B4 - The Terrace Stondard, Wednesday, August 6, 2003 SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN KEENA ANG ROB BROWN Taimen 17 ired?” asked Lewis. He knelt next to Joan, next to the bit of sandy shore where she'd plopped down after los- ing the battle with the giant taimen. She was staring toward the weed beds, at the spot where the monster fish had casually disap- peared a minute earlier. “Tired and sad, I guess,” she said. “Tired and exhilarated, I can understand, but why sad?” Joan struggled against a powerful urge to sob. “It was all so cruel — the way that, that thing killed its cousin...” “Cruel? No, not. cruel,” said Lewis softly while tracing surprisingly gentle circles on her back with a large hand that appeared ill-suited for such a task. Yet it was a gesture both singu- lar and appropriate; one that sent a soothing wave of warmth through her that swept away the tension knotted in her upper body and shoulders especially. “I know how you feel,” he added. “You re- member those two fellows [ was with the other day, when we first met?” ‘Joan nodded. “Henry and Phil Glass, they’re cousins. They manufacture mining equipment. They’ ve got lots of money. They love to fish and they’ve fished everywhere. They're accomplished fishermen. I: just had to point them in the general direction — give them a few basics ~ then lie back and relax.” There was a splash. Lewis stopped his narra- tive. He and Joan glanced downstream to where York and Billy had resumed fishing. Billy had a fish on. “Iv’s not a big fish,” said Lewis. “Maybe 30 inches.” He looked back at Joan, into her eyes, took his-right hand away from her back and picked a pale green stone fly from the sleeve of her jacket. “Anyway, the Glass boys were working a long glide that would take them most of the morning to cover properly, so I tock a hike downstream to scout some virgin water. I walked a mile, most of it tough going along the side of bluffs on a track that would barely quali- _ fy as a goat trail. “] was sweat soaked when I dropped down to a beach that followed a big bend in the river. , When I looked back to see where [’d come ' from, [ noticed two golden eagles looking down at me from a rock ledge on top of a bluff. A fal- ‘con of some kind was making a jagged flight . over the water, looking for a fish, The place had high rock battlements on both sides. It was be- ‘ yond beautiful, “I started out walking down the beach and _ Startled a female mallard. She swam out of the ‘ reeds just ahead of me, wiggling and honking the way they do, her brood of fuzzy ducklings following behind. When they hit the open water a taimen rose up and inhaled the last little duck. You bastard, 1 thought. [ made a hurried cast to where ,the duck had disappeared, These taimen are insatiable. The damn fish grabbed my Road T “Jt was touch and go — like it was with your big fish — but I got him in.,.He was over 50 inches. | felt like bashing his skull with a rock at first, then I realized that I was bringing all these emotions to the party. Cruelty is not in the lexicon of taimen, which consists of three en- tries reatly: reproduce, eal, and danger. [ could it against me, but I released him because as a big-brained creature I have the ability to under- stand complex big- brained concepts like abun- dance and vulnerability as well as the notion that a guy can catch a fish for. the sheer joy and privilege of participating in the life and death struggle that goes on between predator and prey and, in the end, not put an end point on the struggle by opting out of the killing. It's recreat- ing the hunt. It's recreation, an almost bloodless blood sport,” Joan tried a smile. The image of the big fish devouring the smaller one, the cloud of blood, was wedged in her mind along with the prairie dog Tugsiin Sugar shot and later impaled on a treble hook, and now, after Lewis’ parable, the , picture of a disappearing duckling. The cumula- ‘tive effect of these images was a depressing mental mural of brutality. Lewis recognized the forced nature of her smile, “You should take a day away from river,” he suggested. “Have you ridden horses?” She said she had. “Let me arrange a ride with the eagle hunters as an antidote for. the way you're feeling now,” he said. To be continued... Sera ‘TERRACE STANDARD 638-7283 He’s the king Smithers runner claims 13th King of the Mountain title. ‘By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN SMITHERS runner Richard Harri- son has once again proven he is the undisputed king. The 46-year-old took top spot at the gruelling 8.5 km King of the Mountain footrace in Terrace July 27 — it’s, the 13th time he’s nabbed top spot at the race in its 27 year history. Harrison completed the course in just 39:55 followed up by Ter- race runner Dylan Evans, 19, who posted a time of 44:11. Third place went to novice runner Jon Lambert who posted a time of 46:10. ’ Forty-seven runners from throughout the northwest and as far away as Victoria and Fort Mc- Murray, Alberta came out for the event. The run is incredibly challen- ging, seeing runners go up and over the rugged Terrace Mountain trail over rocks, roots and an area thick with heavy boulders at the base of the trail. “It was pretty challenging,” says Jesse Sheasby, 15, who bat- tle the run for the second year in a row, “The way up on the moun- tain is pretly steep - on some parts you have to walk it.” The run is the third event of the Terrace Standard Adventure Challenge — a series of five out- door sporting events. Sheasby is one of two junior competitors — aged 13-16 — taking on all five of RICHARD HARRISON biasts through a rocky section at the July 27 King of the Mountain footrace. It was the 13th time he's claimed top spot in the run. