Another bit of publicity here in Canada as next year we are hosting the 2010 Olympics. CTV television is the official network carrying the event and they have a serie of commercials that will start airing next month. Yesterday they just finished filming Paisley Perrie for their “Do you believe” promos. She spent half a day on ice and later another 5 hour segment with inlines on the track. This will be seen throughout Canada for the next few months. I think the bonus is it will be shown as part of an Olympic promotion.

Read more from Alex Perries here; Olympic Bid.

Photo from here

Morgane Echardour and Herb Gayle were the top-finishers at this weekend’s annual MS Run And Roll Half Marathon held in Thunder Bay. Echardour set the day’s fastest time at 38:58, about 20-seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Herb Gayle and 3d place finisher Peter Doucet.

The race, which saw growth in the number of participants, featured a smooth 21km race course followd by a complimentary pancake breakfast and awards.

Race organizer Hal Lightwood, who is a father of two children, not only did a lot of the behind the scenes work, but he even competed, placing 7th overall.

Overall Finishers
1- Morgane Echardour
2- Herb Gayle
3- Peter Doucet
4- John Schulte
5- William Field

• Morgane Echardour & Herb Gayle Win At Thunder Bay MS Run And Roll Half Marathon– Peter Doucet
• Run and roll for MS marathon– TBNewsWatch
• Thunder Bay Race Report– John Schulte

Getting read to start- photo Peter Doucet/ www.SpeedSkateWorld.com

Hal Lightwood finishing ahead of 8th place finisher Ron Rost- photo Peter Doucet/ www.SpeedSkateWorld.com

The RSO Series was supposed to make a stop in Ottawa/ Aylmer on July 19th. However, a soccer group booked the field inside the 400-meter Aylmer track. As a result of this conflict, the RSO Series is postponed. A new date will be announce at a later time.

Click here for the results (zip file) from July 1st’s Canada Day Marathon & Half Marathon.

Roller Sports Canada held its annual Canadian Outdoor Speed Championships in Toronto. The competition was held this past weekend.

Skaters came from Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario to compete at the Father John Redmond 400-meter track. Skaters who use the track, which is located near lake Ontario, usually encounter windy conditions. Skaters faced very strong winds on Saturday. On Sunday, winds were weaker, but were shifting directions.

Despite the wind, many Canadian Outdoor Records were set, including Primary, Freshmen, Intermediate, and Senior levels.

These Championships served as a qualifier for Canadian skaters to represent Canada at the upcoming World Roller Speed Skating Championships being held in China this September. No skaters tried out for the World Team. This means Canada won’t be fielding at team at the World Championships.

The 2010 Canadian Outdoor Speed Championships will take place in Calgary in July. Dates & more information will be posted on the website.

• Click here for complete results (zip file)
• Day 2 pictures & report- from Peter Doucet
• Day 1 pictures & report- from Peter Doucet
• Report- Candy Wong- Encouragement
• Report- Candy Wong- Racing Without Expectation
• Pictures- From Flickr Photographer
• Pictures- From Marie Eve

Photo Peter Doucet, SpeedSkateWorld.com

Photo Peter Doucet, SpeedSkateWorld.com

Photo Peter Doucet, SpeedSkateWorld.com

Photo Peter Doucet, SpeedSkateWorld.com

Photo Peter Doucet, SpeedSkateWorld.com

Photo Peter Doucet, SpeedSkateWorld.com

The Canada Day Marathon & Half Marathon were held on July 1st in Cambridge. This year’s course featured newly paved sections of asphalt.

With a good turout of skaters from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and the USA, the race ended up being a success.

Featuring good levels of competition, an open-road course, and a BBQ, the Canada Day Marathon has become a main-stay on the Canadian roller speed skating scene.

Race organizer Jim Mallard and his team of volunteers put together a good event and were very appreciative of the support from local clubs & skaters.

Peter Doucet finished in the top positiong in the marathon after breaking away from an attack that featured Sergio Almeralla and Benoit Tremblay. Almeralla and Trembaly skated with a small group of skaters. The second and third steps of the podium were decided in a sprint, with Almerally claiming 2nd and Benoit Letrouneau coming in 3rd.

Morgane Echardour edged out Sarah Hopkins in a close sprint to post the fastest women’s marathon time. Dominique Lalonde finished in 3rd.

Click here to view photos and to find the preliminary results.

Otttawa’s Sergio Almeralla leads Calgary’s Alex D’mello and the rest of the marathon lead group- photo by Harry Wallace, from SpeedSkateWorld.com

The TBN Monthly Marathon was held yesterday at Hamilton Beach in Burlington. The weather was beautiful as a dozen skaters took to the lake-front trail in Burlington.

Read more & view photos here; Report- TBN’s Hamilton Beach Monthly Marathon.

Photo from Peter Doucet/ SpeedSkateWorld.com

Toronto’s Herb Gayle finished 3rd overall in the Baxter Inline Marathon.

It was a beautiful morning and a great day for racing in Baxter.  Thanks to Terry and Jeanne Holm for putting on a great race, as usual.

• Race results
• Baxter Photos from Andy Uttke
• Baxter Inline Race Results
• Baxter Awards Ceremony Photos

Herb Gayle- extreme right in green & white- in the finish for 3rd- photo by Andy Uttke, shared by InlineSkateMpls

Earlier today, the RSO Outdoor Series made its second stop of the year in Toronto.

The race was held at the venue that will play host to the upcoming Canadian Championships in early July. Click here for results & pictures.

The series’ next race is scheduled for July in Ottawa. Dates will be announced soon.

500-meters- Left to right: Nick Pelych, Shannon Ford Smith, Amanda Tickner, and David Rudniski- photo by Peter Doucet/ SpeedSkateWorld.com