Beautiful weather for regional cross-country meet at Ainsdale

The weather was perfect Monday afternoon (Oct. 2), for the regional cross-country meet at Ainsdale Golf Course, on Highway 21 south of Kincardine.

A great crowd of runners, staff and volunteers gathered for the annual event, with athletes coming from Ecole Elgin Market and Huron Heights in Kincardine, as well as Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, Ripley and Lucknow, to compete.

The Tyke Girls led off the meet, followed by the Tyke Boys, Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Senior Girls and Senior Boys. Bill Pike was the "rabbit" in the golf cart, leading each wave of runners - a job he has held for 31 years.

Riley McKechnie of Huron Heights took top spot for Tyke Girls, followed by Alexis Greig of Lucknow, Abbi Palmer of Huron Heights, Elena Moore of Ripley, and Parker Talbot of Ecole Elgin Market. Huron Heights took the championship, followed by Ecole Elgin Market.

Finn Kirkpatrick of Ecole Elgin Market took first for the Tyke Boys, followed by his teammates, Joel Broere and Dylan Kaminski, and then Gage Lyon and William Falconer of Ripley. Ecole Elgin Market took the championship, followed by Ripley.

Jasmine Broere of Ecole Elgin Market won the Junior Girls division, followed by Mikaela Hanna of Lucknow, Jen McLarty of Huron Heights, and Annan Moffatt and Jayla Livingston of Lucknow. Lucknow took the championship, followed by Huron Heights.

Huron Heights cleared the top five for Junior Boys, with Jude Hodgins in first, followed by Brandon Bishop, Nolan Janes, Ty McQuillin and Shaheryar Afzaal. Huron Heights won the championship, followed by Ripley.

Casey Beisel of Huron Heights won the Senior Girls division, followed by Raelyn Pennington of Lucknow, Caydence Gibson of Huron Heights, Hailey Pawliw of Ecole Elgin Market, and Dakota Christie-Wylds of Huron Heights. Huron Heights took the championship, followed by Ripley.

Huron Heights cleared the top five for Senior Boys as well, with Wyatt Norman in first, followed by Graeden Colhoun, Chris McLarty, Myles Courtney and Spencer Humble. Huron Heights took the championship, followed by Ripley.

Appreciation to Charles and Taylor Candler, owners of Ainsdale Golf Course, for allowing the use of their facility for the meet, and to Tiffany Rutledge and her helpers for organizing the event.

The top 10 runners in each division advance to the Bluewater District School Board cross-country championships, slated for Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area.