Sporting tidbits on everything from figure skating to football

By Bob Mackin

It's Stanley Cup season again, but Stanley Park's future will be on the agenda at Roundhouse Community Centre on Monday at 7 p.m. when the parks board considers the Stanley Park Restoration Plan. It's a $9-million document. Heavy on costs, but light on specifics. The meeting is being held by the shores of False Creek, rather than at the board's office at Stanley Park.

The seawall suffered major damage in December's big storm-nicknamed the Hannukah Eve Windstorm by the U.S. National Weather Service-and will need repairs done before the end of October. Lions Gate Roadrunners have Oct. 28 pencilled in for their annual James Cunningham Memorial Seawall Run in honour of the mason who built the round-the-park promenade.

For now, the club's next race is May 27's Shaughnessy 8 K through the posh, tree-lined streets of Shaughnessy, starting and finishing at Kerrisdale Arena.

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More than 50,000 people won't be running by the Roundhouse on Sunday. The 23rd Vancouver Sun Run's 2007 route goes south to the other side of False Creek. The run doesn't stray far into Stanley Park, but it does traverse the Burrard Bridge on the way out and Cambie Bridge on the way in before finishing at B.C. Place Stadium.

One of the events benefiting from the Sun Run is the Harry Jerome international track and field meet. The 24th annual edition goes June 8 at Swangard Stadium. Last year's featured a Canada vs. China format, but few Canadians or Chinese turned out on the rainy night to see next year's Olympians.

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HSBC Stars on Ice presented by Smuckers comes to General Motors Place Wednesday night. You could say it's a jam session on ice for some of the greats of North American figure skating. Canadian Olympians like Brian Orser, Kurt Browning, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier will be there. As will Jeff Buttle along with the dancing duo of Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon.

It'll also serve as a countdown to the next big skating event to hit Vancouver ice, the 2008 BMO Canadian Championship. Tickets went on sale in February for $175 and $150 for the Jan. 16-20, 2008 event at the Pacific Coliseum-a bargain compared to what Orca Bay wants for Canucks tickets. It serves as a de facto test event for the 2010 Games, which will use the rink on Renfrew for figure skating and short-track speed skating.

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CityChase is quickly becoming a worldwide phenomenon with races in Sydney, Lisbon, Paris, Singapore and London, England.

The eight-city Bell-sponsored Canadians series begins May 12 in Vancouver. CityChase is one-part urban adventure race, one-part reality TV show.

A week earlier is the 36th annual BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon on May 6. This year's emblem features an aboriginal interpretation of a frog, which can sometimes be an apt metaphor for soggy runners if it rains. New this year: divisions for relay runners and Nordic pole walkers. As they say, walk swiftly and carry a big stick.

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University of B.C. Thunderbirds' gridiron gladiators aren't the best in Canada West, but they're holding a Best in the West football camp May 4-6.

Coach Ted Goveia has assembled a May 4-5 coaches' clinic headlined by B.C. Lions' co-offensive coordinator Dan Dorazio. Other speakers include Robert Tucker, defensive backs coach with University of Colorado Buffaloes, Ashland University offensive coordinator Doug Geiser and Toronto Argonauts' defensive coordinator Rich Stubler.

Players aged 10-17 hit the T-Bird Stadium turf May 6 with full-pad practices led by a bevy of "Birds" alumni, such as B.C. Lions' linebacker Javier Glatt, Hamilton Tiger-Cats' running back Julian Radlein and Saskatchewan Roughriders' kicker Jamie Boreham.

published on 04/13/2007