Local Sports

Neerlandia resident Alvin Nanninga earned top honours in his category at this year’s Canadian Horseshoe Championships in Blainville, Que. last month, beating out competitors from across the country.

Barrhead’s hockey fans were treated to a special sight Aug. 31 at the Agrena, as the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Spruce Grove Saints and Drayton Valley Thunder faced off in an exhibition game.

The third season wasn’t quite the charm for the Athabasca Aces. The team had a tough campaign last year in the North Central Hockey League, finishing seventh out of eight teams and losing to Slave Lake in the first round of the playoffs.

If all goes as planned, 2012 will see the return of senior men’s baseball to Athabasca. A handful of local ball players are seeking to organize a new team and enter play in a competitive baseball league, and Mike Merrigan is leading the charge.

The beautiful weather wasn’t the only reason to play a round of golf last Friday. The Athabasca Golf Club played host to Jeff Johnson’s second annual Road To Hope Golf Classic.

Seven days of practice will hopefully pay off for the Athabasca Pacers football team. The club held their training camp last week, working for hours both on and off the field to perfect their game in time for the new season.

The summer season went out with a bang last weekend with the annual Big Dog race, hosted at Barry’s Ultra Motorsports Park near Busby. About 30 riders came out to take part in the day’s events, which included a new twist this year.

With 25 years of dance experience under her belt, Irene Widdup is promising great things to come for her students this year. Director and owner of Footworks Dance Academy, Widdup wrapped up her annual three-day summer dance camp last week.

It was a disappointing end to a successful season for the Westlock Red Lions Aug. 21 at Keller Field, as the team lost its best-of-three semifinal series with the Edmonton Blackhawks.

Westlock-area resident Alvin Nanninga earned top honours in his category at this year’s Canadian Horseshoe Championships in Blainville, Que. last month, beating out competitors from across the country.