Long in the winning saddle in Ireland
Hailey bicycle racer Jackson Long, 18, and three U.S. teammates captured the overall team victory in July's International Junior Tour of Ireland.
Long's teammates were Californians Marcus Smith and Kyle Torres, and Stephen Basset of Tennessee.
Among notable placings included, Long took 10th place in the opening time trial and Basset won the final stage.
Celebrating its 34th year, the challenging six-day stage race attracted top-flight juniors. Long said, "It was fantastic to be able to compete with such amazing athletes," said Long.
Ketchum Skatepark holds contest this Saturday
Sponsored by The Board Bin of Ketchum, the 11th annual Ketchum Skatepark Skateboard Contest is Saturday, Aug. 18 at Guy Coles Park at the corner of Warm Springs and Saddle roads in Ketchum.
Registration will be taken at the race site from 9-10:30 a.m. and the three-heat contest starts at 11 a.m., with finals at 3 p.m. Multiple age groups will be organized and girls are welcome to participate. Helmets are required. Entry fee of $15 per person includes a t-shirt.
Durance cyclists grab TT honors
Eight cyclists from the Ketchum-based Durance-Colnago team traveled to Glenns Ferry for the 2012 Idaho State Time Trial Championships Saturday, Aug. 11.
The racers welcomed slightly clearer skies at the 12 noon start than the Wood River Valley had on Saturday, but much hotter temperatures for the USA Cycling event.
Defending Idaho State Time Trial Champion Richard Feldman ruled the 40-kilometer (24.8-mile) course in a time of 52 minutes and 8 seconds.
On the 20k (12.4 miles) course, John Swyers (31:54) won the Men's 70-plus category over fellow Durance rider Tom Campion (32:30). Ketchum's Tullio Celano (36:30) was third.
Roger Miller (34:09) overcame fellow Wood River resident John Gladics (35:15) in Master Men 65-69.
Durance-Colango's Jay Hagenbuch (31:09) took home bronze in Master Men 60-64 and outpaced fifth-place Michael Wrobel (35:56) in the 20k race.
Racing well in the very competitive Master Men 55-59 group were Durance mates Jon Engen (28:34 for silver) and Michael Olenick (30:05 for fifth).
In the Women's Master 35-39, Ketchum's Erin Finnegan finished the 40k course in 1.08:04.
Try your luck in United Way hole-in-one contest
As part of its 50th year of service, United Way of South Central Idaho is giving golfers a shot at a $50,000 hole-in-one prize. The contest will be held Monday through Friday, Aug. 20-24 at four southern Idaho golf courses including Ketchum's Bigwood Golf Course at Thunder Spring. Other participating courses are Burley Municipal, Twin Falls Golf Course and Jerome.
Take as many swings as you want at a 90-yard hole, for $1 a swing, next Tuesday and Wednesday between 12 noon and 5 p.m. at Bigwood. Prizes will be awarded for the closest shot each day. Golfers with the top two closest shots each day at each course, will travel to Jerome Country Club Friday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. where they take their shots at "Hitting the Jackpot" on a 165-yard hole. Any player making a hole-in-one Aug. 24 at Jerome wins a $50,000 prize from Con Paulos Chevrolet. Closest-to-the-hole prizes during the Jerome CC finals earn fine prizes.
Perch's Shop to the Top climb is Saturday
The Elephant's Perch's Shop to the Top running/walking climb of Baldy is Saturday, Aug. 18.
Early registration deadline is Thursday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at The Perch in downtown Ketchum for $25 per person. The cost rises to $35 until the final deadline of Friday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. There are no race day entries. If you register online at active.com, the cost is $25 until Aug. 16 at midnight.
Pick up your race packet by 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17 at the Perch, or on the morning of the race at the shop.
Courses for the 3,300 vertical foot climb are six miles ("Race Class") starting at 9 a.m. from The Perch in Ketchum, or five miles ("Sport Class") beginning at 8 a.m. from River Run Lodge. Participants can take the chairlift back down, if weather permits. There will be awards for the fastest man and women in each class, and prize drawings for everyone. No dogs, please.
Hole-in-one at Valley Club
Bill Pierpont aced the No. 6 hole of The Valley Club South Nine on Tuesday, Aug. 7 using a 27-degree hybrid from the Blue Tees. Witnesses were Brandon and Bob Pierpont.
Personal bests for swimmers at Pendleton
The Sun Valley 5B Swim Team joined 500 swimmers from 28 teams from the Northwest at the prestigious Pendleton (Ore.) Invitational long course (meter) meet July 6-8.
Coached by Brian Gallagher, the 10 SV5B swimmers posted personal-best times during the three-day competition at the Pendleton Aquatic Center.
Maddie Johnson, 13, was the overall high point winner in the Women's 13-14 age group. She won the 200 Individual Medley and took second in 100-meter and 200m butterfly, and 100m freestyle.
Lena Friesen, 17, finished strong in the top three of her three events in the Women's 15-and-over. She captured second in 100m and 200m breaststroke and third in 100m free.
Kaedi Fry, 15, finished consistently and in the top 10 in all her events in Women's 15-and-over. She placed fifth in 100m and 200m breaststroke.
Gus Kimball, 17, swam well in all his events placing in the top 10 in 50m free, and ninth against a tough field in the Men's 15-and-over.
Olivia Wentzell, 14, won 100m breaststroke and was sixth in 400m free in Women's 13-14.
Mason Johnson, 12, had a spectacular meet, finishing in the top 10 of eight of his races in Men's 11-12. He placed fifth in 100m freestyle and fifth in 50m backstroke.
Ashley Dreyfus, 14, improved her times in eight events in Women's 13-14. She was 15th with a drop of 13.32 seconds in 400m free, 11th with a drop of 13.35 seconds in 100m butterfly and 19th with a drop of 14.11 in 200m backstroke.
Loni Unser, 14, continued to improve times in Women's 13-14. She finishing five strong races in the top 15 and was 13th in 1500m freestyle with a drop of 19.01 seconds.
Elizabeth Fry, 18, swam well in her eight events in Women's 15-and-over, placing in the top 15 in all. Her finish in 1500m free was exceptional as she dropped 37.21 seconds to take fourth in a very strong field.
Lisa Hart, 16, swam six events in the Women's 15-and-over, dropping significant times in 100m backstroke (14.48 seconds), 200m breaststroke (17.75) and 400m free (3.45 seconds).
Tayler Bates, 17, consistently finished in the top 25 of Women's 15-and-over including finishes in 1500m freestyle (15th) and 100m butterfly (16th).
Putt for Mutts next Wednesday
Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley holds its third annual Putt for Mutts fun event for women on Wednesday, Aug. 22 on Sun Valley Golf Club's 18-hole Sawtooth Putting Course. Registration is at 2 p.m. with the shotgun start at 3 p.m.
The event is open to the first 72 lucky ladies who sign up at animalshelterwrv.org or on the day of the event. Fee is $50. Bring your putter if you have one, or organizers will provide one. Call 788-4351 for details.
