Fort St. John Speed Skating Club takes Neil Dyer Memorial Shield for ninth time since 2010

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John Speed Skating Club hoisted a prestigious trophy at last weekend’s BC Long Track Championships 

A Facebook post from Speed Skating BC on January 26th congratulates the club on winning the Neil Dyer Memorial Shield. 

The shield is awarded annually to the club which collects the highest overall points at all events during the championships, which took place at Fort St. John’s Pomeroy Sport Centre. 

It is the ninth overall win since 2010, and the first for the club since 2023.

The award to the winner, based on aggregate points, is presented by Speed Skating BC.

Points are awarded from mass start and Olympic-distance races at the youth, neo-junior and junior levels.

The club sent 25 skaters to represent the club, with most having top-20 finishes throughout the event.

Team head coach Richard Stickel says the club is “really happy” with winning again.

“It is a total team effort,” Stickel told Energeticcity.ca. “It is all the skaters coming out and doing their part and getting the points they’re able to get. It’s nice to get it.”

Top performers among girls’ skaters were Tara Ashrafi, who had several top-five finishes throughout the two-day event, and Austin McGregor, who had the top time during the boys’ 500 metres on the first day.

Looking forward, Stickel says four athletes will be heading to Calgary’s Olympic Oval to participate in the Canadian Youth Long Track Championships from February 6th to February 8th.

The BC Long Track Championships took place on January 17th and 18th.