October 24th, 2024, Charlottetown – P.E.I. will play host the region’s first major speed skating competition of the season this weekend. The Atlantic Cup Speed Skating Championships are returning to the Eliyahu Wellness Centre Canada Games Place in North Rustico, as speed skaters from a dozen Maritime speed skating clubs will take to the ice for the 32nd edition of the event.
Olivia Zhang (foreground, right) and Mirthe DeHaan will compete in the Atlantic Cup in North Rustico this weekend. Photo courtesy of Nagano Skate / PhotographieTB.
Speed Skating PEI President Eric Reynard says that the Atlantic Cup is a key event for speed skaters from P.E.I. and the Maritimes. “This is where many young skaters and their families may get their first taste of speed skating competition and where experienced competitive skaters will see the gains they’ve made after their off-season training. It is always exciting for both groups.”
P.E.I. will be well represented, with fifteen skaters competing. Island athletes will be led by Brendan Reynard, Tiernan Dewar, Olivia Zhang and masters skater Rob Binns. Reynard missed last season’s Atlantic Cup due to injury, but picked up overall wins at Halifax and Saint John meets last season. Dewar, meanwhile, posted a top five finish at last season’s Canadian Youth Long Track Championships and won the overall youth title at the Atlantic Long Track Championships in Halifax. Zhang is quickly emerging as a top talent in the region after winning top female and second overall honours at the Dartmouth Crossing competition last March, while also claiming several provincial record times for her age group. Masters veteran Binns took home four medals from the Winter World Masters Games last January and won The Oval Challenge long track event in Halifax in February.
Atlantic Cup racing runs from 8:55 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday and from 8:30 am until early-afternoon on Sunday. The event will feature eight racing divisions, including a Special Olympics division. Skaters from ages seven to masters / adult skaters will compete over race distances ranging from 85-metres for the youngest skaters, up to 3,000-metres for the fastest and most experienced competitors. Admission is free and open to all spectators.
For more information about the Atlantic Cup and speed skating programs on P.E.I., visit www.speedskatingpei.ca.
