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2008 News and Information

Enjoy the Holiday Season With Canada’s Top Speed Skaters

24 December 2008 

Canada’s top medal hopefuls for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will have a holiday season showdown at the Canadian Single Distance Championships. The championships will take place from December 27-31, 2008 at the newly opened Richmond Olympic Oval.

The Canadian Single Distance Championships are a key milestone in the national speed skating season as they are used as a selection event for the upcoming world sprint championships, the winter World Cup meets and the World Allround Championships. This year’s championships are the first competition to be held at the Richmond Olympic Oval, which will be home for the speed skating competion at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Canada’s powerhouse national speed skating team is enjoying another banner season with several podium finishes in the fall World Cup series, including victories by Kristina Groves and Christine Nesbitt. Groves, Nesbitt and other top Canadian skaters including Olympic gold medallist Clara Hughes, world record holder Denny Morrison and Olympic silver medallist Shannon Rempel will be among approximately 80 competitors in the championship.

Tickets for the Canadian Single Distance Championships are now on sale at the Oval's front desk at 6111 River Road or by phone at 778-296-1400. Tickets will also be available for sale at the door on event days. Tickets for the event are just $8 per day for adults or $5 per day for children 12 and under. Children 2 and under will be admitted free. Event passes for all five days of competition will be $30 for adults and $15 for children. 

Competition times and dates are below:
  • Saturday December 27, 1 p.m.
    • Men and Women’s 500-metre
  • Sunday, December 28, 1 p.m.
    • Women’s 3,000-metre; Men’s 5,000-metre
  • Monday, December 29, 1 p.m.
    • Men’s and Women’s 1,000-metre
  • Tuesday, December 30, 1 p.m.
    • Men’s and Women’s 1,500-metre
  • Wednesday, December 31, 11 a.m.
    • Women’s 5,000- metre, Men’s 10,000-metre

For more information visit www.speed-skating.bc.ca; www.richmondoval.ca or www.richmond.ca.