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18 local teens head to Summer Games

The B.C. Summer Games kick off July 19 and athletes on the Peninsula are readying themselves
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Equestrian vaulter Charlotte Galbraith practices her freestyle routine at Manestream Vaulters. Galbraith is headed to the B.C. Summer Games in Surrey this weekend.

When the B.C. Summer Games kick off tomorrow, athletes on the Peninsula are readying themselves for the big event.

Thirteen-year-old triathlete Abby Speirs from Brentwood Bay will be travelling to the games with five other triathlon teammates to represent the Island’s zone six. Speirs, who trains with Kelly Guest, will be joined by teammates Farisha Arensen, Holly Henry, Hamish Babin, Sam Ogden and Curtis Scriba for the trip to the mainland next week.

“This is quite a big thing for them,” said Speirs’ mother, Lana. “For a lot of them this is not only the first time they get to compete in a multi-sport event, but it’s also the first time they get to go away and stay on their own without parents. Abby is really looking forward to it.”

At press time, Speirs was in Penticton competing at the Boston Pizza Junior Triathlon.

Also representing zone six are two Peninsula teens, Charlotte Galbraith from Sidney and Courtney Cook from Brentwood Bay. The two girls compete in equestrian vaulting which is often described as gymnastics or dance on horseback.

The girls have been practising their choreographed routines to music for months and say it’s one of the most important events they’ve competed in yet.

“We have annual competitions we compete in, but this is the biggest one we’ve done yet,” said Cook.

The two girls belong to Manestream Vaulters on the Peninsula and say they are excited to compete in the games.

“We both love to vault so we really hope to make zone six proud,” said Galbraith.

The games take place in Surrey July 19-22.

 

Homegrown talent

Peninsula athletes selected for the B.C. Summer Games:

Amelia Casciola - Athletics

Jacqueline Gaby - Athletics

Michael Giles - Athletics

Kaelan Smith - Athletics

Kelsey McGaw - Basketball

Andrew Funk - Golf

Koby Hale - Inline hockey

Joshua Buchner - Inline hockey

Colton Merilainen - Field lacrosse

James Thompson - Field lacrosse

Kurtis Young - Field lacrosse

Acacia Welsford - Rowing

Alexander Va’a - Rugby

Judy Christante - Soccer

Isabella Kennedy - Softball