(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

cold and fast

Wotherspoon Open welcomes speed skaters to Setters Place for second year

Jan 18, 2020 | 2:54 PM

The legacy of one of Canada’s greatest ever speed skaters lives on this weekend at the second annual Red Deer Speed Skating Club Jeremy Wotherspoon Open.

Taking place in -25 degrees Celsius temperatures, races went down all day Saturday at Setters Place (Great Chief Park).

Meet coordinator Shawna Pearman, whose daughter Maddison was recently named to Canada’s national squad for the World Cup, says the event has gone from 100 to 130 skaters.

“This year it’s a big qualifier for the Canadian Youth Long Track Championships, which we’re hosting here on February 8 and 9. The top two from each category qualify,” says Pearman.

“Jeremy put speed skating on the map, and we’ve got this legacy from the Canada Winter Games, so we want to continue hosting high level meets while promoting the sport within Alberta and locally here in Red Deer.”

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Competitors at the Wotherspoon Open are from throughout Alberta, ranging from ages 6-15.

Maddison Pearman will be on hand Sunday to present medals. Competition goes from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Pearman adds that the oval’s condition is fantastic and people are encouraged to take advantage of that when it’s open to the public. She also says the club still offers the public the opportunity to try out speed skating at any time.

More details are at RedDeerSpeedSkating.com.