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO Sheasby came in second. with 49:38 followed up by the sole fe- male competitor in that age group, Laura Whitaker who posted atime | of 58:17. The women’s event saw 17 la- dies tackle te the course, ranging , in age from 19 to over 50. Terrace’s Nadene Butler was crowned Queen of the mountain after blazing over the rugged trail in just 49:34 ousting last year’s winner from top spot. . “The way up on the mountain is pretty steep - on some parts © you have to walk it.” Smithers runner Sue Harrison, - 50, won the 2002 event and also took top spot in the 2000 race. She finished the run in 32:35 and was followed up by Christine Krisinger, 19, who nabbed third spot with a time of 37:02. This year’s race also saw an excellent showing of enthusiastic runners under 12. : Top spot went to Chapen Le- blond, 12, conquering the course in a time of 53:59. He was fol- lowed up by Sheldon Smaha and little brother Dawsen Leblond. Check out next week’s issue of the Terrace Standard for complete Kill Streamer before I could begin my retrieve. . have killed that fish, and he wouldn't have held ° the events, The other junior competitor to take the challenge is last year’s series winner Travis Yagelniski, 16. He managed to place first at A RIDER dashes toward the finish line of the barrels course at a gymkhana in early June. The next gymkhana is set for Aug. 17. FILE PHOTO Timberland horse show a success SIXTY riders and horses turned out for the Totem Saddle Club’s annua! Tim- berland horse show July 19-20, The high point award for the senior division went to Lisa Hamer. Junior A high points went to Rachel Muller, Ju- nior B went to Stephanie Wall, Junior C to Maureen Rowlett and Junior D ta Katrina Fisher. 4H Senior high points award was given to Rachel Muller while Michalla Heighington picked up the Junior high points award, Pony Club went to Maureen Rowlett. , The high points horse was Two Eyed Plaudit and the hunter/jumper award went to- Stephanie Wall The horse show was judged by Monique Fraser for English and Prince George’s Pam Morrison judged the western compe- titlon.’ ‘The saddle club also hosted a gymkhana July 13, with excellent number showing up. In the Master division Dan Muller picked up three first place standings for his ride in the keyhole, poles and barrels. Kathy Kowalski took top spot in the figure eight competi- tion while Karen Halvor- son won the rings event. The Seniors division saw Lyn Lavoie speed through the rings event staking top spot. Other first places in that division went to James Muller in keyhole, Danita Petch in both figure eight and poles while Jason Rempel picked up two first place finishes in the keyhole and barrels. Junior A saw Brittany Johnson pick first place in tings and figure eight while Roylene Seidlitz finished first in keyhole and poles. Rachel Muller nabbed top spot in barrels. In the Junior B division ‘Samantha Koopmans log- ged the fastest times..in figure cight and poles, Sarah Ridler picked up top spol in the rings competi- tion and Kim Latimer came in first in the barrels. Junior C was swept by ,, Michalla Heighington who % logged top times in all five: events. Katrina Fisher was the fastest of the Junior D di- vision riders in the figure eight and -poles events | while Cassie Wreggit took top spot in rings, keyhole and barrels. The Lead Line division saw first place ribbons given out ta several riders in each event. Amanda Stella picked up first place ribbons in , each event except for poles, Bugsy Rouw got first place ribbons in each event except for barrels. Desiree Rouw picked up first place ribbons in the keyhole and poles. The next gymkhana is set to go Aug. 17 at the Thornhill Community Grounds, the run out of the juniors, posting atime of 47:38. results of the Adventure Challenge which wrapped up over the River- boat Days weekend. : | gether in a competitive setling. Sports Scope Knoedler gets a taste of national competition THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD swimmer Allison Knoedler got a chance to compete at the national level July 24-27 as club nationals got under way at Lindsay Park in Cal- gary, Alberta. It was the young Blueback swim club member's first crack at the nationals — which are designed to bring to-' gether club-level swimmers from across the country to- “We always like to recognize the fact that the individ- uals need to be having that competition at the level where they are at and that’s where they will learn the mosi lessons in what they are doing,” says Blueback head coach Mike Carlyle. Swimming in the 13 and under age group, Carlyle says Knoedler put in an excellent performance. “She had very specific goals for her times and we were able to approach or exceed her goals,” he says. “She was very determined in what she wanted to do.” Knoedler managed to make the finals in the 50 metre breaststroke by taking half a second off her qualifying time. Then she took another full second off her time to finish in fifth place overall. Club nationals are a good opportunity for swimmers to realize that that level of competition doesn't always have to be overwhelming. Hole-in-one JULY 20 was a good day to be golfing for Jim Duffy. That’s when he got a hole-in-one on the 12th hole at the Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club. Using a nine wood Duffy shot the ball 142 yards to get it in the cup. Century Ride coming THE 17th Annual Skeena River Challenge Century Ride is set to go ahead August 10 starting in Prince Rupert at 9 a.m. and finishing in Terrace, Registration forms are available in Terrace at All Seasons Source for Sports. Early registration is recommended and guarantees par- ticipants a T-shirt, post-race grub and a shot at some draw prizes. For details call Nipper at (250) 845-7148. Memorial scramble a hit RAY SKOGLUND would have been proud to see 100 of his friends and family gathering on the golf course to celebrate his his tife, The recent memorial scramble was a huge success, say family members, The scramble was a way for people lo get together to remember the longtime Terrace resi- dent and businessman who passed away last year. “Dad was obviously here with me today,” said one of his sons, Dave. Dave was hilting balls straight down the’ fairway, a trademark that earned his dad the nickname of “Straightaway Ray.” The scramble was followed by a celebration of Sko- glund's life which included sharing of photos and oodles of stories recounted by friends and family.