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The Blizzard Club lost a close one in the Challenge Cup series, with Grande Prairie, Sunday. The host Grande Prairie Club won the mountain bike event, 46 points to the Blizzards' 40. GP rider Steve Magusin got his revenge by winning the days' race. He was beaten by Blizzard rider Stephen Ferris, in the last meeting of these two clubs. Steve's time was 1:11:07 for the 4-lap event. Fellow GPers Peter Watson 1:11:51 and Greg Poirier 1:12:22 were second and third. James Proudfoot was 4th at 1:14:40, Rick Watson 1:14:58 and Eric Hietland 1:17:34, all of GP. Pat Ferris was the first Blizzard across the line in 7th at 1:19:24. Derek Waldron was 8th at 1:20:39, Gilbert Bilodeau 1:22:52, Roger St. Jean 1:22:58 and Gary Hilderman 1:28:43. Hilda Bilodeau had 36:35 for the 1 lap event with Jolea Bilodeau next at 36:38. Dave McKnight had 39:31 for the 2-lap with Tessa Bilodeau second at 48:19. GP's Francis Plum did 1:03:57 for three laps and Adam Currie next at 1:25:04. In other events the Adventure Team of Tania Bell, Cam Dowd, Clayton Foster and Wanda Lalibertie are at the 36-hour Raid-the-North in Kimberley. Results were not available at press time. Stephen Ferris had to abandon on stage 6, Friday, at the World Cup Tour D L'Abitibi in Quebec. Nine other riders dropped out, as well and four others were eliminated by being outside the time limit. It was a particularly grim day. The wind was howling, lots of rain and lightning. The event has been an amazing experience for Stephen. Racing at that level with the Alberta Provincial Team is the event of a lifetime. The event had 180 riders from 11 countries on the start line. 141 riders finished at an average speed for the winner of 45 km's per hour for 595 km's and eight stages and one pro-log stage over seven days straight. Team Alberta finished 18th team, of 29. Kai Reus of the 'Pays-Bas' team won the overall event with a total time of 13:13:57 hours for 595.2 kms. Top Albertan was Brian Bain in 77th, 5:04 minutes back of the leader. Coming up: -Thursday Baldonnel time trial at 7 pm. -Saturday Randonneur 200 km at 8:00 am from Cosmic Grounds. -Sunday road race from Ole Lake at 10:00 am. Picnic to follow. |