The weekend of June 11th and 12th turned out to be one of the wettest biathlon events of our history. Saturday ten junior biathletes met in Old Forge for a biathlon clinic developed to help New York State Junior Biathletes improve their skills. These biathletes worked under the watchful eyes of Olympic Coach Art Stegen and Coach Sean Halligan, both accomplished biathletes in their own rite. The clinic lasted from 9:30 in the morning to 4:00 p.m. All but the last hour was under heavy rains.
On Sunday, after a nice dry start to the day, the rains returned for the summer biathlon race that was the end of the weekend’s events. Fourteen biathletes of all skill levels ran through mud, running water and a steady downpour. For a copy of the results go to polarbearbiathlon.com. Douglas Hoover from Pennsylvania recorded the fastest time of the day hitting three targets prone and four standing. Gary Bracket from Oneonta recorded the fastest time for the Grand Master Class hitting three targets in both prone and standing. Sam Phaneuf from Old Forge recorded the fastest time in the Youth Male category hitting a total of three targets prone and standing. Maddie Phaneuf, Sam’s younger sister, recorded the fastest time in the youth female class hitting a total of four targets prone and standing.
In the sport class Megan Green from Old Forge recorded the fastest time of the day for sport women hitting eight targets prone. Finishing second to Megan was Allyson Brosemer, also from Old Forge, who was the only shooter of the day to shoot clean. In the Master’s Women category Debbie Brosemer finished first hitting seven for ten targets in the prone position. It should be noted that the sport class shoots prone both times on large targets, unlike the competition class who shoot prone on small targets and standing on large targets.
The weekend, althought soggy from the beginning was a huge success for everyone involved. We hope that everyone will return to Old Forge on August 14th for a modified Individual Biathlon Race with four shooting stations!
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