Young Guns post second shutout

The Richmond Young Guns continued their winning ways Sunday, blanking the Surrey Destroyers 2-0 in under-12 girls’ silver division soccer at South Armfield.

It was the local’s second consecutive shutout.

Led by the solid effort of their back line (Laura Jochymski, Megan Talbot, Jennifer Jones and Katrina Roylance) and strong play from midfielders Dianna Taylor, Patricia Griffiths, Dana Winter, Sarah Carruthers, Natalie May and Taylor Ross, the Young Guns kept the ball in the Surrey end most the game.

Up front, the trio of Dana Moewes, Amanda Stewart and Lauren Speers gave the Destroyers fits. After a scoreless first half, Alison Hamm put a through ball to a sprinting Speers who coolly placed the ball into the net. Soon after, Roylance found Carruthers on a corner kick for her second goal in as many games.

Monivoi Vataiki also turned in another strong effort, making several acrobatic saves for the shutout.

• The Richmond Wildcats clawed their way back from a 3-2 loss in their season opener to blank Guildford Rockets 2-0 last weekend, also in under-12 girls’ silver division soccer play.

After observing a minute of silence for the victims of last week’s tragedy in the United States, the Wildcats came out running but needed keeper Holly Borthwick to make several big saves to keep the game scoreless at the half.

Sam Cawley put Richmond up 1-0 early in the second half as the midfielder scored on a booming shot. Camille St. Cyr’s tenacious play produced the second goal. St. Cyr dug the ball out of the corner to Sharon Kersey who made a sweet pass to Sarah Hamilton who drilled the ball into the net.

Defenders Melanie McPhail, Chelsea Taylor and Julia Diakow dominated play in the second half.

RICHMOND GIRLS’ SOCCER RESULTS

U11 SILVER: Stars 4 Unicorn 0, Rockets 4 Predators 0, Richmond 3 Strikers 0, Gleckos 7 Sharks 0, Slammers 2 Magic 3, Hurricane 3 Dolphins 2. U12 GOLD: Vipers 2 Semiahmoo 3. U12 SILVER: Young guns 2 Destroyers 0, Wildcats 2 Rockets 0, Sunsets 6 Hurricane 0, Barracudas 0 Breakers 4. U13 SILVER: Cheetahs 4 Konas 0, Raptors 1 Dolphins 4. U14 METRO: Rebels 1 Extreme 0. U14 GOLD: Mavericks 1 Tarheals 2. U14 SILVER: Strikers 9 Starz 0. U15 GOLD: Reign 2 Sting 1. U15 SILVER: Strikers 5 Surf 0. U15 METRO: Rush 4 Island 2. U15 SILVER: Strikers 5 Surf 0. U16 METRO: Rush 4 Island 2. U16 SILVER: Viqueens 3 Strikers 4, Redhawks 1 Extreme 5. U17 SILVER: Richmond 9 Bears 1, Rebels 0 United 3.

Local karate athlete to compete in sport’s first Open tournament

Richmond athlete Nancy Sham is expected be among the participants in next weekend’s first-ever B.C. Open Karate Tournament at BCIT.

One of the nation’s best junior karate athletes, the 20-year-old Steveston Karate Club student has accumulated a treasure trove of medals including a gold medal at the 2000 Junior Pan American Games in Florida. Sham has trained with the Steveston club for 13 years.

The Open was expected to include non-Karate BC members for the first time in the 22-year history of the 4700 member organization. Previously Karate BC has not veered from its strict rule of blocking competition from non-member athletes but the sport’s possible inclusion in the Olympic Games has prompted a proactive strategy to to ensure the province is prepared to meet the challenge. The first step is the development of open karate events.

“With an Open category event we offer competitive, non-member athletes significant benefits,” James Johnson, executive director of Karate BC says.

“Athletes from all types of martial arts will be able to test themselves against our own top-calibre provincial athletes that would used in an Olympic event.”

The final benefit accrues to the sport of karate itself. Johnson says the Open event creates a level playing field for the sport and is the first step, of many, to give athletes a competitive opportunity.

van Ostrands to be honoured

Richmond’s first family of badminton will be honoured by Badminton B.C. next Friday at a special celebration at West Van’s Hollyburn Country Club.

Jimmy van Ostrand, one of the top young badminton players in the world, will be joined by his younger brother David and mother Sandy at the Best of the Zone and Best of B.C. awards ceremony. Jimmy, who is in the under-19 division, and Sandy, a volunteer, have been selected provincial winners in their categories. David has been selected the top under-16 male player in Zone 4.

Other Richmond players being honoured include Daniel Woo, the top open male player in the province; Angel Wu, the top female player in the zone; and Helga Worster, the top masters’ female player in the zone.