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1984 April Fools' Day Run

Coast News, April 1984

Biggest ever

April Fool's Day run success

The seventh annual April Fools' Day Run, held last Sunday, drew a total of 69 enthusiastic participants, ranging in age from 10-58, with 49 runners setting out to cover the whole distance of 21 km/13 miles from Elphinstone school to the Sechelt cenotaph, and 20 runners taking part in relay teams.

The Sunshine Coast was well represented by runners from all areas from Langdale to Garden Bay. Ten out-of-towners also took part, coming from Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Powell River and Victoria.

Crossing the finish line first in the splendid time of one hour, 13 minutes, 58 seconds (1:13:58) was 25-year-old Steve Miles of Sechelt, who seemed to sprint the whole distance and wasn't even winded when he finished the race.

"I did it for my girlfriend, Bonnie," beamed a happy Steve. "We're getting engaged later today."

As well as keeping the Coast News Challenge Cup for the next year, Steve received dinner for two, a room for the night and brunch the next day, courtesy of Bonniebrook Lodge and the Barnacle Restaurant.

Miles had a six minute lead over the nearest runners, then crossing the finish line in quick succession were internationally renowned ultra-marathoner Al Howie of Victoria (1:19:53), Rick Tkach of Burnaby (1:20:30) and last year's run winner, Michael Metcalfe of Selma Park (1:20:58).

For their efforts, Howie and Tkach each received 12 passes to the Weight Room in Gibsons.

First woman across the line was Vancouver runner Josephine Boland, with a time of 1:40:57. She was presented with a certificate for a facial from Supershape Hair and Skin Care.

There were six Masters (40 and over) entered in the run, and 44-year old Rod Aylwin of North Vancouver recorded the best time of 1:27:33 to take home with him a gift basket of goodies courtesy of The Landing General Store.

Oldest runner was 58-year old Kurt Scharf of Gibsons, who received a weight training pass to the Weight Room.

Eleven-year old Davis Mah of Gibsons managed to run the whole distance in under two hours, finishing at 1:54:56. This impressive feat netted him a ten-swim pass to the Gibsons Swimming Pool.

Youngest runner in the race was ten-year old Brian Hay of Gibsons, who also won a pool pass good for ten swims.

The relay event was won by the Pender Harbour Road Runners, a four-person team composed of David Gibson, Lisa Parker, Loree Villeneuve and Gary Winkelman. Their finish time of 1:36:26 merited a $25 gift certificate from the Creekhouse Restaurant in Roberts Creek.

The two Katimavik relay teams, composed of Denise Fisher, Vincent Giovinazzo, Eric Audet, Sandra Galbraith, Daniel Stewart, Rosemary Gough and Sean Tudor, also won a $25 gift certificate from the Creekhouse.

For family participation, the Myhill-Jones family was presented with three, four-session fitness class passes from the Weight Room. Heather ran the whole distance, with Brian and Karen joining her part-way, and all three finished hand-in-hand, together.

Weight Room fitness class passes good for four sessions, were also presented to runners picked at random from the entry forms. Winners were James Dennis, Lyn Christian, Renee Gimnes, Mick Maguire, Joan Wenzel and Cliff De Schepper.

