Local Sports

Two young sailors from the Sooke Sailing Club have qualified for the B.C. Summer Games. (File - Black Press Media)

Sooke students set sail for B.C. Summer Games

Finn Unger and Vincent Magdziar will represent lower Vancouver Island in sailing competition

Two young sailors from the Sooke Sailing Club have qualified for the B.C. Summer Games. (File - Black Press Media)
Players from the Westshore Warriors and the Victoria Spartans (black) play a football match on Goudy Field on May 29, 2022. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Only 2 lit turf fields leave minor football struggling for field space in the West Shore

West Shore minor teams may be relocated to Saanich or shut down if no solution found

Players from the Westshore Warriors and the Victoria Spartans (black) play a football match on Goudy Field on May 29, 2022. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Boardworks diver Bryden Hattie is a picture of focus during competition at the Diving Canada Summer Senior National Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place. Hattie won gold in the one-metre and three-metre events last weekend to secure a spot on the national team heading to the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Calgary next week, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. (Antoine Saito/courtesy of Diving Canada)

Boardworks crew shines at Diving Canada nationals in Saanich

Double gold for Bryden Hattie, surprise gold in 10-metre platform for Renee Batalla

Boardworks diver Bryden Hattie is a picture of focus during competition at the Diving Canada Summer Senior National Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place. Hattie won gold in the one-metre and three-metre events last weekend to secure a spot on the national team heading to the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Calgary next week, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. (Antoine Saito/courtesy of Diving Canada)
In 1986, Rocky Horne became the full-time track announcer, kicking off an impressive 23-and-half-year announcing career. Rocky ‘silver tongue’ Horne coined many nicknames. (Contributed)

Nicknames part of racing legacy at Langford’s Western Speedway

From Len ‘Digger’ O’Dell to ‘Smokin’ Joe Liberatore, drivers have long attracted monikers

In 1986, Rocky Horne became the full-time track announcer, kicking off an impressive 23-and-half-year announcing career. Rocky ‘silver tongue’ Horne coined many nicknames. (Contributed)
A rider makes their way down the trail during the 2022 B.C. School Sports High School Mountain Biking Provincial Championships at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park in Langford on May 27. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: High school mountain bikers flock to Langford trails

Jordie Lunn Bike Park hosts its first provincial championship competition

A rider makes their way down the trail during the 2022 B.C. School Sports High School Mountain Biking Provincial Championships at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park in Langford on May 27. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Victoria Shamrocks will host the Peterborough Lakers at The Q Centre for the 2019 Mann Cup. (Jessica Williamson/Black Press Media)

Victoria Shamrocks start new season with countdown to 25,000th goal

Fans will have a chance to win prizes by guessing which player will score the landmark goal

The Victoria Shamrocks will host the Peterborough Lakers at The Q Centre for the 2019 Mann Cup. (Jessica Williamson/Black Press Media)
The four B.C.-based West Coast League teams will battle for bragging rights and look to earn the inaugural BC Cup this summer. (Courtesy of Victoria HarbourCats)

Victoria HarbourCats baseball season includes inaugural BC Cup competition

After more than 1,000 days, HarbourCats open regular season at home May 31 at RAP

The four B.C.-based West Coast League teams will battle for bragging rights and look to earn the inaugural BC Cup this summer. (Courtesy of Victoria HarbourCats)
A Sooke Minor Hockey Association player is a draft pick of the Western Hockey League's Victoria Royals. (Metro Creative)

Victoria Royals select Sooke player in WHL draft

Wyatt Danyleyko, 14, taken in the sixth round

A Sooke Minor Hockey Association player is a draft pick of the Western Hockey League's Victoria Royals. (Metro Creative)
Rachel Spurling spars during a practice at the Sooke Boxing Club on Feb. 23. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)

Wonder Women event draws Canadian legends

Sooke female fighters shine at weekend event

Rachel Spurling spars during a practice at the Sooke Boxing Club on Feb. 23. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)
Peninsula Baseball and Softball Association held a special ceremony last month with all the teams to mark the 30th anniversary of Rotary Park, the association’s current home. The ceremony, held April 9, saw former North Saanich mayor and former Sidney councillor Ted Daly throw the ceremonial first pitch. (Courtesy Kyle Robinson Photography)

Community spirit hits a home run at North Saanich’s Rotary Park

Many volunteers consider the facility a second home

Peninsula Baseball and Softball Association held a special ceremony last month with all the teams to mark the 30th anniversary of Rotary Park, the association’s current home. The ceremony, held April 9, saw former North Saanich mayor and former Sidney councillor Ted Daly throw the ceremonial first pitch. (Courtesy Kyle Robinson Photography)
The Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association regularly uses the dedicated pickleball courts off Birch Road in North Saanich, but expressed frustration with the pace of the search for other purpose-built facilities. (Black Press Media File)

