Paris to Ancaster promoted, Renata Fast and Sarah Nurse shine at Rivalry Series - Hamilton Spectator

In a conspicuous acknowledgment of the groundbreaking (so to speak) history of the Paris to Ancaster Bike Race, this year’s P2A on April 30 has been officially designated as the first 2023 Canadian Gravel Championship. Gravel racing is the largest growth segment of cycling and the P2A is often credited with creating and evolving race formats, democratizing participation, stimulating the popularity of gravel racing, and acting upon input from competitors. The gravel championship will be held annually and likely move around the country.

“The cool thing about it is there was no such thing as gravel racing when Paris to Ancaster started,” says race co-director John Thorpe. “Most riders wanted to avoid gravel, and stay on pavement. We’ve got credit for the genre: it grew up outside the cycling regulatory bodies. It’s a real honour, we’ll be the first one ever, forever. ”

Cycling Canada opted for the P2A over several other bids from across the country.

Women in football

The Hamilton Sports Group, owners of the Ticats and Forge FC, announced Tuesday they’re partnering with the first Women’s FootbALL Conference, at Tim Hortons Field on Feb. 18 and 19. The conference is for women aspiring to careers in coaching, scouting, football operations, officiating, administration and other aspects of the game. Participants will learn from female leaders in the football industry, and the event includes an on-field session, education clinics, networking and a panel discussion with a Q-and-A period.

Conference founder Taylor McIntyre, an assistant coach with the McMaster Marauders, said in a release, “Attendees will have the opportunity to learn skills needed to succeed in the industry, receive guidance from female leaders and allies in football, network with decision-makers and change-makers in Ontario, and will be inspired by dozens of success stories from women in football.”

Courtney Stephen of HSG added, “Football is for everyone ... and we wanted to do whatever we could to help make it an overwhelming success.”

To learn more or register go to https://www.womensfootballconference.com/.

Nurse, Fast trigger rebound

As usual, the Canadian and American women’s hockey teams are putting on a great show with their tight Rivalry Series. Four of the five games to date have been decided by one goal, including Canada’s 3-2 overtime win Monday in Los Angeles. Renata Fast of Burlington drew an assist on Danielle Serdachny’s winner. After dropping the first three games of the seven-match series, the Canadians have now won two straight with the final two games set for February at a time and place in Canada still to be determined.

“We didn’t expose their weaknesses in the first three games,” Hamilton’s Sarah Nurse told media after the game. “A big thing was to take their time and space away. If they can’t break out of their zone, they can’t score goals.”

Nurse continued her glorious 2022, scoring the winner with just five minutes to play in Canada’s 3-2 win in Henderson, Nev., on Dec. 15 to give Canada a chance to still win the series.

All-star game for Gilgeous-Alexander?

Speaking of Hamilton athletes rising to the occasion, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander escaped coverage for a two-point jumper with 3.2 seconds left on the clock to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-121 victory over Portland Monday night. Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks third in NBA points behind only Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic, had 35 points, six assists, a pair of rebounds and hit all 14 of his free throws. He’s a strong candidate to make this year’s NBA all-star game in Salt Lake City in mid-February.

No. 95 for indoor games

After an absence of three years — 2020 for a labour dispute between teachers and the province, and the next two because of COVID — the Hamilton Indoor Games will return to FirstOntario Centre in 2023. The secondary school portion will be held Feb. 15, followed by the elementary school meet Feb. 16. This will be the 95th edition of the indoor games, run by the 91st Highlanders, and a search is already underway for a site to host the event in 2024 and ‘25 when the downtown arena will be shut down for reconstruction. For more information go to 91track.ca.

Corbeanu out with injury

Hamilton’s Theo Corbeanu, under contract with English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, made a strong impression on loan to second-division Blackpool with three goals and many more offensive surges in 17 games. But the flanking forward injured his ankle earlier this month and has been out of action, with still three or four weeks of recovery ahead. The club transfer window opens on New Year’s Day and continues until Jan. 31. The Wolves could again loan the 20-year-old to Blackpool, loan him to another club to continue his development or bring him back to play in the EPL. Corbeanu told The Spec in an email that he wasn’t sure where he’d be playing in January. Local soccer columnists have characterized Corbeanu’s tenure at Blackpool as one of the Wolves’ most successful loan-outs of the season.

Other notes of note: Hamilton’s Milan Borjan’s body-stretching reactive deflection of U.S. star Weston McKennie’s header in the 42nd minute of Team Canada’s 2-0 win at Tim Hortons Field on Jan. 30 was chosen by Canadian soccer fans as the most outstanding save of the year in a poll conducted by Canada Soccer. He’ll receive the All-State Good Hands Award at a future national team home game … Jeremy Filosa of 98.5 FM in Montreal is reporting that Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis was not presented an offer for the vacant head coaching job with MLS side C.F. Montreal. Smyrniotis, away on vacation, could not be reached for comment but it’s hard to believe he’d have any interest in a bumbling franchise looking for its fifth coach in just over three years … Former Mac star Declan Cross, the longest-serving Toronto Argonaut, is retiring after six seasons in double blue. The fullback had seven career touchdowns, won two Grey Cups and caught two important two-point convert passes in the Argos’ 2017 Grey Cup victory.

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Paris to Ancaster promoted, Renata Fast and Sarah Nurse shine at Rivalry Series - Hamilton Spectator
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