not possibly have heard her coach in the 5000 as she was greeted in a wave by Canadian and Dutch fans round and round the oval. The noise was unbelievable and incredibly exhilerating. Go Canada!

Hockey Gold in a Boat - Only in Canada

(Vancouver) Gina Kingsbury plays defence for the Canadian women's gold medal team. Her Gold medal is truly Canadian's gold medal. I know because she handed it to me last night on a watertaxi.

Gold in a backpack on a Watertaxi and a young Olympian so very modest and incredibly sharing equals the Olympic experience of a life time for fellow passengers. Gina Kingsbury, team Canada defence, was touring the city with her Gold medal.

Olympic tourists, on our way to short track speed skating, my wife Lynn and I started to chat with the three young women on the taxi. We had all boarded the watertaxi outside Atlantic House on Grandville Island. We asked the young women if they were in Alantic house. They replied "no we waited in line outside but did not get in. We're going downtown to watch the men's hockey game".

Then Lynn and struck gold by asking them "have you guys been to any events?""Hockey" replied Kingsbury. "Wow wasn't that great the women's hockey team put Canada over the top with our eight gold medal that's a record" I commented. "My friend plays for the National team" offered her buddy.

Lynn and I were astonished that we had been visiting with a member of Canada's Olympic women's hockey team but did not know her. "Want to see the Gold medal?" a smiling Kingsbury asked us. She reached into her back pack and pulled out a cloth pouch taking the huge beautiful medal and handed it to me.

I was in shock but managed to blurt out "can we get a picture with you?" "Sure" she smiled and sat down beside me. I realized I was holding her medal in a picture for me. "Here this is your medal you hold it" I said. "It's okay I get to hold it all the time" was her reply. My wife Lynn took her turn and we shot a dozen digital pictures.

As we putted across false creek the chat continued and we learned that Gina and her friend were both Calgary Oval extreme athletes. The Oval is home to Canada's long track speed skaters and our son skates on the National Development team. We had often seen the women practicing at the Oval. Still we did not know them or recognize them individually. Gina looks different without her helmet on.

Lynn and I were amazed that Gina and friends stood in line at the Atlantic pavilion without getting in. We told Gina that the medal was he key to the City of Vancouver and she should open a few doors with it if she wanted. We assured her that Canadians would welcome her with open arms. "You earned the privilege of touring the City as Olympic champion enjoy it" was our advice. Gina grinned a shy grin.

Her friend had told us Gina's name on the boat but we had not heard it over the groan of the little diesel motor. We were emabarrassed that we did not know her and in our swoon did not ask her name. We did grab the camera and shoot a video for Youtube and as evidence that we actually had the historic 8th Gold medal. Gina co-operated with a low key smile.

We strolled up the street chatting and Gina and her friends set course for Canada Place to join her teammates. She strolled through a crowd of thousands carrying her medal in her backpack. But if anyone recognised her or the team Canada Olympic coat you can bet Gina pulled out the Gold and handed it to them.

When we got home last night after seeing the incredible short track finals; Charles Hamelin's 500 gold, Tremblay's Bronze and the relay team's Gold I sat down and googled the Women's hockey team roster.

I found Gina Kingsbury with google. To my astonishment I found she had been born in my home province of Saskatchewan. We proudly claim you Gina even though you moved away long ago. We don't claim you because you won gold. We want you because you are the epitomy of the Olympic athlete. Proud modest and full of joy. No braggadocio here.

Gina you can be a roll model for my five year old granddaughter any time anywhere. Thank you for a magic moment and I hope you have fun in Vancouver this weekend. See you at the Oval later this year for a proper introduction.

Go Canada! Own the Podium? You bet! Thanks Gina for the reminder that Canada can own the podium and still have class and humility!

Apollo Ohno Whiner in last Olympic race

(Vancouver) Apolo Ohno may, according to conventional public opinion, be an even better dancer than he is a skater. Judging by his sour grapes remarks after losing the Olympic 500 he's apparently also a better whiner than dancer. Ohno is quoted as saying he was disqualified by "a Canadian referee on Canadian soil so a Canadian could win a medal". That, ladies and gentlemen, is absolute good old fashioned American bullcrap.

Ohno is clearly visible on video tape placing his hand on Canadian skater Tremblay's hip and pushing Tremblay into the mats. In Apolo Ohno's world that may be acceptable but in speed skating it is definitely against the rules.

The American tried to up his medal count by breaking the rules and he was properly disqualified. Now he is whining about it! Goodbye by Ohno, wha wha!

It's been fun but it's over and the best skater won today. Congratulations Charles Hamelin.