Runners in order of finish times were: Steve Miles 1:13:58; Al Howie 1:19:53; Rick Tkach 1:20:30; Michael Metcalfe 1:20:58; Lorne Berman 1:24:31; Jim Hunter 1:27:06; Reynold Schmidt 1:27:20; Rod Aylwin 1:27:33; Stephen Christian 1:30:26; Sean Whalen 1:30:26; John Lepore 1:31:37; Donald Matsuzaki 1:32:26; Ken Stephen 1:33:10; Gordon Lyster 1:33:38; Lars Guignard 1:34:23; Mick Maguire 1:34:33; relay team of David Gibson, Lisa Parker, Loree Villeneuve, Gary Winkelman 1:36:26; Clifford De Schepper 1:36:49; Bob Burlin 1:37:25; relay team of Ron Bunting, Walter Endert, Signi MacNeill, Bryce Barry, Robert Kinley, Hugo Gerring, Mary Mellis, Bob Cotter and Scott Reader 1:37:33; Brian Romer 1:38:05; Doug Bzowy 1:38:25; Dale Dickie 1:39:03; Nathan Strand 1:40:10; Josephine Boland 1:40:57; Pat Walker 1:41:12; Cam Mackenzie 1:42:58; Lyn Christian 1:43:06; Rieta Hanson 1:44:39; Kurt Scharf 1:45:01; Brian De Schepper 1:45:11; Susan McKibbin 1:47:46; Ian Nichols 1:48:48; relay team of Denise Fisher, Eric Audet and Vincent Giovinazzo 1:51:23; relay team of Sandra Galbraith, Daniel Stewart, Sean Tudor and Rosemary Gough 1:51:23; Kenneth Campbell 1:53:50; Davis Mah 1:54:56; Andrea Rayment 1:55:59; Catherine Crucil 1:56:57; James Dennis 2:00:00; Joris Van Swieten 2:00:00; Joe Dougherty 2:03:37; Wendy Burlin 2:09:16; Renee Fountain 2:12:15; Gabriele Knecht 2:17:00; Joan Wenzel 2:18:00; Joni Clarkson 2:18:49; Debbie G. 2:20:00; Heather Myhill-Jones 2:25:31; Donna Pearsell 2:33:28; Christy Skinner 2:33:28; Brian Hay 2:37:36. Completing 10 miles of the run were Renee Gimnes and Connie Lamoureux.

April Fools' Run "I MADE IT" certificates, giving each individual runner's name and time, have been completed, and may be picked up at the Coast News office.

The Coast News would like to thank all the runners who took part in this year's run, and also the many spectators who gave them so much support, encouragement and applause.

Special thanks to all those who donated prizes, to Rieta Hanson and Rob Liddicoat for helping with the organization, and to the RCMP and those who ran the aid stations along the way.

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1984 Results summary

  1. Steve Miles 1:13:58
  2. Al Howie 1:19:53
  3. Rick Tkach 1:20:30
  4. Michael Metcalfe 1:20:58
  5. Lorne Berman 1:24:31
  6. Jim Hunter 1:27:06
  7. Reynold Schmidt 1:27:20
  8. Rod Aylwin 1:27:33
  9. Stephen Christian 1:30:26
  10. Sean Whalen 1:30:26
  11. John Lepore 1:31:37
  12. Donald Matsuzaki 1:32:26
  13. Ken Stephen 1:33:10
  14. Gordon Lyster 1:33:38
  15. Lars Guignard 1:34:23
  16. Mick Maguire 1:34:33
  17. relay team of David Gibson, Lisa Parker, Loree Villeneuve, Gary Winkelman 1:36:26
  18. Clifford De Schepper 1:36:49
  19. Bob Burlin 1:37:25
  20. relay team of Ron Bunting, Walter Endert, Signi MacNeill, Bryce Barry, Robert Kinley, Hugo Gerring, Mary Mellis, Bob Cotter and Scott Reader 1:37:33
  21. Brian Romer 1:38:05
  22. Doug Bzowy 1:38:25
  23. Dale Dickie 1:39:03
  24. Nathan Strand 1:40:10
  25. Josephine Boland 1:40:57
  26. Pat Walker 1:41:12
  27. Cam Mackenzie 1:42:58
  28. Lyn Christian 1:43:06
  29. Rieta Hanson 1:44:39
  30. Kurt Scharf 1:45:01
  31. Brian De Schepper 1:45:11
  32. Susan McKibbin 1:47:46
  33. Ian Nichols 1:48:48
  34. relay team of Denise Fisher, Eric Audet and Vincent Giovinazzo 1:51:23
  35. relay team of Sandra Galbraith, Daniel Stewart, Sean Tudor and Rosemary Gough 1:51:23
  36. Kenneth Campbell 1:53:50
  37. Davis Mah 1:54:56
  38. Andrea Rayment 1:55:59
  39. Catherine Crucil 1:56:57
  40. James Dennis 2:00:00
  41. Joris Van Swieten 2:00:00
  42. Joe Dougherty 2:03:37
  43. Wendy Burlin 2:09:16
  44. Renee Fountain 2:12:15
  45. Gabriele Knecht 2:17:00
  46. Joan Wenzel 2:18:00
  47. Joni Clarkson 2:18:49
  48. Debbie G. 2:20:00
  49. Heather Myhill-Jones 2:25:31
  50. Donna Pearsell 2:33:28
  51. Christy Skinner 2:33:28
  52. Brian Hay 2:37:36

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First ever Fool's Run