Going for gold

There have been some challenges in planning for the Labrador Winter Games, according to Lab. City team coordinator Dennis Drover.

Drover said Alf Parsons, an avid local skier, inquired about the schedule of the Games last year, and was told it would take place during the week of March 15, but it was later rescheduled.

The Labrador Winter Games will now be held from March 7-13, the same week Alf Parsons and Cynthia McLoughlan are scheduled to attend the Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships in Corner Brook.

Drover noted Parsons and McLoughlan are some of the town's best athletes and it will take several other competitors to fill their positions.

The setback wiped out the whole team concept, Parsons said, and he regrets ball hockey had to be cut to fill the mandatory sports.

So far there are seven girls and nine boys covering the mandatory sports, Drover noted, including cross-country skiing, snowshoe biathlon, northern triathlon, target shooting, Northern Games, snowshoe races, and Labrathon, as well as four optional sports including snowmobile races, badminton, table tennis, and dog sled races.

It's tough because athletes need to know how to ski, snowshoe, and target shoot, but Drover stressed there is a good team going.

"They might surprise everyone," he said. "It should be an interesting competition."

Chantel Bursey, Drover explained, will be back as defending female gold medalist in Northern Games. After delivering a baby three months ago, Drover said, she is back training for the competition.

The Northern Games, Drover noted, usually attract the most spectators and involve four events that test strength and endurance, including Labrador Hurdles, Over the Rope, Seal Race, and One Foot High Kick.

Michelle Manning, defending gold medalist in table tennis, is also set to return, said Drover, but her son Kyle will be joining her to play doubles.

Athletes from 22 communities in Labrador are expected to compete this year, he said, including teams from costal communities where the Games are considered the Olympics of the North.

Drover said would like the Games to be held in Labrador City because he thinks it would be easier to get a team together. As it stands, he noted, teams from Labrador West don't put the same time and effort on training as communities from the coast.

Last year, Cartwright won it all, and Labrador City came in third place, but this year, Drover said, the local team is going for gold.

Drover was involved as an athlete in the games in 2000 and 2003, taking on the reigns as coordinator in 2006.

He said the Games usually take place every three years, but was cancelled last year because Happy Valley - Goose Bay didn't have enough money. He believes the competition was rescheduled to this year because organizers were counting on the opening of the Trans Labrador Highway to alleviate some of the travel costs.

Despite the challenges, Drover said the games are important because it highlights the best aspects of Labrador culture and tradition.

Drover expects strong showing at Games despite setbacks