Humboldt Skater at World Sprints in Japan during Earthquake

(Obihiro, Japan) Canadian World Sprint Championship speed skating team
member William Dutton woke to roommate Matt McLean asking, "Why is the
room shaking?"

The earthquake in Obihiro, Japan on Wednesday night registered 5.4 on the
Richter scale. It shook the hotel housing the athletes in Japan for the 2010
International Speed Skating Union's World Sprint Championships.

"I told Matt it was an earthquake and he said 'B.S.' and rolled over and went back
to sleep," said Humboldt Speed skating team member Dutton. The skater is in
Japan with a four-man, two-woman team of long trackers.

Olympic skaters and those who just missed qualifying are in Japan to gain
experience and help Canada maintain its top ranking in sprints. The team boasts
two of the newest Canadian Olympians on the women's side: Anastasia Bucsis
and Tamara Oudenarden, both of whom are on their way to Vancouver in
February.

On the men's side, it is a more eclectic crew. Vincent LaBrie and Matt MacLean
are not rookies on the Canadian team - both have World Cup experience. On the
other hand, William Dutton and Tyler Derraugh have none. Dutton is the
youngest and has moved up the ladder the quickly, while Derraugh had
announced his retirement before he learned he would be named to the team.

Canada has the most talented and deepest mens sprint team in the world. The
first six Canadian sprinters are all going to the 2010 Olympics. These young men
are not going to 2010, but they could be going to 2014.

Canadians at World Sprint Championships

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 20 hours ago
OBIHIRO, Japan — Japan's Keiichiro Nagashima won the men's 500-metre race on Saturday at the world sprint speedskating championships.
Nagashima posted a time of 35.01 seconds to finish 0.14 seconds ahead of South Korea's Lee Kang-seok. Compatriot Lee Kyou-hyuk was third in 35.22.
Winnipeg's Tyler Derraugh was 21st in the 500 and 17th in the 1,000 to stand 18th in the overall standings.
William Dutton of Humboldt, Sask., was 23rd in the 500-metre event but was disqualified in the 1000. Vincent Labrie of Saint-Romulad, Que., was 24th in the 500 and 34th in the 1000. And Winnipeg's Matthew McLean was 39th in the 500 after a fall and 23rd in the 1000.
South Korean Lee Sang-hwa won the women's race in 38.19, edging Germany's Jenny Wolf by 0.12 seconds. Japan's Sayuri Yoshii was third in 38.74.
Yoshii won the women's 1,000 race in 1:17.26 to finish 0.33 ahead of Germany's Monique Angermueller. Lee Kyou-hyuk took the men's race in 1:09.44.
Tamara Oudenaarden of St. Albert, Alta., is ranked 15th in the women's preliminary standings after finishing 12th in the 500 and 20th in the 1,000. Anastasia Bucsis of Calgary was 16th in the 500 and 25th in the 1000.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved

Humboldt Skater at World Sprints in Japan during Earthquake

(Obihiro) Canadian World Sprint Championship speed skating team member William Dutton woke up to roomate Matt McLean asking "why is the room shaking" Wednesday night in Obihiro Japan. An earthquake register 5.4 on the Richter scale shook the hotel housing the athletes in Japan for the 2010 International Speed Skating Union's world sprint championships.

"I told Matt it was an earthquake and he said 'B.S.' and rolled over and went back to sleep" said Humboldt Speed skating team member Dutton. Dutton is in Japan with a four man two woman team of long trackers.

Olympic skaters and those who just missed are in Japan to gain experience and help Canada maintain her ranking as tops in sprints. The team boasts two of the newest Canadian Olympians on the woman's side; Anastasia Bucsis and Tamara Oudenarden both of whom are on their way to Vancouver in February.

On the men's side it is a more eclectic crew. Vincent LaBrie and Matt MacLean are not rookies on the Canadian team both have World Cup experience. On the other hand William Dutton and Tyler Derraugh have none. Dutton is the youngest and has moved up the ladder the quickest. Derraugh had even announced his retirement before he learned he would be named to the team.

Canada has the most talented and deepest mens sprint team in the world. The first six Canadian sprinters are all going to the 2010 Olympics. These young men are not going to 2010 but they could be going to 2014.

The future of the Canadian team looks bright. Just how bright will be determined this weekend in Japan.

Dutton wins 500 at Canada Cup

(Calgary) Humboldt speed skater William Dutton won the 500 on day one of the Canada Cup 1 in Calgary at the Olympic Oval. Dutton followed up with a fourth place finish in the 1000. This was Dutton's last race before he departs for the International Skating Union's World Sprint Championships in Obihiro Japan.

