Jane Emerick
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From the teens to the mini-metalers to the BMXs to winning locals this year's North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal Festival set a new standard for future events. Race director Cliff Miller is crediting its success with the community support.
"The event would not be what it is without the community," he said. "People keep saying to me, 'good job' but it's everybody. I am just the organ grinder."
Miller said involving all of Squamish was always the intention of the event, with the goal of having an entertaining and challenging weekend of activities appealing to everyone.
The festival kick started with the Teen Test a week prior to the big event and Miller thought the return of the race for younger athletes would only grow in the future.
"We decided to run this event quite late in the game," Miller said, "but Jim Douglas and his group of volunteers did a remarkable job. Everyone who was there complimented him on the organization of the race. Next year, we'll more than double participation in the Teen Test, I'm sure."
The big weekend began on Friday evening with a BMX demo and artisan market outside the branch of title sponsor Northshore Credit Union, at Garibaldi Village Mall and continued through to Sunday with Corsa Cycles hosting the Mini Metal for over 150 4 to 8 year olds in training as future stars of the bigger event and finished in the afternoon with Tantalus Bike shop hosting the Rockstar Downhill Invitational.
Saturday featured the main event; the 67-km epic North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal, where many locals took advantage of their hometown advantage to have top three finishes in their categories. Lauren Hughes of Team Squamish secured a third place result in a time of 4 hours 34 minutes. Angela Langford was the second female for women aged 30 to 34 with a time of 4 hours and 27 minutes. With a time of 4 hours and 10 minutes Pip Parr, who also raced the Rock Star event on Sunday, was the third-ranked female in the women aged 35 to 39 and despite technical difficulties Maria Sederholm took third place in the women aged 40 to 44 category with a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. Sue Dare was the third woman in the 45 to 49 age category finishing in a time of 4 hours and 42 minutes.
Charlotte Klein finished 10th in the women's Elite category with a strong time of 3 hours and 56 minutes and Meghan Kindree was on top of the entire women's field with a time of 3 hours and 56 minutes.
On the men's side Philip Cairns, also of Team Squamish, secured third spot in the men under-20 category with a time of 3 hours and 19 minutes. With a time of 3 hours and 32 minutes Andrew Clarke was second in the male ages 30 to 34 category. Scott Woolley finished second and Corsa Cycles owner, Dave Heisler finished third in the male ages 40 to 44 category with times of 3 hours and 5 minutes and 3 hours and 8 minutes respectively.
Two hours and 53 minutes put Dwayne Kress seventh in the men's elite category and Neal Kindree was the fastest person of the day with a time of 2 hours and 44 minutes.
The 2006 Test of Metal sold out in 4 hours and 19 minutes. Tickets go on sale for the 2007 event, which will take place on June 16, on Jan. 1, 2007
