Best in North Okanagan sports honoured

Jun 23, 2020 | 9:22 PM

Shanda Hill says it was beautiful to be recognized by the community she loves and promotes around the world while she competes.

Hill was named the 2019-20 Tim Hortons North Okanagan Athlete of the Year on Tuesday after her gutsy and inspiring performance at the Double Deca ultra triathlon last October and November in Mexico.

Hill became the first Canadian to finish the event that features a 76 kilometre swim, a 3,600 km bike ride and an 844 km run, the equivalent of 20 Ironman triathlons.

Hill finished fifth overall, second among the women, and became just the third female to finish the grueling race. Her official time was 646 hours, 12 minutes and 20 seconds.

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“I want to go back and beat my time,” said Shanda who completed the course in 26 days but has no idea when the next Double Deca will be held due to the pandemic.

Hill brought her pet goat ‘Sparky’ to the ceremony along with several family members like her mother, Arleigh, and her brother Kevin Hill, who won the Athlete of the Year award a few years ago for his efforts for Team Canada in Olympic snowboard cross.

The awards presentation was held outside for the first time to allow for social distancing, with the setting outside Vernon City Hall.

Vernon Christian School Royals: Team of the Year (L-R) Liam Remple, Shaun Huizinga, Dwayne Remple (co-coach), Don Defeo (manager), Chris Bannick, Josh Hall, Devin Hofsink. (Vernon Matters photo)

The Team of the Year went to the Vernon Christian School Royals, a senior boys volleyball team that won their second straight provincial ‘A’ title last November at Selkirk College in Castlegar.

“We’ve been together for four or five years. We couldn’t have done it without the coaches, without all the guys who became really tight, basically like brothers. It was really fun,” said team member Devin Hofsink.

Co-coach Chris Bannick said it was an honour to win the award.

“The boys have been amazing, their talent, their dedication and just their perseverance to try and be the best. They really stood out and I’m very proud of these boys. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do in the future as they go on to CIS and college volleyball,” Bannick said.

Carl Vardon (second from right), winner of the Leadership Award with selection committee members (L-R) Jack Gilroy, John Topping and Dan Currie from Tim Hortons (Vernon Matters photo)

Carl Vardon was honoured with the Leadership award for his many years of volunteering with Vernon Minor Baseball.

Vardon spent 14 years on the executive, 18 years as a coach, built four dugouts at Lakeview Park, resurfaced and built the Creekside Park fields, and spent hundreds of hours maintaining fields.

“Growing up in this town, sport was big. We had lots of opportunities when we were young to play multiple sports. But a couple of people along the way helped me out,” said Vardon as he became emotional. “Dan Oxnard was one of them and John Green. I grew up on the Vernon Tigers lacrosse league and these people showed me you have to give back and they were the leaders I followed.”

Also recognized at the ceremony was Paralympic curler Sonya Gaudet who has been inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame for 2020-2021. A past winner of the North Okanagan Athlete of the Year award, Gaudet is Canada’s most decorated para-curler — winning gold at three Paralympic Games and three World Championships.

The awards are chosen by a panel of community and media members along with local Tim Hortons owner Dan Currie.

by Pete McIntyre

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