Sandy, Wil and Michael Smith; and Douglas and Cherie Mahoney received funding for the 1996-97 season. A total of $4,000 was awarded to these athletes, with 50 percent being paid to them in early June. While this is among the highest amounts given to any individual sport in New Brunswick, the amount is substantially reduced from last year. Payment of the other half is due in January after a December evaluation. Amounts committed varied between $500 and $1,750 per athlete.
Wil and Sandy Smith were named to the World Championship Canadian team based on their performance at the Canadian Championships in 1996. Excellent results were achieved by the other High Performance Athletes with Cherie, Mike and Doug all having very good chances on making the team that will be competing in Norway for the World Championships in the summer of 1997. The selection meet will be in the spring, either in Ottawa or Eastern U.S.
The National Senior and Junior Squads have not yet been named for 1997 by the COF. New Brunswick athletes have never in the past been as competitive, or have had the opportunity to participate at the World elite level as they have today, and it is expected that the above named athletes will be selected.
The elite New Brunswick athletes competed in Canada, the U.S. and in Europe the last year, and had several very good personal results, although still nowhere near the times of the world elite.
ONB, with assistance from the province, has provided training camp funding for all A, B and C junior pool members for several years. I hope that this support can continue, but in these times of fiscal restraint, it cannot be guaranteed.
To the best of my knowledge beginner's clinics were only held in Fredericton this year. This must change for next year, or orienteering will eventually die in most areas. This year I held one NCCP Level 1 Technical clinic for Wil Smith. No one else showed interest. However, I will not give up and will offer a Level 1 Technical during the winter. In addition I am chairing a Canadian membership drive for 1997, and hope that New Brunswick will be taking a lead in membership growth.
Among presently active orienteers, the completely qualified NCCP coaches in New Brunswick at the present time are Brian McEwing and Stig Skarborn, Level I and II respectively. Wil Smith should be a Level 1, if he submitted his practicum to the COF. Terry Edgett, David Fellows, Ed Smith, and Ray St-Laurent have taken the technical component, but have not completed the theory and practical components. Of these six persons no one coaches actively to the extent he is of value to our elite athletes due to time constraints. ADDITIONAL COACHES (= TEACHERS) ARE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY. The coaching situation for the elite is not bad at this time, since the majority train regularly together in Halifax.