Sports shorts: Jan. 13, 2011

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January 13, 2011

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Thu Jan 13, 2011, 02:23 AM EST

Placid Loppet set for Feb. 5

LAKE PLACID — The 29th annual Lake Placid Loppet, presented by High Peaks Cyclery, cross-country ski races will be held Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Olympic Sports Complex Cross Country Ski Center.

There will be classic technique and free technique race starts for both the 25K and 50K races. Bib pickup will run from 3-8 p.m. in the Olympic Sports Complex Cross-Country Lodge on Friday, Feb. 4, and on race day, Feb. 5, bib pick-up runs from 7-8:30 a.m. There is no race-day registration.

The 50K classic technique race begins at 9 a.m. followed by the 25K classic race at 9:15 a.m. The 50K free technique race starts at 10 a.m. and the 25K free technique race will follow at 10:15 a.m.

Each finisher will receive a commemorative pin, gold for the Loppet and silver for the Kort-Loppet. There will be an awards banquet at the Comfort Inn, set to kick-off at 3 p.m. following the race; each participant will receive a free banquet ticket with their registration packet. Additional banquet tickets are available for purchase, $25 for adults and $20 for children under 12.

To register for the Lake Placid Loppet, or for more information, log on to www.lakeplacidloppet.com.

Games adds adaptive events

LAKE PLACID — With seven weeks before the Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) open in the Northern Adirondacks, event organizers continue to fine-tune the competition schedule, including the addition of events for the physically challenged.

The ESWG Organizing Committee also announced Monday that Stewart's Shops has contributed $5,000 to the budget of the Games.

Officials of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) have secured adaptive alpine skiing at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, and adaptive cross country skiing at the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

The 2011 edition of the ESWG will be held Feb. 25-27 at venues in Lake Placid, Wilmington and Saranac Lake. An overall schedule for the three-day, Olympic-style sports festival has been drafted and will be officially released later this month.

The lineup of events includes adaptive alpine skiing, alpine skiing, adaptive cross country skiing, biathlon, bobsled, cross country, figure skating, luge, skeleton, ski orienteering, snowshoe racing, speed skating, women's hockey, skier/boarder cross.

The event website, www.empirestatewintergames.com, offers details on all events and continues to take athlete registration.

Battle of Border set for Jan. 22

ROUSES POINT — Officers from both U. S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Customs and Border Services will play a hockey game for charity in Rouses Point on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

Admission is free but there will be a raffle of autographed hockey photographs, sticks, and other collectibles as well as a 50/50 drawing to raise funds for Camp Ta Kum Ta.

Team players are either active or retired Law Enforcement Officers, and there will be a happy hour at the American Legion on Pratt St. in Rouses Point following the game. All are invited.

For information or donation, contact Vinny, at 493-7260.

NCCS-Moriah times changed

CHAMPLAIN — The Northeastern Clinton boys' varsity basketball team will host Moriah Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 5:15 p.m., in the high-school gymnasium.

The junior-varsity contest will follow the varsity game.

Wilkins leads NYSEF Rev team

MT HOOD MEADOWS — The NYSEF Rev Tour Team posted its first result of the latest tour stop with an impressive 17th-place finish in slopestyle by John Wilkins. Wilkins landed his first Double Cork Rodeo 900 on snow in his last practice run before the contest started. The trick is a double off-axis back flip with a 180 degree rotation.

He wasn't able to land the trick in his first competition run, but pulled it out in the second run which put him in sixth place with 15 riders to go in his heat. The top 6 from each heat move on to finals.

"Two riders bested John's score bumping him out of finals but his 17th overall was by far John's best finish at this level and his first major contest result in some time", said NYSEF Freeride Director Mike Kirchner. "The last few years he had been plagued by season-ending injuries but he has persevered and worked his way back into top form. This is a great result."

Up next for Wilkins will be Friday's Snowboard Cross.

The Revolution Tour is USSA's top-level Junior National Tour and features competition for up-and-coming skiers and snowboarders in the disciplines of Slopestyle, Halfpipe, and Ski & Snowboard Cross. Other local athletes attending and competing this week include KC Brousseau (halfpipe), Steph Lawee (halfpipe), Jessica Powers (SBX), NSA's Matt Brady (SX), and Derek Dicastro (SBX).

