Local Sports

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)
Three Greater Victoria golf clubs have been named among the top 100 in Canada by Scoregolf.com, with the Victoria Golf Club ranked highest at number 17. (Victoria Golf Club/Facebook)

3 Greater Victoria golf courses named among top 100 in Canada

Victoria Golf Club sits at No. 17; Royal Colwood 49, Bear Mountain Valley 82

Three Greater Victoria golf clubs have been named among the top 100 in Canada by Scoregolf.com, with the Victoria Golf Club ranked highest at number 17. (Victoria Golf Club/Facebook)
Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, photographed in NBA playoff action against Philadelphia’s James Harden last spring, will be among the stars in Saanich next month for the Raptors’ training camp at the University of Victoria. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Toronto Raptors to hold 2022-23 NBA training camp at UVic

Former champions’ pre-season workouts Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 closed to the public

Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, photographed in NBA playoff action against Philadelphia’s James Harden last spring, will be among the stars in Saanich next month for the Raptors’ training camp at the University of Victoria. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Manny Aparicio (left) and Alejandro Diaz (right) celebrate a goal as Josh Heard jumps on their shoulders during Pacific FC’s rampant 6-0 win against Waterhouse FC in CONCACAF League action on Aug. 2. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Pacific FC run riot against Waterhouse, win 6-0

With the win, PFC are through to the next round of the CONCACAF League

Manny Aparicio (left) and Alejandro Diaz (right) celebrate a goal as Josh Heard jumps on their shoulders during Pacific FC’s rampant 6-0 win against Waterhouse FC in CONCACAF League action on Aug. 2. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Alejandro Diaz, in purple, became Pacific FC’s all-time leading goal scorer at 26, scoring on a penalty against Cavalry FC on July 22. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Langford-based Pacific FC has new all-time leading goal scorer in Alejandro Diaz

Sniper’s goal against Cavalry FC on July 22 brought his career tally with PFC to 26

Alejandro Diaz, in purple, became Pacific FC’s all-time leading goal scorer at 26, scoring on a penalty against Cavalry FC on July 22. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the rest of the Canadian senior men’s basketball team hit the hardwood Aug. 25 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for opening play in round 2 of the Americas qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. (Courtesy Canada Basketball)

Tickets remain to see Canada take on Argentina in 2023 World Cup hoops qualifier

Canada the lone undefeated team in first-round qualifying play

Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the rest of the Canadian senior men’s basketball team hit the hardwood Aug. 25 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for opening play in round 2 of the Americas qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. (Courtesy Canada Basketball)
Canada huddles up after Italy scores a try at Starlight Stadium on July 24. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Canadian women’s rugby team bests Italy 34-24 in Langford

First time women’s 15s have played at home in 7 years

Canada huddles up after Italy scores a try at Starlight Stadium on July 24. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
View Royal archer Billy Sanderson will be heading to Italy in the fall for the world championships. (Courtesy of Billy Sanderson)

View Royal archer representing Canada at world championships in Italy

Billy Sanderson is hoping to use his success to promote the sport on Vancouver Island

View Royal archer Billy Sanderson will be heading to Italy in the fall for the world championships. (Courtesy of Billy Sanderson)
Marco Bustos scored his first goal of the season as Pacific FC won 3-0 against Cavalry FC at Starlight Stadium in Langford on July 22. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Pacific FC back on top with win against Cavalry FC

3 straight wins for PFC, heading to Jamaica for first CONCACAF League game

Marco Bustos scored his first goal of the season as Pacific FC won 3-0 against Cavalry FC at Starlight Stadium in Langford on July 22. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Seattle Mariners field co-ordinator and former Saanich resident Carson Vitale, right, shares a laugh with the team’s rookie star Julio Rodriguez at T-Mobile Park. (Photo by Ben VanHouten/Seattle Mariners)

Seattle baseball success no surprise to Saanich-born Mariners coach

Lambrick Park alum Carson Vitale has experienced highs and lows with MLB team

Seattle Mariners field co-ordinator and former Saanich resident Carson Vitale, right, shares a laugh with the team’s rookie star Julio Rodriguez at T-Mobile Park. (Photo by Ben VanHouten/Seattle Mariners)
A clinic conducted by the BC Grassroots Rugby Foundation at Edward Milne Community School on July 22 drew about 20 enthusiastic participants. (Rick Stiebel-Sooke News Mirror)

