Area Youth Storm the Dandy!
From our friends at the Dandelion Run:
Area youth are taking The Dandy by storm. Newport City Elementary School’s team, Dolphin Dandies, so far, is fielding a team of 44 youth and 20 adults running the specially designed 10K, 5 person relay course around Derby Pond (with a spur and turnaround at Brian Smith’s house at the top of Ann Wilson Road). Troy Elementary, The Troy Trotters, is fielding a team of 20 youth and adults. Turning Points has signed on 17 runners. The Brighton Bearcats, Charleston, Holland, and Derby are busy making plans to join our area’s Running Rite of Spring.
The 10K five-person youth relay offers a great opportunity for elementary school youth to join The Dandelion Run. It’s not too late for schools to field teams and send in their registrations. Registration is open on-line at www.dandelionrun.org or by e-mailing run@orleansrecreation.org.
“We’re looking to top last year’s number of 141 youth participants,” said Phil White, Director of The Dandy. “And we love to see the parent-child relay teams that have formed.”
The Stroud-Hellerman Family Team from Montreal fields David (age 7) and Francesca (Age 11) running a four person 13.1 mile relay with their parents, Daniel and Sarah. They missed the last two years, waiting for the moment when their kids could join them. There are also some older family combos: Dick Thornborough, age 60, of Darien, CT, is running a four person relay with his three daughters, Ainsley (23), Trina (22), and CC (20).
Registrations are well ahead of last year at this time. White added, “North Country Supervisory Union has stepped up to encourage area schools to sign their students up and run, ’Just for the Fun of It!’”
Out of area adult registrations are 50% ahead of last year as of May 1st, with increasing numbers signing on from the Eastern Townships.
The Dandelions are doing their part, showing up in force in the fields of Morgan, Holland, and Derby, just as they always do this time of year.
Special thanks to Jay Peak Resort, North Country Hospital and our many area sponsors including Derby Village Store.
For more info, contact Phil White at run@orleansrecreation.org.
Photos are of Parker Lacourse in 2011 and Caydon Hamel in 2012.
