The Pure Determination Fund, an initiative of the Dairy Framers of Alberta, awards 20 $10,000 grants to Canada's athletes.

This year's awards are part of an $800,000 pot that will be distributed through 2005. "Often, before an athlete reaches the point where he or she can live off sport, he faces this critical moment when the cost is too high for parents and loved ones," says Ian MacDonald, marketing director for Dairy Farmers of Canada. "That's when we want to step in."

Congratulations to Calgary based athletes Kristina Groves, Speed Skating; Clara Hughes, Speed Skating; Jeff Pain, Skeleton; Lindsay Alcock, Skeleton; Sara Renner, Cross Country Skiing; Blythe Hartley, Diving; and Patricia Leibel, Wrestling. Gulio Zardo (Bobsleigh), currently training in Calgary/Montreal, is also a recipient of this grant.

DID YOU KNOW? Paper Rock Scissors (The game and popular method of resolving disputes) has a World Championships? Over 250 teams competed last weekend in Toronto for a $1,200 grand prize.

Klassen has now won five medals this season after two World Cup events including three gold. Last weekend she earned her first career victory on the circuit placing first in the 1,500.

It was also a big weekend for Clara Hughes of Winnipeg. "It was my best race ever," said Hughes, the Olympic bronze medallist in the 5,000 last winter, who now lives in Glen Sutton, Que. "Skating alongside Cindy really helped. I was confident in my ability to finish the race strong but with the quality of her start I had to get off the line fast." The cyclist turned speed skater won her first career World Cup gold on Saturday in the 3,000. Klassen dominated the all around standings, the first time such an event was held in World Cup competition.

Hughes was 14th in the 1,500 and placed 17th overall. Kristina Groves of Ottawa was 10th in the 1,500 and took 13th overall. Tara Risling of Medicine Hat, Alta., was 22nd. In the men's all around standings, Derek Parra of the U.S., took the gold medal while Kevin Marshall of Coquitlam, B.C., was eighth, Dustin Molicki of Calgary 13th, Steven Elm of Red Deer, Alta., 14th and Arne Dankers of Calgary 30th.

BECKIE SCOTT NAMED MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETE IN SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING

(Canadian Ski & Snowboard Association) Cross Country skier Beckie Scott of Vermillion, Alberta, is the recipient of the 2002 John Semmelink Award as Canada's most outstanding athlete in skiing and snowboarding. Scott won an Olympic bronze medal at the Olympic Winter Games last February, the first ever by a Canadian Cross Country athlete. Her medal may be upgraded to silver or even gold, depending on the outcome of several appeals currently before the international Court for Arbitration in Sport.

The award was created in memory of Alpine ski racer John Semmelink who lost his life while representing Canada in the Arlberg-Kandahar ski classic in 1959. First presented in 1962, it is given annually to the athlete who, through sportsmanship, conduct, and ability, best represents Canada in international competition. The award is presented by the Canadian Ski and Snowboard Association.

In addition to her athletic prowess, Scott is a champion in the fight for drug-free sport. During the 2000-01 ski season she led an athlete campaign for independent drug testing at all Word Cup competitions. She has also been recognized for her charitable endeavours.

TRIVIA: Who was the only Canadian female athlete to be invited to compete in the prestigious U.S. King of the Hill Snowboarding Competition taking place in Mammoth, CA this week?
(See below for answer)

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton announced the 2002/2003 team last week. Pierre Leuders and Christina Smith are poised to lead the mens and womens bobsleigh teams to podium finishes. (Reuters Photo)

Lueders and pilot Jayson Krause of Okotoks were the old hands selected, along with second year brakemen Giulio Zardo of Montreal and Ahmed Marshall of Calgary. Dan Mayhew of Belleville, Ont. also rejoins the team. Rookie crewmen were Morgan Alexander, Mike Burlak, Florian Linder of Morrin, Alta.and Bret Bresciani of Okotoks, Alta. Bresciani is the youngest on the team, at 18. He was a high school track and field and football athlete last year in Okotoks, and chose to slide instead of play football at the University of Calgary this year. "I like the speed but it's a little quicker than I expected," he admitted.

Similarly, the women's bobsled team is also entering a rebuilding year. Pilot Christina Smith and Paula McKenzie of Calgary are returning veterans, while Buffie Babb of Calgary and Maria Gallo of Guelph, Ont., are new to the sport this year. Smith, 33, who finished ninth at Salt Lake with McKenzie, said she's pleased with what she's seen from the rookies. "There have been numerous crashes, a broken collarbone and a few concussions," she said of the initial eight-woman try-out. "It's not for everybody but the new recruits have proven they're very resilient." McKenzie, 31, is out with an Achilles injury, and is expected to return by December. In the meantime, Smith is rotating partners between Babb and Gallo.

In the Canada-U.S., match, Marie-Luc Arpin of St-Lambert, Que., and Joanne Bégin of Ste-Foy, Que., scored two goals apiece while Cora Campbell of Calgary notched one.The U.S., led 2-0 after the first quarter but Canada scored three unanswered goals in the second to lead at the half. The U.S., then scored three times in the third to grab a 5-3 lead.

Bégin was the team's top scorer in the tournament with nine goals followed by Campbell with five and Susan Gardiner of Vancouver with four.

OLYMPIC UPDATE: ROGGE RELUCTANT TO CHOP SPORTS

Baseball, softball and modern pentathlon might be around awhile longer in the Olympics. A vote on whether to drop the three sports from the Olympics could be postponed, and any decision might not apply until the 2012 Games rather than 2008, IOC president Jacques Rogge said yesterday. The International Olympic Committee Program Commission has recommended that the three sports be dropped starting with the 2008 Beijing Games.