North Saanich’s Blue Heron Park could host pickleball courts

Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association repeats call for dedicated facilities

The Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association regularly uses the dedicated pickleball courts off Birch Road in North Saanich, but expressed frustration with the pace of the search for other purpose-built facilities. (Black Press Media File)
Saanich driver Bill Okell rolls into the pits after winning the sprint race at the Sports Car Club of America US Majors Tour event at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on May 14. (Photo by Leigh Urquhart)

Saanich racer moves up in national standings, despite more mechanical woes

Bill Okell drives to a first and second in SCCA races in Portland

Saanich driver Bill Okell rolls into the pits after winning the sprint race at the Sports Car Club of America US Majors Tour event at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on May 14. (Photo by Leigh Urquhart)
Boardworks diver and 2020 Tokyo Olympian for Canada, Celina Toth is pictured during the Olympic trials. She is among the local athletes competing in the 2022 Summer National Diving Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place pool May 27 to 29. (Photo courtesy of Boardworks)

Canadian Olympian glad to be home, diving in front of family, friends in Saanich

Past year tumultuous for Celina Toth, at 30 the ‘mom’ on the Boardworks crew

Boardworks diver and 2020 Tokyo Olympian for Canada, Celina Toth is pictured during the Olympic trials. She is among the local athletes competing in the 2022 Summer National Diving Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place pool May 27 to 29. (Photo courtesy of Boardworks)
The Subaru Ironman 70.3 Victoria is taking place on May 29 in Greater Victoria with much of the cycling course on the Saanich Peninsula. (Black Press Media file photo)

Subaru Ironman 70.3 Victoria triathlon showcases Saanich Peninsula

Close to 2,300 athletes set to compete in first edition of race since 2019

The Subaru Ironman 70.3 Victoria is taking place on May 29 in Greater Victoria with much of the cycling course on the Saanich Peninsula. (Black Press Media file photo)
West Coast Wonder Women founder Ellen Connor, seen here coaching members of the Sooke Boxing Club, is pumped about the return of WCWW Tournament May 20-22 at the Sooke Community Hall. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Wonder Women boxing tournament returns to Sooke this weekend

80 boxer from across North America will compete

West Coast Wonder Women founder Ellen Connor, seen here coaching members of the Sooke Boxing Club, is pumped about the return of WCWW Tournament May 20-22 at the Sooke Community Hall. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Oak Bay High senior girls soccer team heads for provincials in Surrey after winning the Island championships on May 17. (Courtesy Kate Baker)

Oak Bay High goalkeeper comes away with clean sheet as team takes Islands

Reynolds Secondary subject to challenge game by Nanaimo secondary

The Oak Bay High senior girls soccer team heads for provincials in Surrey after winning the Island championships on May 17. (Courtesy Kate Baker)
Gorge FC Team Sales forward Liz Gregg eyes up a pass during the BC Soccer women’s A Cup provincial final against Coastal FC in Burnaby on Sunday (May 15). Gorge won 5-3. (Casey Tepper/LIWSA)

Double B.C. Cup soccer victories for Saanich’s Gorge FC women

Premier and Div. 1 sides capture provincial championship crown in Burnaby

Gorge FC Team Sales forward Liz Gregg eyes up a pass during the BC Soccer women’s A Cup provincial final against Coastal FC in Burnaby on Sunday (May 15). Gorge won 5-3. (Casey Tepper/LIWSA)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Victoria-born pitcher throws first Red Sox complete game since 2019

Nick Pivetta didn’t let a leadoff homer phase him, allowing just two hits in 5-1 win

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
The Victoria Royals took forwards Rui Han and Zach Spagnuolo in the U.S. priority draft. (Courtesy of Victoria Royals)

Victoria Royals take forwards from California, Texas in U.S. draft

Royals will have the third-overall pick in Thursday’s main draft

The Victoria Royals took forwards Rui Han and Zach Spagnuolo in the U.S. priority draft. (Courtesy of Victoria Royals)
Nick Dickinson-Wilde, Sensei at Sooke Shukokai Karate in Sooke, earned two bronze medals in competition and served as a judge at the Karate BC Provincial Championships.

Karate in Sooke alive and kicking

Sooke Shukokai karate looking for members new and old

Nick Dickinson-Wilde, Sensei at Sooke Shukokai Karate in Sooke, earned two bronze medals in competition and served as a judge at the Karate BC Provincial Championships.