On Saturday and Sunday, 02.– 03 Feb 2013 the 16th Masters’ International Speed Skating SPRINT CLASSICS took place in Inzell/Germany at the Max Aicher Arena under very good conditions. The ice was fast and the jury and staff around Hubert Graf, the leader of the competition and head of the organizing committee, guided the competition perfectly.
91 competitors (24 Ladies and 67 Men) from 11 Nations (AUT 1, BEL 1, CAN 2, GER 32, HUN 2, ITA 1, NED 20, NOR 13, RUS 7, SUI 3, UKR 9) competed with much fun in the interesting icehall with its large windows and nice sight to the nature around the hall.
A lot of personal bests were reached and also 8 IMSSC Records from 2012 were lowered by two competitors: Marja Oenema/F55/NED 500 m 46,46 sec, 1000 m 1:31,67, 1000 m 1:31,32, 4 Distance Sprint Combination (500 m, 1000 m/500 m, 1000 m) 185,675 points; Willy Caboor/M80/BEL 500 m 53,04 sec, 500 m 52,92 sec, 1000 m 1:50,28 min, 4 Distance Sprint Combination (500 m, 1000 m/500 m, 1000 m) 216,580 points. We were happy that we had also competitors from Hungary and a larger team of 9 skaters of the Ukraine with their leader Olexandr Simonenko from Kiew. It was fine to have a lot of skaters in high age groups, 9 skater M70, 2 skater M75, 4 skater M80, with astonishing fitness. The picture shows the winner of M80, Willy Caboor/BEL, Martin Haakon Fagna/NOR, Wim de Graaf/NED, at the victory ceremony. It was a great advantage to skate in the icehall, because it was snowing in Inzell on both competition days. After the drawing on Thursday there was a Common Supper in the Ice House at the Max Aicher Arena. It was a pity that only 30 of about 70 skaters, who had announced their coming on the entry form, did participate. Results available here:
