Local Sports

Josh Heard hurdles a challenge from a C.S. Herediano defender during their CONCACAF round of 16 tie at Starlight Stadium on Aug. 16. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Pacific FC suffers tough loss in first-leg of CONCACAF tie

PFC looked the better team but lost 1-0 to C.S. Herediano from Costa Rica

Jordan Smith get some air during men’s wakeboarding at the Wake Provincials at Sproat Lake on Saturday, Aug. 13. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

B.C. wakeboarding provincials ride over Sproat Lake

The Alberni Valley played host to the 2022 wakeboard and wakeskate provincials

Victoria Shamrocks players salute the crowd at The Q Centre in Colwood on Sunday after being eliminated from the Western Lacrosse Association semifinals with a 15-10 loss in game 6 to the Langley Thunder. (Victoria Shamrocks/Twitter)

Victoria Shamrocks look to next season after weekend losses in WLA semifinal

Shamrocks drop 15-10 decision to Langley at The Q Centre in Colwood on Sunday

Pacific FC’s Manny Aparicio fires a freekick into the wall against Atletico Ottawa on Aug. 13 at Starlight Stadium in Langford. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Langford-based Pacific FC stands firm against Ottawa with 1-0 win

Early goal from Josh Heard seals victory for the home team following transfer of star player

Pacific FC’s Manny Aparicio fires a freekick into the wall against Atletico Ottawa on Aug. 13 at Starlight Stadium in Langford. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Track cyclists of varying ages and ability levels will be riding the Westshore velodrome Aug. 19 to 21, during the B.C. Provincial Track Championships. (Photo courtesy Greater Victoria Velodrome Association)

Speed, strategy on display at upcoming track cycling provincials in Colwood

West Shore velodrome hosting B.C. championships Aug. 19 to 21

Track cyclists of varying ages and ability levels will be riding the Westshore velodrome Aug. 19 to 21, during the B.C. Provincial Track Championships. (Photo courtesy Greater Victoria Velodrome Association)
A trio of dragon boats cross the finish line overlooked by the legislature building Saturday during the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Victoria Dragon Boat Festival returns for 27th year

More than 30 teams from Canada, U.S.

A trio of dragon boats cross the finish line overlooked by the legislature building Saturday during the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Svee women’s softball team represented the Victoria Saanich Women’s Softball Association at the women’s Intermediate A provincial championships in Richmond. (Courtesy of Rachelle Little)

Saanich softball team takes silver at provincials

Svee women’s team won four straight to make it to the finals

The Svee women’s softball team represented the Victoria Saanich Women’s Softball Association at the women’s Intermediate A provincial championships in Richmond. (Courtesy of Rachelle Little)
Victoria’s Daniel Damian, far left, and Colette Reimer, third from right, were part of B.C.’s gold medal-winning triathlon relay team Friday (Aug. 12) at the Canada Summer Games in Welland, Ont. (Ellen Pennick/Team BC)

Victoria triathlete Colette Reimer makes it triple gold at Canada Summer Games

21-year-old rising star joins fellow Victorian Daniel Damian on winning relay team

Victoria’s Daniel Damian, far left, and Colette Reimer, third from right, were part of B.C.’s gold medal-winning triathlon relay team Friday (Aug. 12) at the Canada Summer Games in Welland, Ont. (Ellen Pennick/Team BC)
Victoria’s Dylan Garand got the win between the pipes for Team Canada against Slovakia on Aug. 12 at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championships. (Photo by Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada Images)

Victoria goalie Dylan Garand wins first start for Team Canada at World Juniors

New York Rangers prospect made 22 stops in 11-1 thumping of Slovakia

Victoria’s Dylan Garand got the win between the pipes for Team Canada against Slovakia on Aug. 12 at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championships. (Photo by Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada Images)
The Victoria Shamrocks host the Langley Thunder in game 6 of the Western Lacrosse Association semifinals Sunday and are calling on fans to fill The Q Centre. (Courtesy of Ryan Molag/Langley Events Centre)

Victoria Shamrocks call on fans to fill Q Centre for game 6 of semifinals

Sunday’s (Aug. 14) game in Colwood starts at 5 p.m.

