Nova Scotia youth take aim at gold during Provincial Cadet Biathlon
Contributed
Sixty of Nova Scotia’s best Cadet biathletes competed for gold at the the Provincial Cadet Biathlon Championship at Ski Martock in Windsor last month.
The young biathletes, all between the ages of 12 and 18, are members of the Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets. The sport combines cross country skiing with target shooting and reinforces the Cadet program’s values of active living and teamwork.
“Cadet Biathlon is a great opportunity for the youth involved in Cadets to use their leadership skills with their teams,” said Cpt. James Mahoney, Nova Scotia biathlon championship coordinator. “Cadets go through tough physical training, and need to develop self-discipline for the marksmanship portion of biathlon. It really is a sport that pushes the aims of our program.”
Gold medalists in the men’s category include 14-year-old Lunis Mulherin of the 254 Army Cadets in Windsor, 15-year-old Brandon Martin of the 70 Sea Cadets in New Waterford, and 18-year-old Nicholas Abbott of the 615 Air Cadets in Halifax.
Top finishers in the women’s categories include 14-year-old Madison Taljaard of the 254 Army Cadets in Windsor, 15-year-old Lauren Ingram of the 615 Air Cadets in Halifax, and 18-year-old Katrena Thomas, also of the 254 Army Cadets in Windsor.
The top two teams advanced to the National Cadet Biathlon Championship, which will take place in Quebec City in March.
“Biathlon is a fun and exciting sport,” said Cadet Ryan MacGee of the 29 Sydney Kiwanis Air Cadets. “This is my first year with Cadet Biathlon and I can say I will be back!”