Hi There!

The 2009 Somersault season got underway with a bang in May, with the first events of the season showing strong participation, and achieving record numbers. The Cumberland Duathlon, Place d’Orleans Run, presented by the Orleans Star, Early Bird Tri/Du, and the Colonel By Run, in support of GoodLife Kids Foundation all enjoyed great days, although the latter got a little damp. The outlook is good for a summer of participatory fun, as participation was up in all categories from the Wylie Ryan events, to the old guys like me.

Upcoming Events & Deadlines
Britannia Beach Ottawa – June 13 – Enter Now and Save
· June 13 - Ottawa Riverkeeper Triathlon & Duathlon - http://www.somersault.ca/eventottawariverkeeper.htm
· June 13 – Britannia Beach 5Km Run & Walk - http://www.somersault.ca/eventottawariverkeeperrun.htm
· June 13 – Wylie Ryan Quick Kids’ 2Km – http://www.somersault.ca/eventwylieryanqk2k.htm

Aviation Museum Ottawa – June 20 – Enter Now and Save
· June 20 – Emilie’s Run & Walk for Women Only – http://www.somersault.ca/eventrunnerswebwomen.htm
· June 20 – Wylie Ryan Aviation Museum Kids’ 1Km Run - http://www.somersault.ca/eventwylieryan.htm

Lower Reach Park Smiths Falls – June 21 – Enter Now and Save
· June 21 – Smiths Falls Triathlon & Duathlon – http://www.somersault.ca/eventsmithsfallsclassic.htm
· June 21 – Smiths Falls Figure Eight 5Km Run & Walk – http://www.somersault.ca/eventsmithsfallsclassicrun.htm
· June 21 – Wylie Ryan Smiths Falls Kids’ 2Km Run - http://www.somersault.ca/eventwylieryansf2k.htm

Early Event Wrap Ups, Photos, Certificates, and Results
Check out the may events, and the great photos from ZoomPhoto.ca, certificates for all finishers, and results by Sportstats. If you or someone you know participated, you will probably find many photos of yourself, and you can download a performance certificate, and gloat over your results. Just click : http://www.somersault.ca/results.htm and punch in your name or number on the drop down event menu for these events (kids events are included in the adult run):
· May 2 - Cumberland Duathlon
· May 3 - Place d’Orleans Run
· May 16 – Early Bird Triathlon & Duathlon
· May 16 - Colonel By Run

Champions Challenge
The Champions Challenge is a program for those of you who wish to measure yourself over the 2009 Somersault season against others in your favourite discipline – Triathlon, Duathlon, Running, SwimCycle, Swimming, or Kayak Triathlon races. There is also a ‘Junior’ program for those of you 19 and under. Rankings are compiled and updated on the Monday one week after each Somersault event. Check out the Champions Challenge program at http://www.somersault.ca/championships.htm , and see if it is for you.

New Place Award Ribbons
We are offering a new top 3 place award for those who finish in the top 3 of their age or weight category this year. Gone are the “Medal Add Ons”, and here to stay are Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award Ribbons, which attach to the finish medal you receive when you cross the Finish Line. As is our custom, to be eligible for these award ribbons, you must stay for the awards ceremony at each event, or send us a self addressed, and stamped envelope following the event, in which we will mail you your award ribbon.

Charities, Organizations, and Clubs of the Events
Many thanks to the charities and Clubs of the Events so far. These organizations have contributed to and benefited fro the May Somersault events:
· Cumberland Panthers Football
· Several East Ottawa Minor Sport Teams
· Bytown Walkers
· Cumberland-Orleans Community Resource Centre
· Bytown Storm Youth Triathlon Team
· Goodlife Kids’ Foundation

Sponsor Supporters – Thank You
· Gatorade - http://www.gatorade.com/#/products
· Imperial Barber Shop - http://www.imperialbarbershop.com/
· Beacon Lite - http://www.beaconlite.ca/
· Place d’Orleans - http://www.placedorleans.com/
· RunnersWeb.com - http://www.runnersweb.com/
· Ottawa Outdoors Magazine – http://www.ottawaoutdoors.ca/
· iRun Magazine - http://www.irunnation.com/
· PECCO’s - http://www.peccos.com/
· Popeye’s Supplements Ottawa -
· CHIMO Hotel - http://www.chimohotel.com/
· Goodlife Fitness - http://www.goodlifefitness.com/
· ZoomPhoto - http://www.zoomphoto.ca/v4/404.php
· Re:Form Body Clinic - http://www.reformbodyclinic.ca/
· Primus Business Services - http://www.primustel.ca/en/business/magma.php
· Endurance Nutrition - http://www.endurancenutrition.ca/
· Carb BOOM Gel - http://www.carbboom.com/
· Bagel Bagel
· Kiwami - http://www.kiwami.ca/gb/hommes.asp
· Sable - http://www.sablewateroptics.com/
· Udderly Smooth - http://www.udderlysmooth.com/
· Boston Pizza

