Elks to host inaugural Canadian Neo-Junior Long Track Championships this weekend

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Elks Speed Skating Club is hosting a new national-level competition at the Pomeroy Sport Centre this weekend.

The inaugural Canadian Neo-Junior Long Track Championships take place from February 3rd to 4th and features some of Canada’s top young skaters.

This is the second consecutive season that the Elks have hosted a national-level Speed Skating Canada competition in Fort St. John.

According to a release from Speed Skating Canada, the new event was added ahead of this season to provide skaters aged 14 and 15 with valuable racing experience, as the group of skaters was previously underserved.

“We are very excited and feel very privileged to be hosting another Canadian Long Track Championship here in Fort St John,” said Shadi Salehi, President of the Fort St John Speed Skating Club.

On Saturday, skaters will compete in 500-metre, 1,500-metre, and team pursuit races, and Sunday will feature 1,000-metre, 3,000-metre and mass start races. The races start at 10 a.m. on both days.

The weekend after the Neo-Junior Championships, the Canadian Youth Long Track Championships, for skaters aged 11 to 13, will take place in Quebec City.

The Elks are familiar with hosting Speed Skating Canada competitions after organizing the Long Track Canada Cups during both the 2019-2020 and 2022-23 seasons.

Skaters from Canada’s national team were also welcomed to the Pomeroy in November 2020 for a two-week training camp after their training centre in Calgary closed down due to mechanical issues.

Admission to the championships is free, and the event will also be streamed live on Speed Skating Canada’s YouTube channel.