The Canadian team is sending four men and two women to the Championships. Dutton is representing Canada for the second time in less than a year. He finished seventh in the world last year in the 500 combined at the World Junior Championships. Dutton is also expected to skate in Saskatoon at the Canada Cup 2 in late January.

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Humboldt Speed Skaters set Personal Bests

(Calgary) Humboldt teammates and brothers Ryan and Terran Bernhard each set a personal best time in the Canada Cup speed skating meet at the Calgary Olympic Oval. The brother both skated the 500 and Ryan in 37.78 and younger brother Terran in 40.37.

Ryan is a student at the National Sports School in Calgary and a full time participant in the Calgary oval speed skating program. Ryan skates in the same training group as fellow Humboldt club and National Development team member William Dutton.

Terran is a student at Muenster high school. The brothers are both members of the Saskatchewan provincial speed skating team.

Canada Sends Non-Olympians to World Sprint Championship

(Calgary) Only one member of Canada's International Skating Union World Sprint championship team is also a member of Canada's 2010 Olympic team. Anastasia Bucsis, the 20 year old surprise Olympian is the only member of the Sprint team who will skate in the Olympics for Canada. Heartbreak kid Tamara Oudenaarden who was told she had made the team, only to learn that timers had made a mistake and she was one position out of the Olympics, will join Bucsis as the second female member of the Canadian sprint team.

The men include the 20 year old who finished in seventh position in the Canadian trials sprints, William Dutton of Humboldt Saskatchewan. The six top finishers are all going to the Olympics. Dutton was a member of the Canadian World Junior Championship team in 2009.

Dutton will be joined by an interesting mix of veterans who are being sent to Japan to hold the line for Canada in the absence of her top line sprinters who are all opting to stay home and prepare for the Olympics. Matt McLean of Winnipeg Manitoba has battled for position on the National and International race scene for years. Vincent LaBrie of Quebec has fought back from injury. Tyler Derraugh also of Winnipeg, has done surprising well, thank you very much, for a guy who skated short track until this year. In fact, Derraugh had announced he was retiring before he learned he was on his way to Japan.

Canada has a mixed record at the World Sprint Championships. Gaetan Boucher (gold 84, Siver 79,80,82,85) and Cathy Priestner were medalists in the seventies and early eighties. Since then the men have done well enough to hold down third place all time with both Jeremy Wotherspoon (Gold 99 2000 02 03 and Silver 04 05 08) and Mike Ireland (Gold 01 Silver 00, Bronze 02) having won and earned multiple medals.

On the women's side it is not quite as illustrious a record but Vanoc 2010 #1 super-administrator Cathy Priestner (Bronze 75) and Sylvia Burka (Gold 77, Bronze 76) both gained the podium in the seventies. Since then only Olympic Gold medalist Catriona LeMay Doan (Gold 98 & 02; Silver 99, Bronze 01) and Cindy Klassen (Silver 03 & Bronze 07) have set foot on the podium for the women.

Canada probably won't see any medals, but then again you never know who will step up when given the chance. The two youngsters are the raw speed merchants of the group and they may work their way into the top twenty if they can hold it together. In any event the Sprint team shows how truly deep the Canadians are in the sprints. It all bodes well for 2011,12,13,and the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi Russia. Go Canada.

Humboldt Skater goes to World Sprint Championships

For Immediate Release
Tuesday January 5, 2010
Photo of Canadian World Sprint team member William Dutton by Bryan Nykon

Humboldt Speed Skater going to World Sprint Championships

(Calgary) Humboldt Speed Skating club skater William Dutton was named to Canadian team for the International Skating Union’s World Sprint Championships in Obihiro, Japan January 15 and 16. The Championship will feature the World Cup leading Korean and Japanese sprinters in the last big meet before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

“ I’m very excited to be representing Canada in a World Championship. I hope to build on the experience of skating some of the fastest men in the world during the Canadian Olympic trials and Can-Am in December” Dutton said. Dutton raced Canadian speed skating legends Jeremy Wotherspoon, Mike Ireland and Denny Morrison in the last three weeks of December.

This is Dutton’s second World Championship this year. He placed 7th in sprints in the 2009 World Junior Championships held in Poland in February.

Canada will send four men and two women to the competition. Canadian’s Jeremy Wotherspoon and Mike Ireland have previously won this Championship. On the Women’s side Cathy Priestner, Sylvia Burka, Catriona LeMay Doan and Cindy Klassen have graced the podium.

Dutton will also skate in Speed Skate Canada’s “Canada Cup 2” at the Clarence Downey Oval in Saskatoon starting January 29. The Canadian Junior Championships will be held in Saskatoon the same weekend.

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For further information contact
Craig Dutton SASSA
250-927-2591