Personal Bests for Team Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia athletes have been achieving personal bests throughout the first week of the 2003 Canada Winter Games in Bathurst Campbellton, N.B.

Cross-country skiers and long-track speed skaters braved wind chill temperatures as low as -37 C as they raced. Most speed skaters and all seven cross-country skiers had personal bests.

Magi Scallion of Wentworth has been leading the women's skiing team all week. She was the only Atlantic Canadian to make the top 16 in the 900-metre sprint on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Charlo. She has also improved her standing considerably in all events over her previous two Canada Games.

"One of my Games' goals was to make it to the quarter finals," said Ms. Scallion. "Having reached that goal, I'm very pleased."

Speed skater Christine Angelidis of Dartmouth has a coach from Team Yukon to thank for one of her personal bests. Tom Elliot noticed a computer error that added three minutes to the times of all athletes whose names began with A. His quick reporting of the error allowed Ms. Angelidis to be bumped up by five heats where she belonged.

The women's curling team had an exciting week, giving up only one game to Team Ontario, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and celebrating wins against Manitoba, PEI, Newfoundland, and Alberta. The team has advanced to the medal round to be played tonight at the Bathurst Curling Club.

The curling team is led by skip Paige Mattie of Tracadie. Her teammates are lead Heather Bannier, mate Jillian Deagle and second Cara DiPersio.

Team Nova Scotia's flag bearer and ringette goalie Nicole Doucet made a great but unusual save during the game against New Brunswick on Thursday, Feb. 27. She blocked a shot on goal when the ring got caught in her goalie mask. Nova Scotia won the game 4-2.

Rhythmic gymnastics athletes also celebrated Thursday, Feb. 27, when Kelsey Ivory ranked 17th in the individual competitions. It was the sport's best placing since 1987 in Sydney, N.S. Nova Scotia did well in racquet sports Thursday, Feb. 27. Jason Latimer, Chad Gilbert, Evan Gilbert and Jason Leadbetter, all from Dartmouth, won each of their squash matches. The badminton team won all five of its matches against Team Yukon.

Men's hockey lost 4-1 to Alberta and will compete for the fifth- place ranking against Saskatchewan tonight.

Team Nova Scotia is competing in 18 of the 21 sports represented during the two weeks of the Games, which run from Feb. 22 to March 8. The team has 284 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.

Team Nova Scotia is funded by the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission, a division of the Office of Health Promotion. Team Nova Scotia sponsors include Avis, Spring Rain, ATV, and Aliant. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation sponsors Team Atlantic -- supporting all teams from Atlantic Canada for the 2003 Games.

For more information on Team Nova Scotia and its sponsors, visit the team Web site at http://winter2003.ns.canadagames.ca .

FOR BROADCAST:

Speed skater Christine Angelidis of Dartmouth has a coach

from Team Yukon to thank for one of her personal bests at the

2003 Canada Winter Games in New Brunswick.

Tom Elliot noticed a computer error that added three minutes

to the times of all athletes whose names began with A. He

reported the error and Ms. Angelidis was bumped up by five heats.

The women's curling team also had an exciting week, giving

up only one game to Team Ontario, while celebrating wins against

Manitoba, P-E-I, Newfoundland, and Alberta.

The team advances to the medal round tonight (February 28th) at the Bathurst Curling Club.

Team Nova Scotia is competing in 18 of the 21 sports

represented during the two weeks of the Games, which run from

February 22nd to March 8th. The team has 284 athletes, coaches,

managers and mission staff.