Sports in brief: Chantal Givens named Elite Para-triathlete of the Year

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This article was published 23/01/2017 (3389 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chantal Givens named Elite Para-triathlete of the Year

Triathlon Canada has given Fort Garry’s Chantal Givens one of the organization’s top honours.

On Jan. 10, Givens was named elite para-triathlete of the year (women) by the sport’s national governing body.

Givens is one of the first athletes to compete in triathlon at the Paralympics. Last year’s competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marked the first time the event had been included in the Paralympic Games. The 38-year-old phys-ed teacher at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé finished eighth in her event.

In May, 2016, Givens finished first at an International Triathlon Union World Para-triathlon Series event in Aguilas, Spain.

“I am honoured to receive this recognition,” Givens said in a statement. “I was so excited to make history by racing for Canada in the first ever para-triathlon event at a major multi sport games. It was an amazing experience I will cherish always.

“It was anything but a big holiday or easy in Rio, but the countless hours of training along with the feeling of being amongst the best in the world made it so special. I am so appreciative of Triathlon Canada, Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba, my coaches, supporters, practitioners and friends and family who all deserve a piece of this award. It was certainly a team effort.”

Laura Hill commits to Bisons volleyball program

St. Mary’s Academy’s Laura Hill has signed a letter of intent to play with the University of Manitoba Bisons volleyball team.

The Grade 12, 5-foot-11 middle and outside hitter helped lead the Flames to a high school provincial volleyball championship last December. Hill will join the Herd for the 2017-18 season.

“I’m very excited to begin my U Sports volleyball career at the University of Manitoba Bisons program,” Hill said in a statement. “I am quite familiar with the team and program as I have worked with many of the Bisons players and coaches before. The university has a strong, competitive program with a lot of past success that I look forward to joining next season.”  

Hill wrapped up her senior year at St. Mary’s with a number of accolades, including the Mike Burchuk female MVP award (2016-17); being named to the graduating all-Manitoba team (2016-17) and graduating all-star team (2016-17); she was also an MHSAA athlete of the week (2016-17); and was invited to the junior national team’s selection camp.

“With Laura Hill committing to our program for 2017-18, we secured arguably the top recruit in the province this year, and her confirmation completes a tremendous recruiting class for our program heading into next season,” head coach Ken Bentley said.

The Bisons also secured commitments from locals Kelsey Jordan, Sydney Kurth, Sydney Michalyshen and Ayiya Ottogo.

Osborne Village hosts winter classic street hockey tourney

Cars will make way for hockey players when Stradbrook Avenue is closed for the third annual Village Winter Classic.

On. Jan. 28, the street ball hockey tournament will kick off with 40 teams playing across three rinks. The 4-on-4 tournament will include warm-up areas, hot chocolate stands, photo opportunities, fan zones, hourly prize giveaways and a hospitality tent.

The tournament is organized by the Osborne Village Business Improvement Zone and is meant to bring “Winnipeggers to the Osborne Village area to enjoy a good old Canadian street hockey tournament,” according to organizers.

Teams can register in the following categories:
Family Team, for all ages, parents, kids and grandparents included; or Competitive Adult Team, can be all male, female or co-ed adults.

All players receive a gift bag for participation. Top placing teams can take home Winnipeg Jets tickets, a Budweiser beer fridge, team jerseys, and a post-festival bar tab at Upstairs in the Village. Registration is open until Wed., Jan. 25 and walk-up individual registration until Fri., Jan. 27 at 4 p.m.

To register, go to winnipegballhockey.com