New Sponsors
· RunningSkirts.com - http://www.runningskirts.com
· Taste of Nature - http://www.tasteofnature.ca/ - Taste of Nature - Take a closer look at our bars. Everything you see comes straight from nature. Nothing artificial, no fillers and no chemicals with names as hard to pronounce as they are to digest. From the Himalayans to the tropics to our own backyard, we hand pick only the best 100% certified organic ingredients. Go ahead and try a Taste of Nature bar for yourself – it’s the wholesome, nutritious snack that delivers a world of great taste.

Special Thanks
· CycleFit Chicks
· City of Ottawa
· Place d’Orleans
· National Capital Commission
· OC Transpo
· Carleton University
· Somersault Motorcycle Patrol Group

Volunteers
Volunteering can be fun, if you would like to give it a try, or someone is accompanying you to an event and wants to be involved, give us a call at terry@somersault.ca, and we can fit you in, so you can join the fun. Check out our ‘volunteer” page to see what its all about - http://www.somersault.ca/volunteers.htm.

Somersault Race Crew
Many thanks to the Somersault Race Crew. It take a lot of them along with the Clubs of the Events, and lots of volunteers to make a somersault event happen The main crew this year is a great group of people, many with a lot of experience, who are the back bone of the event. Thanks this year goes to:
· Paul Daroszewski – Logistics
· Steve Wyrozub – Operations
· Tara Wong – Registration
· Michel Pilon – Announcer
· Geordie McConnell – Orientation Sessions
· Mike and Glenn Mack - Parking
· Mark Pulham – Courses
· Barb Leasa – Finish Line
· Harley Saunders – Operations
· Marieve Lavigne – Registration
· Kristin Marvin - Registration
· Cheryl Bateman - Reception
· Julie Pinard – Registration
· Maurice Pinard - Registration
· Benoit Chouinard – Crew
· Nik Krausbar – Crew
· Sean Crighton – Crew
· Somersault Motorcycle Patrol Group – Cycle Officiating
· Brockville Kayakers – On Water Support
· Canadian Ski Patrol – First Aid and Emergency Response
· City of Ottawa – Lifeguards and Emergency Response on Water

New Youth Tri Program in Chelsea – Pandas Kids Triathlon Program
We are pleased to pass on information on a new youth program for triathlon, which is being run out of Chelsea Quebec. The program is being organized by Michel Elibani, an experienced and qualified coach who has decided to offer a program for kids 10-16 years of age. The program will run on Monday’s, Tuesdays, and Saturdays. Participants must be able to swim 25M without stopping and bring a certified bike helmet in order to be eligible for the program.

For more information, check out www.fitnessdynamics.ca or call Michel at 1-613-794-8659.

Road Warrior Program
The running events in the Somersault program are part of a provincial program called, ‘Road Warrior’. The Road Warrior program is a ‘handicap rating program’, in which people compete in running events as if they were all the same running ability. It opens up ‘winning’ to runners who might never win age group categories. To sign up for free and be eligible for prizes, go to www.roadwarriorrunning.com

Winners of the Road Warrior categories at the Place d’Orleans run are:
· Therese Ouellet – Nepean – Half Marathon
· Nancy Green – Ottawa – Half Marathon
· Terry Quenneville – Cornwall – Half Marathon
· Roxanne Vermette – Orleans - 10Km
· Elizabeth Farmer – Ottawa – 10Km
· Martn Drolet – Gatineau – 10Km
· Erika Mallet – Orleans – 5Km
· Joshua Letourneau – Ottawa – 5Km
· Taylor Letourneau – Ottawa – 5Km

Questions and Answers
If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please email me at terry@somersault.ca and I would be pleased to respond to you. Good luck in your 2009 event participation goals.

Cheers!
Terry