Dutton Hits the Wall

(Calgary) Friday was a tough day on the job for William Dutton at the Calgary Oval during the Canadian single Distance Championships. He had the fastest times in 200, (16.42), and 600, 41.39 (24.97) but they call it the 1000 for a reason; that's where the finish line is located.

Dutton had a great start and looked like he would move into first place with only Morrison and Gregg left to skate. But Dutton's race ended at the 930 meter point as he lost an edge and went crashing into the mats.

"I had a little wobble and thought I had recovered" said Dutton. "I was giving everything I had to make the World Sprint team" he added. Everything was looking good until the fall one or perhaps two more crossover strides from the final straight and the finish. Phillipe Riopel won the race in a time of 1:08.51 and placed second to Denny Morrison's 1:08.29. Jamie Gregg was third.

On the final day of the trials Dutton finished sixth in the first 500 and ninth in the second for a combined seventh; not good enough to make the Winter World Cup team. "My knee was a little sore from the crash and I just wasn't able to get enough pressure on the ice in the corner so I tried to make it up in straight but it just didn't happen" said the Humboldt native.

"So it's back to the Canada Cup and North Americans. I'm off to Winnipeg, Milwaukee and then back to Calgary for Finale" said Dutton. "I also put my entry into the Red Bull Crashed Ice draw" he said. "I'm really hoping I can get into the big race in Quebec City. I think my hockey, short track and long track experience will make me a contender" Dutton added.

Dutton finished second in the 500 and fourth in the 1000 during the fall world cup trials. He is a member of the speed skate Canada Long Track Canadian Development team.

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