Three local cadets reach podium at zone biathlon competition

Photo: Wayne Emde Photography

Cadets from the region were competing in the zone biathlon competition at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre.

Heavy snowfall made for a challenging course, but three Vernon Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron 223 Red Lion cadets landed on the podium Sunday.

Cadets from the region were competing in the zone biathlon competition at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre.

Austen Holmes-Peters earned a bronze medal in the Junior Boys 5.1 km Individual race; Emily Vit earned silver in the Senior Girls 5.1 km individual race and Aleksia Savoie took home gold in the Youth Female class.

The cadets are trained by Officer Cadet Lynn Algra.

Lt. (Navy) Carolynn Dufresne, who trains cadets from Kelowna to Revelstoke, was pleased with her 15-member team's results, earning three golds and three silvers.

Dufresne said that coaching the cadets was a lot of work, but, "I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it, the kids are so fantastic."

Sixty-four cadets from the Okanagan Region competed for a chance to ski and shoot in the provincial championships in two weeks, but they will have to wait until all results from zone competitions are compiled to learn who has made the cut.

- with files from Wayne Emde