The Victoria Shamrocks host the Langley Thunder in game 6 of the Western Lacrosse Association semifinals Sunday and are calling on fans to fill The Q Centre. (Courtesy of Ryan Molag/Langley Events Centre)
Members of the 15U AA Carnarvon/Gordon Head South Island Royals baseball team celebrate their win at the provincial championships last month in Richmond. The squad heads to Saskatchewan for the Western Canadian Championships, Aug. 19 to 21. (Photo courtesy Darrel Richardson)

Combined Oak Bay/Saanich squad captures B.C. provincial baseball crown

South Island Royals 15U AA team to compete at Western Canadian Championships

Members of the 15U AA Carnarvon/Gordon Head South Island Royals baseball team celebrate their win at the provincial championships last month in Richmond. The squad heads to Saskatchewan for the Western Canadian Championships, Aug. 19 to 21. (Photo courtesy Darrel Richardson)
The Victoria HarbourCats first season back after two pandemic-cancelled campaigns ended with a loss to the Bellingham Bells on Aug. 10. (Courtesy of the Victoria HarbourCats)

Victoria HarbourCats season comes to a close after first-round playoff exit

Local team faced the North Division-best Bellingham Bells in WCL quarters

The Victoria HarbourCats first season back after two pandemic-cancelled campaigns ended with a loss to the Bellingham Bells on Aug. 10. (Courtesy of the Victoria HarbourCats)
The Trevor Purdy 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament takes place on Aug. 20, with proceeds supporting a bursary and local youth basketball programs. (File - Pixabay.com)

Basketball tournament celebrates player’s legacy in Sooke

3-on-3 competition supports bursary and youth basketball programs

The Trevor Purdy 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament takes place on Aug. 20, with proceeds supporting a bursary and local youth basketball programs. (File - Pixabay.com)
Alejandro Diaz hurdles a challenge from York United’s Diyaeddine Abzi during the Pacific FC versus York United match at Starlight Stadium on May 20. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Adios Wero: Langford-based Pacific FC sells record goalscorer Diaz to Norwegian team

Alejandro Diaz heading to Europe after record-breaking goal scoring exploits

Alejandro Diaz hurdles a challenge from York United’s Diyaeddine Abzi during the Pacific FC versus York United match at Starlight Stadium on May 20. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Bella competing with Alicia Gadban. The pair's performances this year earned Bella a national award for best Canadian bred horse of the year. (Courtesy of Paula Leweke)

Metchosin horse heroine celebrates Canadian equestrian breeding award

Breeder Paula Leweke knew ‘Bella’ was special from an early age

Bella competing with Alicia Gadban. The pair's performances this year earned Bella a national award for best Canadian bred horse of the year. (Courtesy of Paula Leweke)
South Island team members Penny Baziuk (from left) and Jackie Hellard, golf historian Mike Riste, and Greater Vancouver team members Diane McFarlane, Elaine Blatchford and Kathryn McGarvey gather holding vintage clubs on the first tee at Gorge Vale Golf Club before the start of the 100th anniversary Huntting Cup competition Monday. The competition alternates between the mainland and Island. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Historic return to cup play for Greater Victoria, Vancouver golfers

Gorge Vale hosts 100th anniversary of the Huntting Cup competition

South Island team members Penny Baziuk (from left) and Jackie Hellard, golf historian Mike Riste, and Greater Vancouver team members Diane McFarlane, Elaine Blatchford and Kathryn McGarvey gather holding vintage clubs on the first tee at Gorge Vale Golf Club before the start of the 100th anniversary Huntting Cup competition Monday. The competition alternates between the mainland and Island. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during a past Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell had a career-best fifth place overall finish in the F Production class on the SCCA’s Super Tour for 2022. (Photo by Mark Webber)

Saanich driver winds up No. 5 nationwide on sports car racing series

Bill Okell posts best-ever overall finish on SCCA Super Tour with 2022 results

Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during a past Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell had a career-best fifth place overall finish in the F Production class on the SCCA’s Super Tour for 2022. (Photo by Mark Webber)
Dragon boat teams paddle toward the finish line Saturday during the first day of the inaugural Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Inaugural dragon boat festival makes splash in Victoria

The Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival continues Sunday

Dragon boat teams paddle toward the finish line Saturday during the first day of the inaugural Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Victoria City Rowing Club athletes Mira Calder, left, and Sophia Regosa are all smiles during the World Rowing U19 Championships last month in Varese, Italy. The pair finished fifth overall in women’s pairs. (Courtesy of Katie Bahain-Steenman/VCRC)

Greater Victoria junior rowers having a hot summer on the water

Victoria City Rowing Club members competing on national, international stages

Victoria City Rowing Club athletes Mira Calder, left, and Sophia Regosa are all smiles during the World Rowing U19 Championships last month in Varese, Italy. The pair finished fifth overall in women’s pairs. (Courtesy of Katie Bahain-Steenman/VCRC)
Riel Leaf is headed to the Dodgeball World Championships later this month with her brother Zion, as part of Team Canada. (Courtesy of Riel Leaf)

Victoria brother-sister duo headed to World Dodgeball Championships

Zion and Riel Leaf have loved the sport since playing it in high school gym class

Riel Leaf is headed to the Dodgeball World Championships later this month with her brother Zion, as part of Team Canada. (Courtesy of Riel Leaf)