Author: Emma Hatfield

Pinetree Classic Cross Country Race Results

Our Valley Royals athletes competed in the 45th annual Pinetree Classic Cross Country Race this past weekend (Sep. 18) in Coquitlam. The meet was well attended, and our athletes all represented themselves proudly against some of the best runners in BC. Jackson Camozzi won the 2012 boys race, and  Riley Simmonds placed 2nd in the 2008 division in a photo finish and with the identical time as the winner. Adrianna Buitelaar ran a strong race despite being a little under the weather to grab the bronze medal in her category. William Steiger, Lexi Smith, Zoe Unger, Mark Molina, and Sam May ran strongly to finish just out of the medals but will be getting stronger with each coming race. I would like to congratulate all our young athletes who competed and their families who support them. For many it was their first or one of their first races, and each time is a learning experience. Whether it was smiles or tears this past weekend, you should all feel proud of taking on the challenge of running.

Official results are now available: Pinetree Classic Cross Country Results September 18, 2021

Grand Prix Registration Open!

The Valley Royals’ Grand Prix Racing Series is back for its 37th year, after a year off due to COVID-19 safety and gathering restrictions. Registration is now open through Trackie.

  • Wednesday, October 6th
  • Wednesday, October 13th

Clearbrook Park (also called Ron Weibe Park), Abbotsford, BC

For more information and to register by October 1, visit our Grand Prix page.

NOTE: NO LATE REGISTRATIONS ALLOWED.

2021 Valley Royals Grand Prix Route Map

Interested in Junior Cross Country Training?

Our Junior Development (JD) Cross Country group will begin on Thursday, September 2, 2021. Join Coaches Harneet and Parmvir on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to train for distance running on grass and forest trails.

Schedule: Sept. 2 to Oct. 30

Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:15pm t0 5:15pm

Saturdays 10:30am to 11:30am

All practices are at Clearbrook Park unless otherwise posted.

Fees & Registration

JD cross-country fees are $180, or a one-week trial can be arranged for $20. All participants must be registered before attending the first practice. Email the club administrator, Christa McAuley ([email protected]) to sign up.

Distance Group Excels at BC Endurance Challenge, in Victoria

Our Royals athletes represented us with distinction this past weekend at the BC Endurance Challenge in Victoria. Our 12 athletes, with the support of their families ,recorded many personal best performances and showed themselves to be a team to watch in the future. Riley Simmonds won both his U14 exhibition races at 800m and 1200m with personal bests. Andrew Thomson finished 3rd in the open 1500m and 8th in the 800m. Zoe Unger recorded huge personal bests to finish 4th in the U16 1200m and 7th in the 800m. Sam May showed himself to be one to watch in the future. He ran a personal best of 2:08.22 minutes in a nail biting race to finish 9th overall in the U16 800m, only 3.3 seconds behind the winner. This placed him as the third 14 year old in the province. His 1200m personal best of 3.29.56 minutes placed him 8th overall and second 14 year old in the province. Great running for this young man. Arata Nakanishi and Will Van Schagen both ran big PBs of 2:12.68 minutes and 2.16.41 minutes in the 800m to place as the fifth and sixth 14 year olds in BC. Arata also ran a PB of 3:33.88 minutes in the 1200m to rank as the fourth 14 year old. Halle May, Ally Hutchison, Arie Wassenaar, Tristian Steiger, and Sam Rasquinha, also ran strongly to record personal best or near personal best performances. Our trip proved to be very worthwhile, and a great time was had by all. A big congratulations goes out to all our U16 to Open athletes and their families for a great season. 
 
I would also like to take this moment to wish Andrew Thomson and Reid Johnston the very best on next season. Andrew has made huge gains as a Valley Royal over the past years, working with Trevor as a high school athlete and with myself in the Valley Royals Distance Group. In a relatively short amount of time, Andrew has progressed from virtually a non runner to one to watch in the provincial open category. In September it looks like he will be joining the SFU Clan and begin competing in the NCAA. He will train with SFU head coach and former Royals Athlete Brit Townsend, who is presently coaching our Olympic team in Japan. This looks like a great situation for Andrew to continue to advance in the sport, and we all wish him the very best. Reid will begin training with and competing for UBC in the BC Interior, and this will likewise be an excellent situation for him.

Congratulations to both of these young men. Well wishes on the journeys ahead of you both.

Coach Scott