School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador will crown new provincial champions this weekend, February 16 and 17. Individual and team champions will be declared in table tennis and cross-country skiing.

Dorset Collegiate in Pilley�s Island will host the provincial table tennis championships. Five teams will be competing in a round robin encounter system format to determine the provincial team champion. An encounter entails one match each in boys singles, girls singles, boys doubles, girls doubles and mixed doubles, with the team winning two out of three winning the encounter. The team competition is completely separate from the individual competition. Individual champions will be declared in boys singles, girls singles, boys doubles, girls doubles and mixed doubles. Teams vying for the provincial banner include the host, Dorset Collegiate, Bishop White All Grade (Port Rexton), Roncalli High (Port Saunders), B.L. Morrison (Postville) and Indian River High (Springdale).

The team competition gets underway Friday at 9:30 a.m. The individual competition will take place on Saturday and will be run using a double knock-out format.

Holy Trinity High in Torbay is the host school for the high school cross-country skiing championships. Races will be run at Butterpot Park Nordic Ski Facility. Skiers from Holy Trinity High, Stephenville High, Canon Richards High (Flower�s Cove), Viking Trail Academy (Plum Point), Corner Brook High and Harriot Curtis Collegiate (St. Anthony) will be participating.

Individual races will be run for Junior Male (5km), Junior Female (2.5 km), Senior Male (7.5km) and Senior Female (5 km). The team with the lowest cumulative point total will be declared team champion, and a banner will be awarded in each division. Individual honors will also be awarded to the top three in each race. The individual races will be run in the classic style. Relay races will also be held for each division. Each leg will be one kilometre and will feature three skiers. The relay race will be run in the freestyle. Individual races get underway at 9:30 a.m. Relay races will start at 12:30 p.m.

In its continuing effort to emphasize sportsmanship, School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador are sponsoring the Sportsmanship First Program. Each team will nominate an individual player to receive an individual sportsmanship medal.

The top teams will be awarded with gold and silver medals, while the winner will also receive the coveted championship banner. Individual gold, silver and bronze will be awarded to the individual winners.

For a complete schedule and game scores, visit our Web site at www.schoolsportsnl.ca.

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Media contact:
Karen Richard
709-729-2795

Convenors:

2007 12 13                                            4:25 p.m.