Whiteface holds Safety Week

WILMINGTON — Whiteface Willy is back, skiers and riders will be able spot him on Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, Jan. 15-23, during the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) National Safety Awareness Week. The wily, lovable white-tailed deer will be working with Whiteface ski patrol, mountain hosts, snow sports instructors and the safety awareness team to help ensure that everyone has a safe and fun time on the Olympic mountain.

Whiteface Willy will also focus on the NSAA Heads Up, http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/safety/heads_up/, initiative and encourage pre-teen and teen groups to wear a helmet while on the slopes and a Know the Code DVD will be playing at guest services and Kids Kampus throughout the week.

During the National Safety Awareness Week, skiers and riders, ages four to 18, can participate in a poster contest and at the end of the week, winners for the Most Creative, Best Safety Message and Overall Poster will win a pair of lift tickets. The Whiteface mountain Facebook fan page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whiteface/107657715463, will also feature a safety photo and caption contest with one lift ticket given out to the best combo each day.

Finally, throughout the week, there will be a safety scavenger hunt with "prize tags" placed at each of the Whiteface Willy safety messages. When a skier or rider brings the tag to the mountain's guest services desk, they will win either a helmet or a gift certificate to one of the area's ski shops including Cunningham's Ski Barn, Maui North or Viking Ski Shop.

For more information about National Safety Awareness Week at Whiteface, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

Boys' hoop tourney Feb. 26-27

PERU — The IAABO, Board #43 basketball officials will sponsor a 4th—6th grade boys' basketball tournament in Peru on Feb. 26-27.

The tournament will consist of 16 teams in a three-division format. All teams are guaranteed 3 games with most teams getting more.

Contact Jim Caron at 518-643-9047 or jcaron24@email.com.

Peru athletes run at Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. — Members of the Peru track team participated in the 42nd-Annual Dartmouth Relays at Leverone Field House this past weekend.

Daniel Lennon, a junior miler, finished 14th overall in the boys' unseeded event with a time of 4:29.73 (25 entries). Senior Charles Remillard competed in the unseeded mile, finishing 25th overall (38 entries) in 4:45.38.

For the girls, Freshman Ashley Leta set a personal record of 1:42.71 in the 600 meters to finish eighth overall in a field of 57 entries.

Rachael Danis placed 54th of out 97 entries in the 55 meters with a time of 8.06. Danis also placed 48th in the 300 meters, achieving a personal best of 46.31 in a field of 93 entries.

Peru matmen at East Classic

LOCH SHELDRAKE — The Peru wrestling team, currently ranked third in the state in Small Schools, will be competing Friday and Saturday in the 10th-Annual Eastern States Wrestling Classic, being held at Sullivan County Community College.

The event is one of the top high school wrestling tournaments in the northeastern United States. Among the top teams from New York State competing will be Shenendehowa, Palmyra-Macedon, Longwood, John Glenn and Hauppauge.

Town sponsors kids' bowling

PLATTSBURGH — The Town of Plattsburgh Recreation Department is again sponsoring a free bowling program for all school-aged children who are residents of the town. There is no cost to the participants. Children can bowl up to three games and receive the shoe rentals at no charge.

All areas of the town will bowl at North Bowl Lanes on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. This program will run every week through March 6. Register at the bowling alley at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Call the Recreation Department, at 562-6860, with any questions.

Rabbit Derby set for Jan. 29-30

SARANAC — The Lost Pond Rabbit Derby will be held January 29-30 at the Saranac American Legion Wilson Road. The $12 entry fee includes two roast beef dinners. Prizes will be based on the number of entry fees.

Tickets are being sold at C & S Bait/Tackle Shop on Route 3 in Clayburg, Saranac Legion on the Wilson Road and the West Plattsburgh American Legion.

The last weigh-in will be 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30. Derby tickets can be purchased before 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29. For more information, call R. Chase, at 293-1089.

Stock car induction event set

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York State Stock Car Association's annual "Meet the New Hall of Fame Members" program will be held on Sunday, Jan. 23 at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, site of the permanent NYSSCA Hall of Fame exhibit.

The event, set for 11 a.m., will let fans and racers unable to attend Saturday night's NYSSCA awards banquet meet and listen to the new inductees: drivers Dickie Larkin and Jack Cottrell, car owner Paul Emerick and officials Hertha and Marty Beberwyk.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park. Visitors should exit I-87, the Adirondack Northway, at Exit 13N, then proceed north on Rt. 9 to the Avenue of the Pines park entrance.

NYSSCA Hall of Fame members will be admitted free of charge with other visitors paying the standard museum admission.

More information is available online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.