PHOTOS: Rugby clinic inspires future athletes in Sooke

20 enthusiastic participants toss the ball around

A clinic conducted by the BC Grassroots Rugby Foundation at Edward Milne Community School on July 22 drew about 20 enthusiastic participants. (Rick Stiebel-Sooke News Mirror)
Westshore Motorsports Park is set to host Super Late Model racing action this weekend. (CBRE Victoria)

Western 150 action returns to Westshore Motorsports Park

Weekend events feature NASCAR legend Hershel McGriff and his son

Westshore Motorsports Park is set to host Super Late Model racing action this weekend. (CBRE Victoria)
Chase Meidroth, a former Victoria HarbourCat, was selected 129th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the 2022 MLB amateur draft. (Courtesy Victoria HarbourCats)

Former Victoria HarbourCats, turned collegiate stars, selected in MLB draft

The Red Sox and Phillies came calling for the pair this week

Chase Meidroth, a former Victoria HarbourCat, was selected 129th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the 2022 MLB amateur draft. (Courtesy Victoria HarbourCats)
The Victoria Shamrocks are hosting a special Western Lacrosse Association game night on July 22 honouring and supporting the Greater Victoria policing community, in the wake of the bank shooting in Saanich on June 28. (Paul Evans Photography)

Local police to be honoured during Shamrocks game Friday in Colwood

Stronger Together theme supports police in wake of June 28 bank shooting

The Victoria Shamrocks are hosting a special Western Lacrosse Association game night on July 22 honouring and supporting the Greater Victoria policing community, in the wake of the bank shooting in Saanich on June 28. (Paul Evans Photography)
Galen Rupp, of the United States, and Cam Levins of Canada (right) compete during the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Smith/Pool Photo via AP

B.C. marathoner Cam Levins finishes historic 4th at world championships

Black Creek-born runner beat his previous Canadian record by about 2 minutes

Galen Rupp, of the United States, and Cam Levins of Canada (right) compete during the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Smith/Pool Photo via AP
Lex Petrick, Sensei David Bentley, and Isaac Petrick are part of the team heading to Switzerland to compete in an international Kimura Shukokai Karate tournament. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Greater Victoria athletes heading to Switzerland for international karate tournament

Brothers Isaac and Lex Petrick making international debut

Lex Petrick, Sensei David Bentley, and Isaac Petrick are part of the team heading to Switzerland to compete in an international Kimura Shukokai Karate tournament. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Players and coaches with the Cordova Bay U-15 girls softball team celebrate their bronze medal at the provincial C championships in North Vancouver last weekend. Pictured are (back row, left) coach Treana Clarke, head coach Doug Caul, Lauryn Gladstone, Ruby Jones, Sophie Caul, Kate McNicol, Naomi Young, Brooklyn Ball, coach Lisa Jones; (front left) assistant coach Kass Gibbs, Jenna Gibbs, Lucy Caul, Carys Clarke, Madeline Baxter and Kate Niedjalski. (Photo courtesy Mia Ball)

Saanich softballers go down to the wire at provincial championships

Cordova Bay girls take bronze after back-to-back one-run losses

Players and coaches with the Cordova Bay U-15 girls softball team celebrate their bronze medal at the provincial C championships in North Vancouver last weekend. Pictured are (back row, left) coach Treana Clarke, head coach Doug Caul, Lauryn Gladstone, Ruby Jones, Sophie Caul, Kate McNicol, Naomi Young, Brooklyn Ball, coach Lisa Jones; (front left) assistant coach Kass Gibbs, Jenna Gibbs, Lucy Caul, Carys Clarke, Madeline Baxter and Kate Niedjalski. (Photo courtesy Mia Ball)
The B.C. Grassroots Rugby Foundation will host a free rugby clinic for youth in Sooke on July 22. (Photo by Courtney Keating)

Sooke hosts free youth rugby clinic on July 22

No previous rugby experience is needed

The B.C. Grassroots Rugby Foundation will host a free rugby clinic for youth in Sooke on July 22. (Photo by Courtney Keating)